“You don't want any music?”
Adam hesitated only a second before he said, “You look like you needed some quiet.”
John's heart clenched, and a genuine smile took over his face. He reached out and brushed his thumb down Adam's cheek. “I'm sorry you have to see that, but yeah. I do. Thank you.” He pulled his hand back and rubbed his eyes. “I'm just tired. Maybe after I've had a shower, we can put something on while we make dinner, okay?”
Adam beamed at him. “Okay.”
John glanced at the intersection, watching the perpendicular lanes slow and finally stop, then saw his light turn green. He let off the brake and started to accelerate forward.
From his left, a car blew through the red light and came flying across the intersection, heading straight for their path.
Adam!
John flung out an arm to protect Adam as he slammed on the brakes, bracing himself for impact. Everything moved in slow-motion. He saw the other driver's eyes go wide as the guy wrenched the steering wheel. Then saw the car veer away, missing the front corner of John's truck by inches before speeding off and continuing down the road.
“Fuck!” John gasped. He clenched the steering wheel hard with one hand, bending forward as he tried to catch his breath.John shook his head and straightened up, then looked at Adam. “You okay?”
Adam didn't answer. The boy sat utterly still, eyes wide as he stared straight ahead.
“Adam?” John demanded, his slowing heartbeat going right back to racing with worry. “Baby? Are you hurt?”
The boy slowly shook his head but otherwise didn't respond.
Somebody blared their horn. John muttered a curse and crossed the intersection, then pulled over to the curb. He thrust the shifter intoPark, jammed down on the emergency brake, and turned to face Adam, grabbing the boy's head with both hands. “Baby? Talk to me. What's wrong?”
Adam let out a tiny sob, his entire body trembling where he sat. “You–” Another sob tore out of him. “I know it was an accident and you didn't mean to do it but–”
“Do what?” John demanded. What the hell had he done? Had he inadvertently injured Adam somehow?
Adam's breath hitched and his eyes began to fill with tears as he lifted one shaking hand and made a quick gesture at his chest.
John blinked, then muttered a curse. He must have grabbed Adam inappropriately when he'd flung out an arm to shield the boy. “Fuck,” he bit off, then gentled his voice. “I am so sorry, baby.”
“It's…okay,” Adam managed to get out even as he hugged himself.
Obviously not. John sighed and ran a hand back through his hair. “You're calling a surgeon tomorrow.”
Adam tensed. “John–”
“You said you wanted me to make you, so here's me making you. Tomorrow. No excuses.” John straightened in his seat, put the truck in gear, and checked for traffic before he pulled back onto the road.
He watched Adam cry silently the whole rest of the way home.Christ. So much for two steps forward, one step back.
It felt like they'd just damned near started completely over.
Chapter 20
_________
ADAM
ADAM WATCHED John drive off to work after dropping him back at his apartment the next morning. He slowly shut the door and turned around to lean back against it.
Fuck. Last night hadsucked. It had gotten better after that awful mishap during the near-accident, but not by much. At least John had finally gotten some sleep, though it clearly hadn't been enough. The poor man still looked exhausted. Every night that John had spent in Adam's bed, Adam had woken up in the middle of the night to find John wide awake, lying tense and stiff, staring up at the dark ceiling. Adam almost wanted to tell John to go home and sleep in his own bed.
Almost.
Except he knew he couldn't stand a night alone in his apartment. Just being stuck in there all day was starting to make him crazy, even when he kept himself busy, going through his stuff.
