Page 86 of Addicted
“So, you’re paying for some of it?”
“I am.” Owen wanted Liam to have the best chance at recovery so they’d chosen a rehab that was highly rated but that came with an expensive price tag. Owen had been storing his paychecks for future custody battles but since those were no longer an option, he was gladly using his savings for Liam’s recovery. Liam had no idea. Owen had completed all the paperwork and haggled with the health insurance company on his own, wanting Liam to save his energy and use it for healing.
“Tell me how much the bill is when he’s done. I’ll cover it.”
“What?” Owen stood up, shocked. He heard Finn trip over something in Michael’s room.
“You need your ears cleaned? I said I’ll take care of it.” John grinned, heading for the door, Owen following close behind.
“That’s very generous of you, John but-”
“Listen, Parker. You’ve been through some shit and you never let it affect your job. You were the best financial advisor I’ve ever had so that’s why I wanted you at The Pointe. You’ve been working your ass off for me and in the few short months you’ve been here my profits are skyrocketing and you’ve kept ninety percent of the staff. People are happy, clients are happy,I’mhappy. I know everyone there thinks I’m an asshole but I have a heart. And your boy is in some kind of trouble. I have more money than I know what to do with so take it.”
Owen wanted to hug John. He wondered during the job interview if working at The Pointe would be the right choice and now he knew that it was. Although the last few months were personally troubling, he had a new career, a new purpose, co-workers that were becoming good friends, a sneakily nice boss, and the love of his life.
“I will. Thank you, John. It means a lot. More than I can say.”
28
LIAM
Itwasamazingwhattwo weeks could do. The last fourteen days had picked Liam’s shattered life up by the scruff, shook it out, and turned it one hundred and eighty degrees. The chasm inside was closing. He was no longer a secretly grieving addict in a dingy-walled cocoon; he was healing, recovering, and carefully hopeful, his surroundings now a warm white haven with the person he loved instead of a worn blanket in a hidey-hole on the floor.
He still used that blanket but now it was draped over his legs as he sat on the couch with Owen and Finn, watching a tennis match on the sports channel, although Finn was the only one truly focused on it. Owen kept shifting his eyes to Liam, checking in with him, and Liam was studying them both, openly admiring Owen and enjoying Finn’s heated exclamations and gestures as he swore at the television.
“Are you kidding me?” Finn wiped a hand down his face. “Down two breaks? Why doesn’t he give awaythe set?”
Liam tried not to laugh, carefully chewing a bite of the grilled cheese sandwich Owen had made him. While the bruise on his face and the injury to his head had healed, the drug use left his stomach battered. He’d had a full checkup and the doctor said it would recover with time, and it was. Liam was beginning to gain weight; it was hard not to since Owen was constantly fussing over him, making sure he had three delicious light meals along with several snacks a day, and Owen had even put on a few pounds with him in solidarity, sporting a small tummy that Liam found adorable.
But what wasn’t adorable were the dark rings under Owen’s eyes. Too many times Liam would wake during the night to find Owen staring at the ceiling, if he was in bed at all. Liam had tried his best, stroking Owen’s hair until he drifted into a fitful sleep, or hunting him down in the apartment - where he’d find Owen going over some paperwork or answering emails from The Pointe - and dragging him back to the soft mattress, hoping that he’d get a few hours rest. Owen looked like he was burning the candle at both ends and even though he kept assuring Liam that he was fine, that he’d dealt with insomnia before and it would pass, Liam still felt uneasy about it. Something was keeping Owen awake, a problem, a stressor, and Liam was certainly a cause of worry, which was one of the reasons he’d been giving rehab his all. He wanted to be the kind of man Owen could be proud of, wanted to feel like his equal, a whole person, and he swore to address Owen’s sleeplessness again once Finn left.
“Want another beer?” Owen asked Finn as he stood, gathering the empty bottle and Liam’s empty plate. “Liam, how about a snack?”
“Can I have one of the brownies you made?” Liam smiled up at Owen.
“Sure, Angel.” Owen placed a kiss on the top of Liam’s head.
“Opie, you made brownies?” Finn’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Are they edible?”
“They are. And they’renotfor you.“ Owen winked, heading into the kitchen.
“But I’m a guest!” Finn yelled after him.
“You’re a menace. No brownies for you!” Owen shouted back, laughter in his voice. It was contagious, pushing Liam into a giggle fit. Once he calmed down, wiping a tear from his eye, he realized that Finn was staring at him.
Aside from a few pleasantries, they hadn’t spoken at all since Liam had met him at The Pointe. Liam had a sneaking suspicion that Finn didn’t trust him and he couldn’t argue with that. If one of his friends was dating an addict, Liam would be leery too.
“He’s making brownies for you? I didn’t know he could bake.” Finn seemed polite enough.
“He made them in the middle of the night,” Liam told him, glancing toward the kitchen. Owen was taking the clingwrap off the plate of brownies so they had a minute. “I’m worried about him. He’s not sleeping much.”
“I can tell.” Finn gave Liam a considering glance. “You know…Sharon would have never given a shit about how much Opie slept.”
Liam agreed but didn’t know if he should say it out loud. Despite his garage band look, Finn was a bit intimidating and his deep brown gaze burrowed straight into Liam. It took all Liam had to meet it and not hide under the blanket.
A few seconds of silence passed before Finn took a deep breath.
“Take care of him, okay? I don’t think he’s ever felt this way about someone. He’s happy with you. Please don’t hurt him.”
