Page 70 of Steady Stroke
“Thank you,” Van said before Lincoln could.
“Of course. I barely know her, but she’s important to you guys.” Emmett said the final few words to Lincoln. “I’m sorry she was hurt.”
“Me too.” Lincoln got up, and Emmett met him halfway for a long, hard embrace. Their hearts beat wildly together, and Lincoln held on until he felt strong enough to let go.
Then he yanked Van over into an awkward three-way hug.
“We’ll get her through this,” Lincoln whispered. “All of us.”
While Melody bathed, Emmett helped Van change the sheets and shake out the top cover. It was pretty awful, cheap hotel-grade stuff, but they did their best to tidy up. And once Melody was dried off and dressed, all four of them piled onto the bed to watch TV. The easy camaraderie between four people who’d all met in the last few weeks was a gentle balm on Emmett’s frazzled nerves.
Hearing about Melody’s ordeal had been awful, but Lincoln’s reaction to it had surprised him. He’d gone pale, as if personally affected by the events. And he’d overheard Van whispering about stories.
He tried to concentrate on whatever movie Van had chosen, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Lincoln, who lay restlessly between him and Melody, with Van bookending Melody’s other side. He hated assigning the word to him, butLincoln looked vulnerable. More than anything, Emmett wanted to help him.
Troubled waters lay ahead, he knew for certain. He only hoped he was strong enough to be Lincoln’s bridge when the time came.
Lincoln texted someone, probably his other friends, letting them know not to worry. He and Lincoln had to leave eventually, and when Van brought up giving them a ride home, Melody protested being left alone. Van told her to pack up a few days’ worth of stuff, because he was taking her home with him.
She was ready in under five minutes.
It was after three in the morning by the time Van dropped them off at Beatrice’s house, and Emmett didn’t see the issue there until after he’d pulled out. Lincoln headed right for the front door, seeming not to care that he was there instead of his own house. They went to Emmett’s room, kicked off their shoes, and climbed into bed.
Emmett pulled Lincoln close and wrapped his arms around his waist, offering all of the silent support and comfort that he could. Lincoln trembled once, then relaxed into the embrace. “I’ve got you,” Emmett whispered.
“I know. Thank you.”
“I’m glad I was there to help.”
“Me too.” He pulled one of Emmett’s hands up to kiss his knuckles. “So much.”
Lincoln startled awake to a warm, heavy body pinning him down and wood pressing into the crease of his ass. The instant panic made his stomach squirm, and a shout formed in hislungs. Familiar scents of sweat and aftershave kept that shout from ripping loose.
Emmett. He went home with Emmett last night.
Everything with Melody came crashing back. Lincoln wanted to hide under the covers with Emmett forever. Only his too-full bladder started kicking, so Lincoln slid out from under Emmett and sneaked across the hall to the bathroom.
He didn’t have to peek at his reflection to know he looked like shit. He felt like shit, his emotions were shredded, and he needed more sleep. Water on his face didn’t do much for his sandy eyes.
Oh well.
Emmett was awake when he got back, absently running fingers through his tangled hair. “Hey,” he said, then cracked a yawn. “Morning. I think.”
Lincoln checked his phone, but the damn thing had died. “Shit.”
“My charger is on the nightstand.” Emmett dug his own phone out from under the covers. “Almost noon.”
“What? Fuck!” Lincoln regretted his shout the instant Emmett flinched. “Sorry. I missed saying good-bye to Dom and Trey. They had to be at BWI by eleven to board.”
“I’m sorry. If Van had taken you home, you’d have been there to say good-bye.”
Lincoln nearly agreed with that. Except he didn’t. His house was full of people and seriously lacking in privacy. Van had taken him exactly where he needed to be—someplace to be alone with his boyfriend to process last night.
“Maybe I’d have been there to say good-bye.” He climbed onto the bed and pushed Emmett flat, straddling his hips. “But then I wouldn’t be here with you. I needed you last night, and you were there for me.”
“I will be. Whenever you need me.”
“I know.” He scooted back, enjoying the sensation of Emmett’s hard dick against his own soft one. He rutted a bit, the friction making Emmett’s eyes light up and sending blood right where Lincoln wanted it. “You have too many clothes on.”
