I can’t even smile as I nod. “I know.”
“Then what’s up?”
I lean toward him, and he leans in too.
“Did you cheat?”
I give him a dry look. “Fuck no. Shut up.”
He lets out a long breath. “Thank God. I was nervous for a second there.”
I clear my throat and then bite real hard into the inside of my cheek as I search his eyes. “I need to tell you something.”
He immediately seems concerned. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I answer quickly. “I’m fine.”
“Okay,” he says slowly, trying to read me with his eyes. “You know you can tell me anything.”
I can. Damn it, I can. “You know how I’m a bit odd about things?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, so?”
“When I was three, I was diagnosed with autism.” I say it so low, I wouldn’t be surprised if he couldn’t hear me. “I am an autistic adult, and that’s why I do the things I do. Why I can’t do crowds or interviews, and apparently, I use sex as an—”
Chandler covers my shoulder with his hand, cupping it hard. “I know.”
All the breath leaves my body. “What?”
His face is so kind as he nods. “I’ve known for a real long time. I overheard Coach talking to your therapist.”
I can’t breathe. “What? You did? Did anyone else?”
“No, man. It was an isolated incident, and your therapist lit into Coach for saying the word. I was the only one in there. No one else heard. I promise.”
I still can’t catch my breath. “So, you knew? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it doesn’t matter,” he says simply, shrugging. “You’re Nico Merryweather, my best friend, my brother. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
I look away, closing my eyes as he moves his hand, cupping my neck. Emotion is taking over and I want to fall apart, but I probably already look pathetic.
With his voice low, Chandler whispers, “You’re the best person I know. And I love you, bro. Don’t ever feel like you’re not the fucking awesome dude you are. Okay?”
I look back up at him, and I feel like I’m naked in front of him. He knows me. He’s always known, yet he never, ever treated me differently. He’s loved me for me, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend. “Thanks, Chandler.”
He squeezes my neck. “No need to thank me. What are brothers for?”
I never knew until I met Chandler. And now that I have him, I can’t believe I went through life without him for so long.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nico
Aviva is waiting for me when I pull into the parking lot of the shop.
It’s almost three in the morning, but there she is, standing in the doorway. A wide grin is on her face, and I know it’s all for me. I get out of the truck as she pushes the door open and comes toward me. Shit, I want to swallow her up. She’s wearing a huge shirt and a pair of shorts, and she might as well be in one of those lace numbers I bought her. I reach for her, pulling her in close as our mouths connect instantly. God, she tastes just as good as I remember, maybe even better. I gather her in my arms, holding her so tight I worry she can’t breathe, but I can’t stop. Not seeing her like this, not being able to touch her, has been torture. But now I have her, and I refuse to let go.
Her fingers glide up my cheeks and into my hair as our kiss deepens. I squeeze her in my arms, lifting her off the ground so we’re closer. Her fingers thread into my hair, the tips of her fingers digging into my scalp as she kisses me passionately. I don’t even have to question if she missed me. I can taste, feel it. Man, she drives me absolutely wild. I pull back as she rests her nose against mine, breathing just as heavily as I am.
“Hi,” she whispers, and I grin against her lips.
“Hey.” I kiss her top lip and then her bottom. “I missed you.”
“I missed you.”
She leaves me breathless. “Is Callie sleeping?”
“Like a rock.”
“Good.” I capture her mouth once more. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I carry her into the shop, locking the door behind me. She kisses down my throat, moving my shirt over so she can kiss my chest the best she can reach. I can’t go far; I need her. I lay her down on the table, and I’m about to cover her body with mine when I realize people eat here. Her legs squeeze me in closer so my hard cock presses into her. She doesn’t care, so I shouldn’t care.
But I care.
I lift her up, and she laughs. “What are you doing?”
“Can’t do you here. People eat here.”
She giggles more as she kisses up my jaw. “I can clean it. I did clean it.”