***
Troy pressed the doorbell and rubbed his clammy palms on his sweats as he waited. He’d had to convince Philip not to come with him. This was between him and Ryan and no one else.
“It’s opened.” He heard Ryan call from inside the suite.
Troy pushed open the door and entered a classically decorated living room. He froze immediately. Troy didn’t know why but he felt so much energy and power in the room. His anxiety level shot up instantly. He didn’t know whether to leave or stay. His eyes went to the couple sitting on the couch. Jeremy sat with his eyes closed and his head thrown back. And Ryan was straddling him with his face tucked against Jeremy’s neck. Troy just stood and stared.
“Ryan?” Troy finally called softly.
“Troy?” Ryan immediately sat up and turned to look at Troy. “I’m so sorry, I assumed whoever it was, was after Jeremy.” He got off Jeremy’s lap. “You smell different.” He smiled as he walked towards Troy. “Are you alright?” He gave Troy a hug when he got to him. Jeremy remained seated with his eyes closed.
“I’m alright, thanks for asking,” Troy muttered.
“Have a seat.” Ryan gestured towards the seats.
“That’s not necessary,” Troy said quickly. “I came to apologize for what I did the other day. I really didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“It’s okay, Troy. Noth…”
“It’s not okay,” Jeremy said from where he sat, eyes still closed. “Allow him to apologize.”
“Jeremy please…” Ryan growled low in his throat.
“No, he’s right,” Troy said, his eyes downcast. “I don’t know how you survived that but I’m very happy you did. I am sincerely sorry for my behaviour. I hope you can forgive me. I promised not to do that again.”
“Well, you can’t, even if you try,” Jeremy said in a voice that sent a chill down Troy’s spine. “You lost that power when you used it against him.” He finally opened his eyes and sat up.
Troy gasped when he saw Jeremy’s eyes. They were blood red. “Oh, my god…” He whispered, remembering what his mother had told him about his brother.
“Give me a moment,” Ryan whispered. Then he went to stand in front of his mate and hooked his hands on his hips in an angry posture. “Dude…”
“Shhh…” The Ojah shushed his mate as he got to his feet. Then he drew Ryan into his arms. But those red eyes stared into Troy’s over Ryan’s head. “I’ll be watching you.” In the next instant, Jeremy’s eyes were no longer red but as blue as Troy’s. “Troy?” Jeremy released his mate and started towards his brother. “Hey…”
But Troy took a step back. “I just came to apologize to Ryan.” He whispered, eyes wary. “I mean him no harm.”
“I know.” Jeremy stopped walking. “I heard you. He…he was here but I heard everything. I’m sorry for how I reacted.” Jeremy was clearly feeling guilty for his violence towards his brother.
“No, that’s…” Troy’s voice cracked. He recalled Jeremy’s reaction on that fateful day and how terrified he’d been. That, coupled with the guilt inside and the Ojah’s frosty attitude was too much. “I know you hate me for what I did to…”
“No, no, no I can never hate you, Troy.” Jeremy started to walk again when he saw tears well up in Troy’s eyes. “Hey, don’t…”
Just when Jeremy got to him, Troy broke down, sobs wracking his body. Jeremy drew him into his arms and held him as he cried. “I’m so sorry.” He kept saying.
“I know and I’m sorry too kiddo.” Jeremy buried his face in his brother’s hair and held him tightly as he cried his heart out.
Troy tried to stop his tears but they just wouldn’t stop. He honestly didn’t know why he was even crying. It felt as if all the emotions he’d bottled up since he found himself on the streets had coalesced and finally erupted. Troy felt more than saw Philip in the suite with them. He felt him in his head, encouraging him to let it all out. And he did just that. It felt good too. When he eventually quieted down, Jeremy wiped his face with a tissue Ryan handed him and then leaned back to look at him. His own eyes didn’t look so dry.
“Better?” Jeremy murmured. At Troy’s nod, he grinned and asked; “Hungry?”
“Famished.” Troy laughed softly. “But Philip is waiting for…”
“I’m here,” Philip said from his perch on one of Jeremy’s barstools where he was absentmindedly flipping through the channels.
“Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.” Troy croaked, hating that Philip had seen him crying. Philip heard his thoughts perfectly.
“That’s because you were busy being a crybaby.” Philip shrugged, succeeding in making Troy blush and scowl at the same time. “Your mum and the others will be joining us so I’ve asked Maria to serve all of us in the dining room. Want to go back and change the sweats?”
“I’ll give him a pair of jeans to change into,” Ryan said. “You two should take the lead. We’ll be down soon.”
“Alright, darling,” Jeremy said as he fell into step beside Philip who had already started for the door. “See you soon, Troy.”
But Troy didn’t respond to his brother’s words. He only stared at Philip’s retreating back, willing him to stay. He didn’t want Philip to leave him. The thought of Philip leaving strangely made him feel as if he was losing something. The feeling wasn’t pleasant at all. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ Troy asked himself silently, shocked at his weird feelings about Philip. His breath hitched in his throat when Philip suddenly stop at the door and slowly turned around to fix his gaze on him.
‘You cool?’ Philip asked his mate on their mind-link. But Troy remained quiet. “I asked you a question,” Philip said out loud.
“Err…yeah. I’m cool.” Troy mumbled.
‘Can I go?’ Philip reverted to their mind-link. At Troy’s nod, he turned to go. “Good. See you.” With that, Philip closed the door behind him and Jeremy.