“Of course I can send someone. I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” He hung up and sighed. This wasn’t how he pictured things going between them, but that was the nature of relationships, wasn’t it? Not that they had a relationship. Sort of. Ugh, okay, no. All he needed was some time to regroup. He wasn’t giving up on Frank. Not yet. This was only a hiccup. Maybe he needed to add a new tab to his spreadsheet. How not to strangle your man in five easy steps. Something told him it would take more than five steps.
Seven
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“Excuse me?” Frank lifted his gaze from his computer to the very annoying man sitting on his couch glaring at him. He should have kicked Ace out when he walked in here like he owned the place. Did he think he could do whatever the hell he wanted because he was married to Colton? Who the hell was Frank kidding? His friends were a pain in the ass, and they were very aware he wouldn’t do a damn thing about it.
“You are an asshole,” Ace repeated, enunciating each word.
“I know that. Are you expecting me to get offended, or… what? What do you want, Sharpe?” As if he didn’t already know. “Colton sent you.”
“Colton is perfectly capable of telling you what a fuckwit you are on his own. I’m sure he’ll be along shortly. I’m here because my husband is unhappy, and my husband is unhappy because his friend is unhappy.”
Frank ignored the way his heart squeezed in his chest at hearing Ace’s words. He’d never meant to hurt Joshua, but they were heading in that direction anyway, so why prolong it? “I didn’t think Joshua was the kind of guy to have someone fight his battles for him.”
“Again, you’re an ass. He doesn’t know, and he’ll probably be pissed when he finds out, but Jesus, Frank, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“You seem to have a pretty good idea. Why don’t you tell me?”
“Joshua is crazy about you. You knew that. Why would you fuck him and just toss him aside?”
“Fuck you,” Frank spat, jumping from his chair. “I did not fuck him and toss him aside.”
“No?” Ace leaned back and threw his arms open. “You could have fooled me.”
“It’s none of your fucking business.”
“But it is my business,” Colton hissed as he marched into the room and stopped in front of Frank. “Joshua is a kind, sweet, wonderful person. He doesn’t deserve you shitting all over his heart.”
“Joshua is a grown man who doesn’t need you two mother hens trying to fix his ouchies. Mind your own fucking business.”
Colton narrowed his eyes, and Frank cursed under his breath. Great. Nothing and no one was more of a pain in the ass, or diva, than a pissed-off Colton.
“Now you listen to me. You’re going to fix this.”
Frank opened his mouth to reply, but Colton held up a finger to stop him. “I love you, you know I do, but right now, you’re being an ass. One thing you have never been is a coward. Don’t start now. You care about him. I know you do.”
Feeling deflated, Frank dropped down onto his chair. “That’s not enough to make a relationship work.”
“Bullshit. For the first time in your life, you’ve found someone who can hurt you, really hurt you, and you’re scared. No one understands that better than I do, believe me.” Colton’s blue-gray eyes filled with love as he turned to his husband, his smile radiant. “I took a chance, Frank, and I have never been more grateful that I did.”
Ace stood and joined his husband to pull him into his arms. He grabbed Colton, dipped him, making him laugh, and kissed him.
“You’re both disgusting,” Frank grumbled.
“You too can be disgusting,” Ace said with a big dopey smile as he pulled Colton back up with him. “With Joshua.”
“You’re not going to let this drop, are you?”
Ace put a hand to his heart. “What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t meddle in your life? If it weren’t for me, King would have never admitted he was in love with Leo. I united those two love doves.” He brought his hands up, fluttering his fingers, then laced them together. “I’m a love master.”
Frank was unimpressed. “Love master, huh? Weren’t you the one who fell in love with your client while on the job?”
“Client’s son,” Ace corrected. He blew Colton a kiss. “It worked out for the best.”
“Right. After your brothers-in-arms, who you kept your secret love affair from, had to help you clean up your mess when your client found out.”
Ace pursed his lips. “You know, it’s that kind of negativity that’s going to keep you from your love dove.” He fluttered his fingers once more, but before he could lace them together, Frank jutted a finger toward the door.
“Get out of my office.”
“Okay.” Ace kissed Colton’s cheek. “I leave the grumpy dove in your hands.” He hurried out of Frank’s office.
“At what point did you think marrying a man who refers to people as love doves seemed like a good idea?”
Colton laughed. “He’s nuts. I know that.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I wouldn’t change a thing. The way that man loves me?” He shook his head. “No one’s ever made me feel as cherished.”
Frank nodded his agreement. As over-the-top as Ace was, the guy had a heart of gold. Hell, he’d almost died for Colton, and they all knew Ace wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. There was nothing on this earth Anston Sharpe wouldn’t do for the man he loved. Frank could have that, if he wanted it.
“Just… think about it, Frank. It’s not too late.” Colton patted Frank’s shoulder, then left.
What the hell was wrong with him? Colton and Ace were right. Joshua had the power to really hurt him, so the first opportunity Frank had to leave, he took it. Fuck, he was such a coward. Was he really going to let Joshua walk out of his life because he was too scared to take a risk? The fact he was this scared should have told him how much Joshua meant to him. His laugh held no humor.
“Un-fucking-believable.” He’d spent years running into burning buildings. His entire fucking life had been one risk after another, and now when he needed to get his shit together and go for it, he’d let his fear get the better of him. He needed to call Joshua and fix this. A knock on his door stopped him reaching for his cellphone. “Now what? Yeah?”
Seth opened the office door and stuck his head in. “Jack and Joker are here.”
Ah, the dastardly duo. “What mischief have they come to unleash in my club?”
“I don’t know, but they have their bestest boy with them.”
Frank couldn’t help his smile. “Bring him in through the back.” Just because he couldn’t have Chip in the club, didn’t mean he couldn’t sneak the beautiful boy in through the back of house. Seth nodded excitedly and was off, making Frank chuckle. His staff had met Chip during the Four Kings Security annual charity gala a few months back. He’d been an added bonus during the bachelor auction when Joker had gone up on stage to be auctioned. As if one cute guy hadn’t been enough, the crowd had lost their fucking minds when the spirited black Belgian Malinois took the stage. Joker ended up raising the most money in the history of the event.