Chapter 36

A fresh run of tears made their way down Justin’s face. “Please,” he whimpered. “If you really do love me—”

“Don’t you dare,” Ian growled. “You don’t get to throw that in my face. I was the one that did, remember? I wasn’t the one playing games. I wasn’t the one lying.”

Justin shook his head, “No! I didn’t. I wasn’t. I never lied about that. Ever.”

Ian snorted. “All you did was lie.”

“Not about loving you,” Justin whispered. “Never about that.”

Ian turned sharply, still holding Justin by the shirt, “Cole, go to the bedroom and wait there. And don’t give me any shit, Cole, not today.”

Surprisingly, Cole stopped rocking. He tilted his head and slowly slid off the couch. Ian waited until his footsteps disappeared before forcing Justin towards the seat Cole had vacated. “Sit!” Ian commanded with a hard shove.

Justin fell more than sat, and remained that way, half-sprawled and wide-eyed.

“Start talking,” Ian told him, pacing back and forth between the living room and the entrance.