“When you warned me away?” Law snapped.
“I wasn’t warning you away,” Jude replied calmly. “I asked you to make sure that you knew what you wanted. You’re my best friend. Nicky is Liam’s. Things could get messy between the four of us if things don’t work out with you two.”
“Things would be messy if you and Liam don’t work out,” Law shot back.
Jude dropped the serving spoon. Anger sparked in his eyes. “That’s fucked up.”
Law shrugged. “Is it? You’re assuming a lot. Nicky might regress and be a little, but he’s also a grown-ass man who knows what he wants. He runs a successful company. From what I see, he has a rather good life. Settled. In my opinion he’s in a much better mindset than Liam, who had just moved to town. Or you, which I won’t even mention why.”
Jude grinned.
It was so unexpected that Law took a step back warily. He hadn’t meant to lose his temper. Law had been working hard to forgive Jude for his ten-year-long existence from his life. There was still a little bitterness inside him apparently.
“About damn time,” Jude said.
“What?” Law was confused. “What are you talking about?”
Jude grabbed him to yank him into a hug. He pounded on Law’s back. “You’ve been the best friend that I could ever ask for. What I did was wrong. I should have never cut you or theother guys off. You’ve been so understanding and calm about it. I wondered what it would take for you to finally say your piece so we can truly move on.”
Law swallowed around the lump in his throat. He should have known that Jude could see through his bullshit. “I’m still angry,” he admitted.
Jude squeezed him tight before drawing away. “I know.”
“I don’t want to be. I love being in your life again. I love Liam. I don’t want you to push me away again.”
“I won’t.” Jude placed his hand over his heart. “Not only wouldn’t Liam let me but I’m not the same person I was ten years ago.”
“I know.”
“I’m beginning to heal.” Jude glanced away before he straightened and looked Law in the eyes. “I’m seeing a therapist.”
That wasn’t something that Law had known.
“I owe it to Liam to be healed from the trauma of losing Sam.”
“Liam knows?” Law questioned.
“It was his idea.” Jude snorted. “Actually, it’s a condition he put in place before we move in together.”
“I wondered why that hadn’t happened,” Law admitted. And he was proud of Liam for setting boundaries. Law knew that Liam was smart, but this proved that Liam was thinking of their future together. Jude did need help.
Jude nodded. “We’ve discussed it. Liam had that one condition. I can see his point.”
“Is it helping?” Law had to ask. Therapy wasn’t something to be ashamed of. He supported and loved that Jude was getting the help that he needed.
“I’ve realized that I not only owe it to Liam but myself and Sam as well,” Jude stated.
“That’s true,” Law admitted.
“And I will forever be sorry for what I put you, Brody, Angelo, and Josh through,” Jude said. “Now we just have to work you forgiving me.”
“I do,” Law insisted.
“It’ll just take more time to get over it,” Jude said with a nod. “I get that.”
Law thought they were just a bit closer by this conversation.
“But back to Nicky. I wasn’t warning you off. Maybe I overstepped.”
