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Chapter Fifteen
CONFESSION
This is the end of something.
I can feel it, and so can he.
IT TURNED OUT that when and where was early tomorrow morning and somewhere…sunny. That was all Henri had told Bailey, other than to not pack a whole lot. In fact, there had been a lengthy discussion on whether he needed to go home to pack anything at all. But after pointing out that he at least needed clothes to get to and from wherever they were going, Henri had reluctantly agreed to drop Bailey home for a couple hours, while he went about making the necessary arrangements for their little…vanishing act.
That was where Bailey found himself now, standing inside the front door of his home for the first time since his life had been turned on its head, and the silence that greeted him was deafening.
It was strange. He’d never felt that way before in this house, that it was too quiet. It had always been full of friends and family, and after they had gone or moved on, memories had filled the home, making it feel alive.
But as Bailey stood there now, looking into the living room and out to the property that stretched beyond, he suddenly realized just how big and empty it felt, and just how alone he was standing in it.
That was Henri’s fault. Not because of anything bad, but because in the midst of one of his most horrible days, Henri had shown Bailey exactly what he wanted in life—and empty spaces and quiet rooms were not it.
He wanted omelets and conversations and to be held on rooftop patios. He wanted to watch the sun rise and see the man beside him wake. He wanted a boxing partner who would give as good as he got, and he wanted to be devoured on a staircase at least once a month.
Bailey wanted it all, and he wanted it with Henri.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The quick rapping on his front door startled Bailey, and he whirled around. It was just closing in on five, and he wasn’t expecting Henri until after seven or eight. Bailey peered through the peephole.
Xander. Shit. Bailey had completely forgotten to text him back. His friend had reached out this morning as soon as word of the shooting had hit the news, but Bailey had been in between interviews and questioning down at the precinct and said he’d call him back. Clearly, Xander had decided he was done waiting.
Bailey looked over himself and sighed. There was no way to make his clothes look any less lived in after wearing them for two days straight. But at least he’d showered and shaved back at Henri’s.
Taking a deep breath and plastering on an I’m doing fine expression, Bailey reached for the door handle.
“Bay, hi,” Xander said as he stepped forward and drew Bailey into a hug. “I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve called you back, but—”
“No, no. Don’t even worry about that,” Xander said. “I got George to cover for me. I just needed to see you were okay with my own two eyes.”
As Bailey pulled away from Xander, he offered up a halfhearted smile and moved aside. “I’m doing okay. It was a rough morning, but after they grilled me for a few hours, they let me go.”
Xander ran a hand through his hair as he walked by, and Bailey shut the door. “I still can’t believe it. When I heard about the robbery and then your name and a shooting?” Xander shook his head. “I’ve never been more scared in my life, Bailey. Jesus.”
More guilt slammed into Bailey hard and fast, piling on top of the copious amounts he was already feeling. He tried for a smile to ease his friend’s worry.
“I’m fine, see?” Bailey held his hands out to his sides, and when Xander rolled his eyes, Bailey said, “I was a bit shaken up, but other than that, I’m okay.”
Xander looked him over. “Yeah, I don’t know about that. When was the last time you changed your clothes?”
Bailey’s lips twitched, but then he got serious and said, “I haven’t, actually. I just got home around ten minutes ago.”
“They kept you down at that station that long?”
“No, I, uh…” Bailey rubbed the back of his neck. “I went to Henri’s once I was done there, and, um…”
A smile slowly curved Xander’s lips. “Spent the day?”
Bailey nodded and walked into the living room. “Yeah, that’s right.”
Xander followed, and as they both took a seat, he looked Bailey directly in the eye and, as always, said exactly what was on his mind: “Interesting that that’s where you wound up after one of the most traumatic moments of your life.”
Bailey frowned, thinking about how right it had felt to be with Henri. But if he were to go back to when he’d actually turned up on Henri’s doorstep, he’d have to admit that he too had found it…interesting.
