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CHAPTER20
Adriano madehis way back through the sparse crowd, knowing Noah was probably ready to pack it all in and head home. The stall had been nearly cleaned out before he’d gone for food, but more than that, he could see it in Noah’s face.
They hadn’t gone too deep into Noah’s past, but Adriano knew enough to know that his boyfriend probably suffered from at least complex PTSD if not something else that triggered his anxiety. Noah had been dipping his toes outside his world of baking and holing up in his apartment just before Adriano had arrived in Savannah, but he knew it was a process.
He knew doing the filming, and going on dates, and running a booth wasn’t going to cure Noah. He was well aware his boyfriend would never fit into the life Adriano lived back in LA. The best part about that, though, was that Adriano liked the idea of abandoning ship. He liked having this escape, and he felt absolutely no draw to head back to the total chaos of his past. He wasn’t ready to give up his job, but he had options, and he was more than willing to commute once his shit with Xander was sorted out.
Adriano reached the booth, then paused with a frown when he realized it was empty. Noah’s bag and the cash drawer were gone, but the empty, leftover bins were still stacked along the side. Setting the pizza and drinks down, Adriano dragged a hand through his hair, then spun around and narrowed his eyes at the crowd.
He didn’t see Noah, but the blacksmith, Birdie, was watching him from across the way with a look on his face like he might know where Noah was. Adriano didn’t waste any time walking up. ‘Did you see Noah?’
Birdie bit his lower lip. ‘He took off. Some guy walked up to him, and Noah looked…’ Birdie’s hand wavered in the air. ‘Afraid,’ he finished. ‘The guy started signing something really fast, then laughed at Noah. Noah took off after that.’
Adriano blanched. ‘What did he look like?’
At that, Birdie laughed. ‘Pretty. Nice clothes, dark blond hair, sunglasses. Attractive.’
Adriano didn’t want to believe it, refused to even consider that Eric would actually show up here, but there was no other person that could send Noah rushing off without a word to Adriano.
He pulled out his phone and shot him a quick text,Are you at home?He said thanks to the other man, then walked back toward the booth and stared at the remnants of what had been such a successful night. He had signed with strangers and with some of Noah’s acquaintances. People were interested, and they were excited. He gave away cookies, then hugs when he ran out of sweets. Noah had sold his booth empty.
And now he was gone because maybe Eric was there—or Xander. Maybe they had shown up to fuck everything up all over again. Adriano pulled out his phone a second time, opened his contacts, then stared at Eric’s contact. He hadn’t bothered to communicate with him since Eric had dumped him on social media, and he didn’t want to start now, but he was worried. He thumbed up a few letters, then down, and tapped on Luca’s name.
Adriano: can u do me favor, see if Eric in Savannah?
He shoved his phone into his pocket, abandoned the pizzas, then gathered up the bins and walked across the lawn toward the petting zoo where Jude had spent his day. Isaac was there, but Liam was nowhere to be found, and in his stead was a very tall, broad man with greying brown hair and a thick beard. He had both arms around Isaac’s waist, and he was speaking into his ear, making the younger man smile.
God. Adriano’s heart ached. He wanted nothing more than to hold Noah like that, but he could only imagine what Noah had been told if the man really was Eric.
Isaac saw his approach and broke away from the older man, walking over to the little pen off to the side. Jude was there, sleeping on a pillow, and he rose obediently, his little tail wagging as Adriano approached.
It was like being able to breathe, cuddling his dog close, and he stood, taking out his phone to tap on his notepad app.Thanks 4 watch him. Need 2 find Noah. U take these bins? Belong 2 bakery.
Isaac read the screen, then nodded and looked behind him at the older man who was watching the exchange. When he realized he had Adriano’s attention, he walked over and motioned for the phone.
I’m Will, Noah’s friend. You must be Adriano. Everything okay?
Before Adriano could type, he saw Isaac’s lips move, presumably in explanation, and Will’s frown deepened.
Let me call him, Will offered, and Adriano nodded, feeling a rush of relief as the man pulled out his own phone and pressed it to his ear. It lasted only a second, though, and he tapped on the keyboard.Straight to v-mail. He must have it off.
Fuck.Fuck. There was no way to deny who had done this. If they were back home, Adriano would know who to get in touch with. He’d have an army of pissed off friends behind him to kick down Eric’s door and make him pay for fucking up the one good thing Adriano had managed to get out of the whole mess. But he had no idea where Eric could even be. He might not even be staying in Savannah, though if he was, there was only one place.
His phone buzzed, and he jolted before lighting up the screen and finding his brother’s name there.
Luca: He went on a road trip, so yes, he’s probably on his way to you. Need help?
Adriano: Nope. Talk 2U L8R.
Adriano signed his thanks to Will and Isaac, then held Jude tight as he walked back across the grass toward the food trucks. He knew Adam was probably still there, and with any luck, Noah. He was single-minded and ready to fuck some shit up, and that’s when he almost tumbled headfirst into Oscar, who was walking Paisley on her leash.
It might have been funny if Adriano wasn’t half out of his mind with anger and worry. ‘Sorry,’ he signed.
Then he realized Oscar was the exact man he needed. He held up one finger, and when Oscar nodded, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and thumbed through his photo album. It wasn’t hard to find a full-faced shot of Eric, and he felt his stomach clench at the sight of him.
With a breath, he showed Oscar his screen, then waited to get the other man’s attention again. He pointed to the screen, then spelled, ‘My Ex.’ Oscar nodded when he understood. ‘You see him around here?’
Oscar mouthed along with the letters, then shook his head and circled his fist over his chest. ‘Sorry.’
