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Delton pointed at Oliver. “Ask him. This is all him. I never said I thought we were a triad.”
“You didn’t? Then how…? Are you in love with Oliver?”
Good grief, how thick could one man be? Either Adar was the most blind person on the planet, or Delton had been far more subtle in his affections than he had intended. Well, if it was time to tell the truth, he might as well bare his soul and get it over with, right? Because, at some point, Adar would figure it out anyway. Better to rip off that particular Band-Aid right now and be done with it. Then, he could find a quiet corner to sulk in for the rest of his life. Or maybe he should transfer to the Hayes pack. In fact, that was not a bad idea.
“No, Adar, it’s you. I thought you and I were mates.”
Adar’s frown deepened. “But why would you think that when you knew Oliver and I were together?”
Oliver held up a hand. “Not to be a bitch, but we’re not together together. Yes, I have acknowledged we’re mates, but you and I are not in a formal relationship yet.”
“Still, how could Delton think that when he knew we’re mates?”
Great, now they were talking about him as if he wasn’t in the room with them anymore. How very fitting. “Because I thought you were my mate long before Oliver showed up. In fact, I have felt that way from the first time we met.”
Adar’s expression changed from nonplussed to understanding. Finally, the truth seemed to register with him. “That long? But you never said anything.”
Delton gave a helpless shrug. “Because I thought we had time and that, maybe, it wouldn’t be clear to you until we found our third.”
“So you do think we’re a triad. “
“No. I thought I was wrong about you and me.” He let out a humorless laugh. “Anyone can see the connection between you two. It was pretty obvious from day one that I can’t compete with that, so I concluded I must’ve been wrong.”
Adar’s face showed the emotion Delton had feared most of all—pity. “I’m sorry. I like you, and I was excited about building a friendship with you, but that’s all. I don’t see you that way.”
Delton’s throat was so tight he was surprised he could still get words out. “I know. It’s not your fault. You never knew.”
“But you did.” Adar turned toward Oliver. “You knew how he felt about me, and you still pushed us together. You were the one who suggested we become friends, and when he offered to do the impact play with me, you jumped on that. Why would you do that? Why would you set him up to be hurt like that?”
Two big tears dripped down Oliver’s cheeks. “Because I thought you would come to see the truth, that you would fall for him the way you have fallen for me. I thought if you spent time with him, you’d see how amazing he is and how well he fits with us.”
“With us? I thought there was no us. That’s what you just said.” Adar pushed his chair back and rose. “Either way, I don’t care for the way you manipulated Delton and me, and I hate that because of you, he’s now hurting. I’m going to need some time to think and see if I can get past this.”
The barn had grown quiet as if sensing the gravity of this moment, and every face in the room followed Adar as he turned his back on Delton and Oliver and walked out. As soon as he had disappeared, Oliver burst into tears, loud sobs that echoed through the barn.
Fallon ran over to him. “What happened?” Then to Delton, “What did you do?”
Delton shook his head. “No, this is not on me. This is all him. He played a game and got found out.”
Was he too harsh? Maybe, and it didn’t leave him unaffected. Each one of Oliver’s sobs stung like a knife to his heart.
“How can you be so mean to him? Don’t you know what he’s been through?” Fallon all but shouted at him.
Apparently, it was let’s-take-a-hit-at-Delton day.
“Fallon!” Sivney’s voice rang out loud and clear. “I need you to stop right there.”
Sivney hurried over, a murderous expression on his face.
“But he made Oliver cry,” Fallon protested.
“No, honey. Oliver is crying. That doesn’t make it Delton’s fault or his responsibility. And while I’ll be the first to acknowledge that what he went through with the Murphys was horrible, it doesn’t mean we can’t hold him accountable for his actions.”
His words hugged Delton like a warm embrace, a tacit agreement he wasn’t in the wrong. As much as he hated that Oliver was so upset, he wouldn’t take responsibility for it because it wasn’t his fault. None of this was. He’d never intended to tell anyone about his feelings for Adar, and even after Oliver had figured it out, Delton had asked him to keep it from Adar. Oliver had disregarded his request, and this was the result.
“How do you know it’s not Oliver’s fault?” Fallon demanded.
Sivney put a hand on Fallon’s shoulder. “Because it’s my job to know things. You’re a good friend, Fallon, and I know you’re only trying to look out for Oliver, but maybe ask him about the details first before you make up your mind that Delton is in the wrong here. Or Adar, for that matter.”
