“Casey, G.T.’s callin’ for ya.” I turn to face the man standing with his arms wrapped around my best friend. He hasn’t changed a bit from the last time I was here. Same brown disheveled hair, jeans and rag. Now though, he looks happy, truly happy.

I sigh. “I’ll be there in a minute. Low, go ahead and go.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” I whisper needing just a few minutes to get myself together before going back up to face him.

“Alright, you need anything, find me.”

“I will.” I wave softly as they leave the room, shutting the door behind them. Burying my face in the pillow, I let go. Tears, screams and a few blows to the defenseless pillow occur hard and fast. By the time my body stops, my breathing is hard, labored and my face feels raw from the wetness.

I somehow pry myself out of the bed and to the bathroom, quickly washing my face and press a cool cloth to my eyes. My breathing is now calm, but the ache is ever present.

“Casey?” I look in the mirror quickly seeing the red puffs around my eyes; there is nothing I can do to hide it. I blow out a long deep breath. What the hell is this, Grand Central Station?

“Hey Tug. Be out in a minute.” I open the door and give Tug a small smile.

“Hey. What’s up?”

“Heard you were down here. Wanted to come see you.” He says in the doorway.

He steps further inside the room making his way to the bed. The room is incredibly small just a bed, dresser and small bath off the corner. But it is much better than the bunks with all the others. With him inside, it suddenly feels even smaller. With not having anywhere else to sit, I motion to the bed. “Have a seat.”

“How have you been?”

Looking into his brown eyes, I feel warmth and comfort. Trust. “Good. School’s going good. Some classes are a bit rough, but for the most part good.”

“Wanna tell me why your eyes are red?”

“No. How have things been here?” I look away not wanting him to see inside. Back when everything went to hell in a hand basket with G.T., Tug was there, talking, laughing and being the shoulder I desperately needed.

“Fucking shitty… What do you think?” He shakes his head. “You like it up there?”

“It’s alright.” Before I loved it up there, now it just reminds me of Mia and the sadness is too raw.

“Just alright. What’s going on? You need to tell me now.” His voice becomes forceful but still very caring. He only wants to help, but I cannot tell him before G.T. That just feels all kinds of wrong.

Before I can speak, I am saved by another pounding on the door. Jumping up quickly, I pull the door open wide.

I am surprised to see a very disheveled G.T. standing there, his smile instantly falls when his eyes look inside the room and lock on Tug. I close my eyes, sighing. I’m not G.T.’s but the predatory look on his face is indicating a confrontation.

“What the fuck are you doing in here?” He growls loudly at Tug, making me jump.

“Just talking.” Tug says standing up and walking behind me. Not the best move.

“Get out!” G.T. booms his face so menacing the vein in the side of his neck twitches. This is going to go bad quick.

I place my hand on G.T.’s chest causing his body to tremble. As his eyes meet mine, they soften a touch. “He was just saying hi. I was just getting ready to come up and see you.” I smile sweetly. Knowing the fire that is about to be set ablaze, I do not see it as a lie because I am going back up to see him, eventually. “Bye Tug. I’ll see ya later.” I say my eyes not leaving G.T.’s.

“Later.” Tug says moving to the door. G.T. barely moves an inch as Tug’s large body squeezes through. Damn men.

“You’re not supposed to be out of bed.” I say my hand still on G.T.’s chest. I can feel the strength under his t-shirt.

“You’re supposed to be with me. I came to find you.” He rumbles unapologetically.

“I’m here.” I want to move my eyes away from his, but they captivate mine into submission and suck me in.

His hand rests on mine squeezing gently. G.T. bends down slowly giving me a chaste kiss on the lips. My heart jumps. “I’ll have a Prospect move your stuff to my room.”

I freeze and think quickly. “Nah. That’s okay. I’ll bring what I need for the twenty-four hours.” I try to pull away from him, but he grips me tighter. I think I can break away with him only having one arm on me, but I don’t want to hurt him.

“You think after our time is up, I’m gonna give you up?” He shakes his head. “Angel, you know me better than that.” That I do.

“G.T. I…” my words are cut off by his.

“We’ll talk. Get your stuff. I need to lie down.” He pulls my hand up to his lips kissing me softly; my stomach falls to my knees at the sweetness of his gesture. He releases me and I grab a small bag I brought, throwing extra clothes, pajamas and my toothbrush inside along with my laptop and phone.

“Ready?” I ask, but as I turn around G.T. is opening and closing his eyes rapidly, his body leans to the side and he struggles to get his balance. “Oh no you don’t big guy.” Dropping my bag, I race around him and grab a chair from the game room. Just as I place it behind him, he falls with a thunk into it. Damn it. But as soon as he goes out he comes to again. “G.T?”

“I’m alright. Just tired.” He tries to open his eyes to me, but from the pained look on his face, it’s not working.

“Rest for a minute. Let me see if I can find Cruz.” He nods, which surprises me. He must really feel like shit to take help so damn willingly. Racing through the clubhouse, people are everywhere, but I ignore all of them searching for Cruz. I finally find him over at the table, coloring with Cooper. “Cruz! I need your help, please.” I call over to him. He stands instantly striding towards me.

“What’s wrong?” His eyebrows pull together in concern.

“G.T. got out of bed to come find me. Now he’s downstairs almost passed out in a chair. I need your help bringing him up to his room, please.” I beg and have no shame in that at all.

“Buzz, Breaker, follow me.” He calls out as he heads to the stairs with me on their heels. “He’d be alright if he would just fucking rest.”

After the guys lug G.T back to bed, Harlow pumps him full of more drugs and he’s out like a light.

* * *

“Angel?” G.T. calls from the bed. My eyes instantly lift to the man lying on the bed. I move quickly to his side. My insides turn at his name for me. He started calling me Angel a few years ago and I never questioned it.

“Right here. How ya feeling?” He smiles a devilish grin, the color back in his face.

“Better that I know you’re here. What are ya doing?” He questions and I sit next to him on the bed facing him.

“Homework. I don’t want to get too far behind.” I don’t know if he really wanted to know about school. Nowadays, I don’t feel like I know much of anything.

“Tell me about it.” He says, as I look into his crystal eyes. I can see in them that he genuinely wants to know. And so I tell him about the entire thing from start to finish and he listens attentively to every word coming out of my mouth, leaving out everything to do with Mia. I do not know how long I spoke, but he continues listening till the very end. “Wow. Sounds like a lot of work.”

“It is.” I smile, lifting my shoulder knowing if I don’t get my shit together soon, everything will be much harder.

“I’m proud of you.”

I am taken aback a bit by his statement. Of all people, I didn’t know if he would care one way or the other. “Thanks.” I look down at my hands, not embarrassed but almost shy.

“Come here.” He calls from the bed. I quickly get up needing distance.

“I need to get your meds. Harlow said as soon as you get up.” I scurry over to the table where Harlow laid everything out for me with notes. My eyes search for the needed meds.

“You trying to avoid me?” He chuckles.

“Nope. I’m here aren’t I?” I respond not looking up. Damn he’s got several bottles. I find the one I need and take two capsules out placing them on a napkin.

“I missed you, Angel.” My hands stop what they are doing. I close my eyes and breathe in deep taking a moment to love the words he just spoke.

“I missed you too, G.T.” I grab a bottle of water and the pills quickly bringing them to him. His eyes focus on me, eating away at what resolve I have with this man. I hand him the bottle and pills, he takes them his eyes never wavering from mine.

He hands the bottle back, I quickly turn and put everything away. Great! Now what the hell am I going to do for the next twenty hours? My stomach tenses and I instantly feel very thirsty. With G.T.’s water bottle in hand, I twist the cap and gulp down the water, but it does little to quench my thirst. I want to tell him about Mia, but I need to wait until this twenty-four hour thing is over, when he’s stronger. I can do that. I can hold it in. I can. I must.

“You gonna come lay with me?” He grumbles expectantly.

“No. I’m gonna do some work. You just lay in bed and rest.”

“That wasn’t the deal.”

“The deal was to stay with you, not that I was going to lay in bed with you. Now get some rest.” I say moving back towards the desk and sitting in the chair. I can feel his eyes peering through me, trying to coerce me to look at him, but I do my damnedest to resist. Shivers rack my body and I desperately try to turn them off.

“Angel.” His words come out a caress over my skin. “Why don’t you put a movie on and come lay with me.”

“I really need to get this done.”

“Angel.” The sweetness from his voice evaporates and is replaced with his demanding one. I turn and eye him. His lower body is covered with a thin white sheet, arm splayed on the bed while the other is wrapped up in his brace. His heated eyes are solely focused on mine causing my body to quiver. I need to not give in, but my body does not listen.