Blake is just back from dropping Luke at the airport when he notices the Porsche parked outside.
He parks up in the drive and then leans down to Adam’s window, finds his expression neutral. “How long have you been there?”
Adam shrugs, and Blake steps out of the way so that he can push his door open and get out. “An hour or so. Doesn’t matter though. Can I come in?”
“Of course,” Blake replies, and he feels his heart rate triple as they walk towards the house. He’s not stupid; he knows that Adam’s arrival means he’s caught wind of the new EP. If he’s honest, Blake is surprised he’s even listened to it, with how much he must hate him.
Neither of them says anything until they’re in the kitchen, each leaning against a counter opposite each other. Blake waits for Adam to go first.
“I listened to the album.”
“You did?”
Adam picks up on the surprise, and he nods. “Carson made me.”
Blake nods, because that explains a lot. “I didn’t write it expecting anything. I wrote it, because until I did, I don’t think there was any way I could possibly get close to happiness again. I’m still not sure there is, but if it will help…”
Adam looks down, and Blake can just about see the small smile on his lips. Then he looks up, and he’s smiling properly, the kind that Blake hasn’t seen directed at him since…fifteen years ago. It takes his breath away a little bit.
Adam shakes his head, and if Blake didn’t know better, he’d think it were almost…fond.
“You’re a fucking idiot.” And he takes a couple of steps towards Blake, and Blake has his arms still crossed against his chest. “Carson was right, the son of a bitch. What exactly did you think my stance on this relationship was?”
Blake shrugs. “That you pretty much hate me and will for the rest of your life. Which I completely understand, by the way. What I did was unforgiveable.”
Adam shakes his head, takes another step closer. “Such a fucking idiot. I told you, that this-. I told you that us couldn’t happen. I said that because of you, because I didn’t think you’d ever really come to terms with me being a guy, with the fact that maybe you’d fallen in love with a man. With me.”
Blake swallows, because he can’t believe that this means what he thinks it means, not when it’s probably wrong.
Adam’s eyes search his face, and Blake feels more vulnerable than he has in a long time. He feels frozen to the spot, can’t or won’t dare to move while Adam closes the distance with one final step.
Adam’s eyes drift shut, and slowly, Blake stares as Adam’s left arm moves, hand landing on his cheek, gentle. And then Adam’s lips are on his own. It’s barely anything, the simplest touch of lips that Blake has ever experienced, but it’s still the best kiss he’s ever had.
Blake moves his hands, plants them on either side of Adam’s waist, and looks straight at him. “Is this a sick joke? Because honestly, I don’t think I deserve this. I don’t think I deserve you.”
Adam bites his lip, shakes his head with his eyes half-lidded. “You still don’t get it, do you? I’ve been through absolute hell in the past fifteen years. Don’t get me wrong; the professional side of things, the music, has been brilliant. But you can ask any single one of the boys, you can ask Carson, you can ask my parents, I haven’t been happy since you left. When you left my house that day, I fell apart. I fell in love once before you came to L.A., and it hasn’t happened since you left. I slept with a guy whose name I didn’t even know on finale night because I thought it was because I’d been suppressing the gay part of me, but I felt even worse than I had before. I have been in love with you for over fifteen years, and I’m going to be in love with you until I die.”
Blake lifts one of his hands, moves it to where Adam’s neck meets his shoulder, and kisses him.
He starts slow, a small movement of lips against each other, and then Adam is parting his lips, inviting Blake’s tongue, and he doesn’t bother fighting it. He lets his tongue run across the roof of Adam’s mouth, lets his hand squeeze Adam’s shoulder, lets his teeth scrape and drag along his lips, and it is the best damn feeling he’s ever experienced.
He pulls away eventually, but only far enough to circle his arms around Adam’s shoulders, pulling him all the way into his personal space, bodies touching from shoulder to hip.
He knows he’s crying, knows that the silent tears are dampening Adam’s t-shirt, doesn’t give a flying shit. When they pull away, when Blake silently wipes away the tears, Adam just gives him a shy smile.
“Fucking hell, I’ve missed you so much.”
Blake nods, because he really can’t argue with that. “I love you.”
Adam’s smile grows, dimples, cheekbones, and Blake literally doesn’t want to stop holding him for the rest of his life. “I love you too.” He laughs. “In a totally sexual, non-platonic way.” Adam moves away a little, gets a glass and fills it in Blake’s sink. He hands it back. “You’ve gotta tell me though, what changed your mind? You don’t care that people know you had a relationship with a guy any more?”
Blake shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s just-. I figured out that maybe this is more important. I figured that any real fans, that like me for my music, will still buy my music regardless.”
Adam smiles. “I’ll buy it.” He shakes his head. “We’ve got so much catching up to do. But I need food.”
Blake nods. “I don’t have anything here, so we’ll have to go out.”
Adam nods. “That’s cool. You ready to go now? I’ll drive.”
*
Blake takes a minute or so to just stare at him. They’ve spent the last hour or so recounting everything about their musical careers. To be honest though, they could be talking about absolutely anything, and Blake would just be happy to be there.
“When are you in town until?” Blake asks.
“I leave in a couple of days. No tour scheduled until next year though, so I’m gonna be back in L.A. and in studios in between. You?”
Blake nods. “I’m out pretty much non-stop next week. I’m touring a few venues with Luke, won’t be back in L.A. until The Voice starts up again.”
Adam shrugs. “So can I join you?”
“What?”
“Can I join you? I can write away from L.A., come and stay with you for a few nights here and there.” Blake laughs, literally can’t believe how lucky he is.
“And you had to ask? I would have absolutely no problem with you joining me.”
Blake phone interrupts them there though, and they just sit and smile at each other as Blake lifts the phone to his ear.
It’s his publicist, with notification that her phone has been off the hook with people asking her about his impromptu album. “Pick out the one you deem to be the most far-reaching, and send them over to the house this afternoon. I’ll be back in an hour, so any time from then.”
