Don't Leave Me Here Alone

Chapter Eleven

Riah was tired.

The week was almost over, but he was so tired. It was exhausting being friends with Adam. It was exhausting knowing that Adam had missed him, but not knowing what to do with the information. It was exhausting smiling and laughing with him like nothing had happened only to have it hit him like a freight train in the middle of a conversation. It was exhausting knowing Adam would be leaving at the end of the week and Riah was going to have to heal all the new hurt.

Because Riah was an idiot, and he was self-destructive, and his stupid heart never learned any better. Because he still loved Adam fucking Parrish, and he always had, and he always would. And the only thing the past few days had brought him was an influx of new feelings that he wasn't prepared to deal with.

Biting at his bracelets, he groaned and started getting ready for the christening. He threw on a charcoal pair of trousers and buttoned up a stark black shirt. The edges of his tattoo seeped from the collar like blades. His sharp jawline and cheekbones added to the image he was cultivating; he was a blade and he would cut anyone who got too close. He'd even shaved his head again last night. Finally, he knotted his tie in a way that could only be described as 'leave me the fuck alone'. He shrugged on his suit jacket and examined himself in his bedroom mirror. He looked unapproachable and dangerous. Perfect for a Gansey party.

It was really too bad that Adam was seemingly immune to his lack of charm.

The minute he saw Riah step from the Mercedes, his whole face lit up in a wide, elastic grin. He was wearing a cheap-looking, black suit that didn't quite fit his narrow frame and a blue patterned tie that complimented his eyes. He was holding Persephone, protecting her from grabby republican hands like he feared they would corrupt her with their politics. She was hanging off his hip, pulling at his tie with her tiny fingers, and looking around at all the people in excitement. The kid was curious about everything, and Riah loved it.

"Thank god you're here, Carnelian," he exclaimed when Riah stalked over to them. "This crowd is..." he paused, looking around and shrugging. "Well. You know."

Persephone tried to pull at his lip and Adam only smiled and kissed the palm of her hand.

Riah melted. "Fuck, Adam," he muttered.

The sound of the crowd, women in clicking heels and men with booming voices, carried the words away unheard. At least, they thankfully went unheard to Adam— whose deaf ear limited his ability to process sound at the best of times.

Adam glanced up from making faces at the baby. "Did you say something?"

"Are Dick Three and Midget around?" Riah scratched at his cheek, hoping to hide the red blossoming there. "I thought they'd be socialising?"

He waved his hand at the guests. There was a circle of space around them; a clear avoidance of Riah and his all-black suit. The chatter and laughter, witty comments and twinkling replies, was all starting to give him a headache. He shifted closer to Adam under the pretence of rubbing Persephone's back. It probably wasn't as subtle as he hoped it was.

Adam rolled his gorgeous eyes. "Family photos."

"Without Persephone?"

"I think Mrs. Gansey wants to use them on future wedding invitations."

"I sure the Short Stack fucking loves that." He looked up to a clear blue sky. The early morning sun hung low on the horizon. "Sounds like fucking Hell."

"I saved Persephone from the horror, didn't I, baby?" Adam playfully peppered kisses over her face. "Didn't I?"

Persephone gurgled in response and grabbed at him again. Adam swooped his head around and kissed her nose. She giggled.