“Another booty call? We still have ten minutes,” Frank said. I gave him my best side-eye. “You still owe me that sponge bath.”

“Frank, how many times do I have to tell you? Sponge baths aren’t included. That’ll cost you extra,” I joked.

Frank smiled and waved his palm at me, as I walked into the laundry home to get his clothes. “You can go. I’m probably going to hit the hay, anyway,” he said. “But before you escape on me, I wanted to tell you about something I’ve been planning out.”

I grabbed the rest of his clothes and put them in the dryer. I peeked my head back into the room. “You’re scheming again?” I asked him.

“Well, an old man’s gotta do something with his days,” he said.

I set the timer for fifty minutes and turned the dryer on. “Okay, so tell me what this plan is,” I said, walking back into the room.

“I’ll tell you, but I don’t want you blabbing your mouth to that football star of yours,” Frank said.

“Addison? I’m not going to tell him anything, Frank. You should know by now that you can trust me,” I said. He reached for the cigar box on the table. “You’re not supposed to smoke these anymore, by the way,” I said.

“Do you want to hear my plan or not? Give me a damn cigar. I want to feel young again,” Frank said.

I scoffed at the old man and bit my lip. I lowered the box down into his hands but kept my fingers tightly wrapped around it. “Okay, fine. I won’t tell Addison whatever it is you’re about to tell me if you promise not to tell the doctors I let you have these,” I said.

“It’s my death wish.” Frank plopped a cigar in between his teeth and winked. “Okay. Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

Frank slowly reached into the cabinet’s drawer and pulled out a few sheets of papers. “Here. Read these,” Frank said.

I looked at the papers. They were application papers. “The Frank Ozen Charity Foundation? You’re starting a charity, Frank?” I asked him.

“I’ve got money. Why not?” he asked.

I laughed and set the papers back into his hands. “I guess I’m just wondering how this involves me,” I said.

Frank grinned and lit the front end of his cigar, puffing out big plumes of smoke. I took two steps back and covered my mouth. Frank merely laughed. “I want you to be on the board. And when I’m dead and gone, I want you to run the damn thing,” he said.

I rolled my eyes at the suggestion. “Board of directors? Me? I think you have the wrong guy. Maybe you should ask Addison. He’s got money and fame. He’ll bring the foundation a lot of media attention,” I said.

His smile turned into a severe grimace. “No celebrities. This isn’t a Ponzi scheme. I want to help people,” he said.

“Yeah, but Frank, I can’t be on the board. I don’t know the first thing about charities. Embarrassingly enough, I’ve only donated to a few in my life,” I admitted.

Frank waved his palm again at me. It was a move that he made when he believed you were acting nonsensical. “How old are you? Twenty-seven? Look at everything you’ve already achieved,” he said.

“I’m a care aide,” I muttered.

“Oh, so you do have the experience of helping people! Even better,” Frank said.

If I knew Frank as much as I thought I did, he wasn’t going to give up without a fight. And I was definitely not someone who wanted to take on Frank. “Okay, so what’s the charity for?” I asked him.

“I haven’t gotten that far,” Frank said. The cherry on his cigar lit up, fiery red and fierce.

I didn’t like how much he was enjoying that cigar. “Lung cancer survivors, maybe?” I asked him, staring at the stogie.

“Very funny. I’ll figure out the nitty-gritty tonight,” Frank said. “You go meet with your boy-toy, and we’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

I laughed, hoping this whole idea was some type of weird joke. “Okay, Frank. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, opening the front door.

“And don’t forget what I told you! Addison can’t know about this,” Frank warned.

I wasn’t sure why he was so gung-ho about hiding this from Addison, but I wasn’t going to question it too much. I didn’t want to say anything to that alpha right now, let alone tell him about a business opportunity I received from a patient.

“I won’t say a word,” I said.

I made the uncomfortable drive back to Addison’s house again. When I pulled up to his giant front gates, they were already open for me. I parked the car and carefully walked up the stone steps.

I noticed that his front door was open. “Addison, I’m here!” I called out.

I heard a tired groan come from inside. I ran up to the front hall and immediately stopped myself. “Oh, God, Addison. What have you done?” I asked.

Addison was sprawled out on the couch, nonchalantly drinking a glass of water, while nursing his head with an ice pack. His house, however, was completely trashed.

“I had a bad night,” he said, innocently. “I think we should talk.”

I sighed and glanced back at the front door. I wanted to leave, but I also didn’t want him to hurt. I sat down next to him. “What is it?” I asked him.

“I’m sorry for everything. For the past, present, and future. I’m just really sorry,” Addison said.

I didn’t know how to respond. Last night was so embarrassing. I didn’t even want to think about it. “I fucked up too,” I whispered.

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I was out of line to bring the past up like that,” Addison went on.

“Well, I shouldn’t have kissed you. That was a clear foul. I shouldn’t drink when I’m around you. It messes with my head,” I said.

“You’re fine. You were right last night, anyway. I gave you up for my career,” Addison said. “I was such a fucking idiot back then. I was like eighteen, though. Can you blame me?”

I shrugged. It was hard not to, but we were both so young back then. “I don’t want to blame you,” I said. “But I guess it’s hard for me not to fall into that line of thinking. I loved you, Addison. I would have done anything for you back then.”

My mind was at great odds. Part of me never wanted talk to him again. The other side of me wanted to hold his hand. “We should apologize and figure this out,” Addison said. “We make a good team when we don’t hate each other.”

I looked at him honestly. “What are you suggesting? That we date again?”

“No, omega. I know that’s out of the question, but we need to figure out how we can be friends again,” Addison said. “I want to see you more. I miss hearing about your day and lounging around in pajama pants, eating pizza together and watching movies. I want to hear your suggestions. I want my friend back.”

I didn’t want to carry this grudge down to the grave. I wanted us to get along because we used to be closer than siblings. There was so much good there between us. “I do too,” I said.

“So, come here,” Addison said. He held out his arms. I gently lowered myself into them and closed my eyes. I breathed his scent in deeply and felt his fast heartbeat against my ears.

I let him go after a full minute of listening to his body. I stood up awkwardly and stared at the damaged carpet. “You’re going to have to get the whole flooring replaced now,” I said.

“And the bathroom mirror. And the TV. Whatever. It’s not a problem,” Addison said. “I’m not worried about money anymore. I’m worried about my mental health, Kristoff. Fuck. That’s embarrassing to say out loud.”

I took his hand and pulled him to his feet. Addison was blessed with so much: a perfect body, all the money in the world, and a family who loved him. But if he kept on that path of self-destruction, all of that would go away.

“Is it embarrassing to have a cold?” I asked him. “If you broke your leg, would you wait to go to the doctor’s office?”

Addison frowned and shook his head. “No, but that’s entirely different, Kristoff. Those things are physical ailments,” he said.

“Your brain is physical. All of the mental pain that you’re experiencing right now comes from serotonin, dopamine, and other chemical reactions. It’s not embarrassing to admit when those things aren’t helping you out,” I said.

The stigma around mental health issues was more than hurtful. It was life-threatening. The sports industry was the worst when it came to physical and mental health issues. I needed to keep Addison focused on the good.

“See, I like it when you’re here. You always know what to say,” Addison muttered. “Whenever I talk to Andy, all he seems to care about is getting my career back in the limelight.”

“Andy? Your old manager? Of course. He only cares about those dollar bills,” I said.

“You don’t,” Addison said with a handsome spark in his eyes. His confidence was slowly coming out, which was definitely a good thing. We needed to figure out how to hone that in.

“That’s right. I don’t care about money. I care about helping people. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” I said.

“I just wish I could help myself.” Addison laughed. What I saw was a leader with a broken spirit.

“One step at a time, my dear,” I said.

We stared at each other for a brief moment, until he looked away. He was so handsome. I hoped he could see that side of himself again, but I knew it was going to take some time.

“You know, you could sleep here if you want. I have five spare rooms,” Addison suddenly said.

I rolled my eyes and let out a short laugh. “Do you really think that’s such a good idea?” I asked.

He put his hands in front of his chest. “No funny games. On my word. It would just be nice to have someone here in this empty house with me,” Addison said.

I took a deep breath and looked back at the closed front door. I could leave if I wanted to, but there was a part of me that didn’t. I made a risky choice at that moment. “Okay,” I said, setting down my bag. “I’ll stay over. But no drinking this time, and no funny business.”

“Funny business? Me?” he asked, jokingly.

“I’m serious, Addison. If you pull anything, I’m done. You won’t be hearing from me again,” I said.

“Relax,” he whispered.

I felt myself calm down as much as I could. “Okay. I trust you,” I said.

Suddenly, Addison’s face turned excited. “Want to see something fun?” Addison asked.

“Yes.” I smiled and took his hand, as he dragged me toward his room.

Addison’s room was as adult as you could get. He had a huge bed, the deepest closet imaginable, and beautiful art that lined the walls. But that’s not why he dragged me in here.

No, he dragged me into his room so he could show me his old Nintendo 64. I frowned. “This is what you wanted to show me?”

“Sit down,” he said. “Are you ready to get your butt kicked in a Mario Kart race?”

I pounced on the carpet and grabbed the blue controller. “You wish!” I exclaimed.

And just like that, we established our new friendship. Like old times, we played video games all the way through the night. Of course, I whooped his butt.

That night, we fell asleep in the same bed. Despite my worry, Addison was nothing but polite and calm with me. And when we were too tired to keep our eyes open, I rolled onto my side and took his hand.

“Sweet dreams, Addison,” I whispered. Addison smiled back at me and whispered the same thing back to me.

I wished things worked out a little differently. If they had, maybe we’d have gotten back together a long time ago. I quickly shook that idea out of my head. I was just happy to fall asleep next to him, even if we were just friends.