As a knock landed on Jonah’s door, he practically skipped to answer. He’d been texting John all morning, trying to figure out what he needed to wear for the Mother’s Day thing, but John hadn’t gotten back with him. It was hell. He hoped whatever John had planned wasn’t fancy. If so, he might not have time to get ready. Confusion rendered Jonah mute as the door swung open. The dark-haired, light-eyed man on the other side was someone he hadn’t seen in ages. Jonah scooped up Cricket and pushed the screen door open.

“Brad?” The presence of John’s lawyer was more than a surprise. It was downright odd. He’d only seen the man in passing since he’d drawn up the contract between John and him. “What brings you by?”

The way Brad shifted from foot to foot while avoiding eye contact had Jonah’s stomach muscles drawing up tight with dread. “I came by to go over Mr. Green’s severance package with you.”

“His... What?” The ache in the center of Jonah’s chest screamed he’d heard the man right, but he couldn’t have. Right?

Brad took an audible breath and met Jonah’s stare. “Your severance package. Don’t worry. John has ensured you’re taken care of for a long time.”

Several things occurred to Jonah at once. He should invite Brad inside. He’d just been dumped. John had fucking dumped him via his lawyer, and last but not least, Jonah was furious. “I don’t want it.” He started to close the door in Brad’s face.

Brad stuck his foot out, stopping him. “You should hear me out. If you still want to send me away afterward, I can’t stop you.”

“You can’t stop me now,” Jonah said, pointing out the obvious while daring Brad with his stare to try.

“Please?”

Jesus. Jonah barely suppressed an eye roll at Brad’s begging. John had probably threatened his life if he let Jonah turn him away. “Go on, then. Speak your piece.”

Brad looked around. “Here?”

Jonah gave him a short nod. “Here.” He wasn’t risking not being able to throw the man out later. He damn sure couldn’t give John the satisfaction of this lawyer seeing him cry.

After clearing his throat, Brad looked resigned. “Okay. Well, as you may or may not know, the house and car were paid off last year and have always been in your name. They were gifts and Mr. Green would like them to stay that way.” As much as Jonah wanted to tell him to shove both up his ass, he didn’t relish being homeless, and he wasn’t stupid. Maybe. Well, obviously, he was a little dumb. After all, he’d fallen in love with John.

“Okay.”

Brad nodded, as if relieved Jonah wouldn’t argue. “As to your severance, John would also like you to send him an estimate on how much your college education will be in total through graduation so he can pay off the remainder. He also requests you pick a major you’ll actually enjoy. In addition, he’s written you a check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

Jonah couldn’t breathe. He fought the urge to put his head between his knees and suck air. Falling apart was moments away and Jonah didn’t want a witness. He’d never been more grateful he’d never confessed his love. John would never know how he broke Jonah in that moment. He swallowed. Whatever he said now would go straight back to John. Jonah would be goddamned if he looked like a fool in the end.

“Please let John know that I appreciate him not leaving me homeless or without a way to get around. As to the tuition and check, tell him I politely decline. I’m sorry you were placed in such an uncomfortable position.”

A sad smile passed over Brad’s lips, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Jonah. For the record, I think he’s making a huge mistake. Anyone with eyes can see you care about him. Everyone else uses him, but contracted agreement or not, I honestly don’t believe it was ever about the money for you.”

It hurt. Jonah’s throat swelled. Losing John hurt way more than he ever imagined. “It never mattered how I feel,” Jonah admitted, hearing his pain despite his best efforts. He cleared his throat. “Have a nice life, Brad. I’ve always liked you.”

Brad’s blush might’ve made Jonah smile under any other circumstance. Right now, in the face of losing the only thing that mattered, Jonah felt nothing but the shattering of his heart.

“You too, Jonah.”

Jonah closed the door and set Cricket on the floor. He pressed his forehead to the cool wood. With his eyes squeezed shut, Jonah tried to squash the image of John’s smiling face. It wasn’t like he’d ever believed John would marry him or anything like that. In the back of his mind, he’d always known John would get bored and move on. That was what rich, older men did. They didn’t settle down. They didn’t settle for or on anything. When the money was endless, so too were the newer model toys. It was just that... Well, it was just that Jonah was stupid, apparently. He’d let his heart get touched. A tear rolled down his cheek. Jonah wiped it away.

Cricket scratched at his feet. Jonah stared down at the only thing he had left. John had bought him too. Fuck. Who did things like that for someone they didn’t love at all? Things hadn’t been perfect. At first, John had been wild. Jonah had done things he didn’t like to make him happy—like sharing partners. Jonah scooped Cricket from the floor again and cuddled him. The day John had shown up with the tiny dog, he’d looked at Jonah differently. Jonah had thought... It didn’t matter what he’d thought. They were done. He was alone. On Mother’s Day. If John had hoped to make a point by choosing today, he’d succeeded beautifully. Jonah was acutely aware he’d never mattered at all to anyone, especially to the people he loved the most.

John stared at an oil painting in a badly lit room, seeing nothing. Not that there was anything to see. He was a great lover of the arts. The museum was one of his favorite places, but this was a cheap painting inside an expensive spa. There was nothing to see here. He was acutely aware of his mother speaking. The thing was, he couldn’t force his brain to cling to a single word. His tongue didn’t want to work either. Everything felt heavy and wrong. A woman rubbed his feet. Why was she touching him again? He hated everyone’s touch, except Jonah’s. How strange was that realization? John used to touch everyone he could. Now all he wanted was to be left alone with Jonah.

“What’s wrong with you, boy?”

John glanced over at his mom’s question. “What?”

She rolled her eyes. “I thought we were having a mother-son day. All you’ve done is stare into space.”

“I’m fine. This is fun.”

Viv snorted. “Bullshit.”

“I’ll pick a different gift for you next year.”

“For fuck’s sake. There’s nothing wrong with the gift. You know I love the spa.” She nodded at the girl massaging her feet. “You know this. Right, girlie?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the girl dutifully replied, making John’s eyes roll against his will.

“The place is not the problem. The company is. What the hell is wrong with you today? You’re never silent. Hell, you’re never even semi-silent.”

“I’m sorry. What would you like to talk about?”

“Jesus,” Viv muttered, sounding irritated. “Where’s Jonah? Now that’s a boy who knows how to entertain an old lady.”

A smile touched John’s lips even as a pain sliced through his chest. Jonah knew how to entertain an old man too, but John kept that to himself. Had Brad dropped the news yet? How had Jonah taken it? John couldn’t breathe. He blinked at the cheap painting again, seeing nothing.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course, Mother,” John said, even though he hadn’t heard a word. “I’m a disappointment. You’ll never have grandchildren. Unless, of course, we consider Jonah’s age. He’s young enough to be your grandson. Did I cover everything?” He didn’t need to listen. They rarely spoke of anything else.

“Why didn’t you bring Jonah along?” she asked rather than answering. “A lot of people have mothers and a mother-in-law who still manage to visit both on the same day. Did he not want to see me?”

“Stop,” John said, hearing the exasperated laugh in his voice and incapable of stopping it. “You know damn well Jonah loves you. Things just didn’t work out, okay?”

“Well, that’s all you had to say.” Viv smiled and started happily chatting with the woman rubbing her feet.

John shook his head and looked away. She didn’t understand. His mom loved her dramatics. He didn’t know how to explain things hadn’t worked out at all. Not just for today. Soon enough, he’d have to tell her. He’d have to tell everyone. John didn’t have the words for this. He didn’t know how to admit he’d stolen everything from Jonah. While Jonah had been smiling and going out of his way for John in every way, John had been taking and taking, never once noticing that Jonah was drowning. What kind of person was he really? He’d always thought he was a fairly decent human. Yet he’d constantly let Jonah down and never once noticed. Now it was over. John didn’t know how to make the pain stop. Maybe it would never go away. It was possible he’d choke on the horrible sensations inside him, die in his sleep, and no one would ever know it was his fault.

“Isn’t that right, John?”

John nodded, even though he hadn’t heard a word. “You’re always right, Mother.”

“See? That’s why he’s my favorite. Did you say Jonah was with his mother?”

Biting back an exasperated sigh, John shook his head. “His mother hasn’t spoken to him in five years. I doubt he’s with her today.”

“What?” At Viv’s screech, John blinked, wondering if he’d lost an eardrum. “What kind of woman doesn’t talk to her own son, especially when she has one as sweet as Jonah?”

“Someone who hates gays, I suppose.” Even to John’s ears he sounded tired.

“Well,” Viv said, sounding scandalized. She toyed with her purse straps, looking more pissed off by the second. He loved his mom. “As soon as my toes dry, we could always go kick her ass.”

A smile touched John’s lips before falling away. Within seconds, he was back to drowning. Jonah loved John’s mom too, and everything was gone. Had Brad broken the news yet? Damn. This was hell and there was no end in sight.