When Daniel first moved to New York, he would stand in the living room of his high-rise apartment and stare at the skyline. Back then, he’d thought there was no place more beautiful. New York City at night was like a lit-up Christmas tree. Now, with a bottle of Jack in one hand and a fifth of Crown inside him, Daniel wanted the Key Largo night sky back. Not just any night, though. He craved the one where Isaac had held him and done his damnedest to convince Daniel there was no place better.

Here Daniel was—thoroughly convinced and broken. He turned the bottle up. Fire licked at his throat. No doubt, in about five hours, Daniel would be hugging the toilet. That was okay. Rock bottom and puking up his guts is where Daniel deserved to be.

Isaac had fought tonight and won. Daniel had been there, hanging on every second. No one had screamed louder when the official raised Isaac’s arm. The guy sitting behind Daniel had booed. The temptation to break something had been real. Isaac worked harder than any man alive. He sacrificed more than any other competitor. The crowd should’ve chanted Isaac’s name. Daniel wished like hell he was currently crying Isaac’s name.

After finding his phone, Daniel pulled up Isaac’s many unanswered texts. There were apologies and angry rants as well as everything in between. The ache in his chest increased. Each time Daniel thought he couldn’t hurt worse, he found a new level of pain. He’d walked away. Why the fuck had he done that? Why couldn’t he think of a way to make it right?

After closing his messages, Daniel opened the notebook on his phone. He had a column due. For a few days now, he’d debated his words. Tonight’s fight solidified his decision. He would make Isaac a star. It was the least he could do.

* * *

Isaac worked at straightening Aden’s office, finding spots for all the samples of protein powder that showed up almost on a daily basis. It was the last thing he needed to get done before he could leave for the night. Isaac had fallen into a depression he couldn’t shake since Daniel walked away. Even though he recognized he wasn’t really speaking to anyone, Isaac couldn’t seem to stop. There was nothing to say. His life was empty. He showed up at scheduled matches, fought, and won. Isaac was at the gym almost daily, either working out or working his shift. Life went on without Daniel. A million times, Isaac had told himself they were temporary. He didn’t know why his heart hadn’t listened. Now he was getting what he deserved. He’d expected too much. Pushed too hard.

Unfortunately, Isaac couldn’t seem to stop texting Daniel. He always regretted it the moment he hit send. That didn’t stop him from trying again hours later. Daniel’s nonresponse hadn’t stopped him either. He’d never considered himself needy or desperate. It seemed he simply hadn’t met the right person before now.

Isaac could feel Remy’s stare, boring a hole in the top of his head. He’d been working on paperwork at Aden’s desk the whole time Isaac had been cleaning, but Isaac was certain the man hadn’t done anything other than stare at him. Remy was an amazing person and a good friend. Still, Isaac couldn’t drum up a single word for the man. No doubt, Remy knew something was wrong. There was no way people hadn’t noticed Daniel’s visits had stopped. Isaac couldn’t force his lips to shape the words, admitting they were over. So he didn’t speak at all. It was depressing, but as long as he didn’t say the words, he could pretend they weren’t true.

“Will we ever get to meet your daughter?” Remy said, finally breaking the silence.

His question shocked Isaac enough to turn him stupid. “What?”

Remy shrugged, looking uncomfortable, which was something Isaac never expected to see. “We trained together under Drew for a couple of years, and now you’re living in our gym and training with my husband. I’m just a little surprised you still haven’t introduced us to your daughter.”

“She lives in California,” Isaac said, hoping to hold up his end of the conversation while his brain scrambled to catch up.

“Yeah. Daniel’s article said she goes to UCLA, but still. We’ve known each other for years. I would’ve thought I rated some sort of introduction. At least, over the holidays or something.”

Isaac couldn’t understand why his lips were numb. “Um, she’ll be here for a couple of weeks at Christmas. Otherwise, she’s only been here once—for two days while you were in New Orleans. I’m sorry, did you say something about an article?”

Remy smiled. “Yay. Two weeks with the daughter, and yeah. I thought you knew. Have you not seen Daniel’s latest article?”

There it was again. Daniel’s article. That was definitely what Remy had said twice now. Isaac wasn’t hearing things. Shifting from foot to foot, Isaac fought to keep his feelings hidden. He’d been doing his damnedest not to think of Daniel. After another deep breath, Isaac risked speaking again. “Since I opened this morning, I haven’t had time to check it out. I’ll have to do that.” Isaac gave himself a mental pat on the back. God only knew how he’d managed those words without his inner fury making him growl each syllable. He had to get out of here. “I hate to run out on you, but I have plans.” He hoped they didn’t involve killing Daniel. Isaac very much feared they did.

“Of course,” Remy said, waving him away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Isaac nodded and walked away. His feet carried him past at least three people who tried stopping him. He dipped his chin at each one, hoping they’d understand for once he didn’t have time. Isaac didn’t make it upstairs. The instant he turned the corner and was out of sight, Isaac pulled his phone out and found Daniel’s latest article. Isaac’s feet slowed before coming to a complete stop. He didn’t know how much time passed as he stood, blinking down at the title of Daniel’s column.

“The Secret Life of an Up-and-Coming Boxer.”

He didn’t need to read it. Whatever the article said was an invasion of his privacy. A betrayal. Without a thought or plan, Isaac dialed Daniel’s number. To his surprise, Daniel answered. “Hello?”

“You motherfucking bastard,” Isaac said before he knew he would. “You wrote an article about my daughter.” If he’d ever been more enraged in his life, Isaac couldn’t recall it.

“I did you a favor,” Daniel said, sounding calm. “When you fight Jericho, people will chant your name. Everyone loves a nice guy.”

“Fuck. You. You know I don’t give a shit if people chant my name. If you don’t know that, fuck you twice. How dare you do this to me? Trina has never had a normal life. Now she never fucking will.”

Daniel sighed. It sounded loud through the line. “I told you nothing is really off the record with me.”

Isaac didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His throat and eyes burned. This was the man who’d stolen his heart. Isaac had thought Daniel had already done all the damage he could do to his heart. He’d been wrong. So very fucking wrong. Isaac swallowed, trying his damnedest to get words to push past his tight throat. “Is this my punishment for telling you that I love you?”

Daniel cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice still didn’t give a hint of his emotions. “This is all I can give you, Isaac. It’s all I have to offer. Maybe it’s not what you wanted when you said those words, but this is it. You might hate it, but that article will bend public opinion.”

Isaac hurt. All the pain he’d been swallowing down since Daniel walked away was rising to choke him now. “I don’t give a damn about public perception, Daniel. Even if your article hadn’t exploited my daughter, I wouldn’t have wanted it. I didn’t want you for what you could do for me. I fell in love with you because no one else has ever made me feel the way you do. This fucking article,” Isaac paused and drew a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “I would rather you’d told me you’ll never love me back than do this to me, but whatever makes you feel better about yourself.” He hung up before he could bare anymore of his soul to the man who’d stolen his heart and then destroyed him.

* * *

When the phone went dead in his hand, Daniel chucked it as hard as he could against the opposite wall. His shoulders heaved like he’d been running for miles. He didn’t know what Isaac fucking wanted from him. When it came time for Isaac to fight Jericho, everyone would choose to cheer for a man who adopted a cancer patient over a fake ass any day. Isaac should’ve begged for him to write that piece.

The cold glass of his living room window did nothing to cool his temper when he pressed his forehead against the pane. The whole city looked dirty and gray. Before meeting Isaac, Daniel hadn’t been home in at least six months. Since they’d been dating, he’d come more often, searching for himself—or the man he used to be, at least. Daniel thought—if he found that man—he could go back to being an emotionless robot. Once he’d let one emotion in, he’d stopped watching the gate, and they’d all flooded in. For someone like him, that was a disastrous thing.

Daniel loved Isaac. That was what he should’ve said when Isaac told Daniel he loved him on the beach. Instead, he’d reverted to being the basket case he’d been years ago, before his career had given him focus. Daniel sucked in a deep breath, filling his lungs and trying to calm his mind. He blew it back out, fogging up the window. With the tip of his finger, he drew faces in the fog. He kept his mind blank, concentrating on the ridiculous task as he purposely fogged up more of the window to make more faces. As Daniel drew a heart and added Isaac’s name, Aden’s office came to mind. All the colorful rainbows, hearts, and I love yous Remy had drawn. Both men let it ride, uncaring of who saw their insane love for each other. Aden was a grumpy bastard and Remy was the glitter queen. They shouldn’t fit, but they did. Could Isaac and he be the same? Isaac was the kind-hearted hero and Daniel was the black-souled troll in designer shoes. They shouldn’t fit, but they did. Daniel had ruined it by not being honest.

Turning away from the window, Daniel searched the room with his gaze. He spotted his phone sticking out from underneath the sofa where it had slid after bouncing off the wall. After retrieving it, he brushed off the face. This was the reason he’d sprung for an indestructible case. His temper ensured he’d throw his phone often. He’d needed something to withstand him.

Daniel opened his notebook app and got started. If Isaac felt one well-placed article had destroyed them, then Daniel would do one more, and ruin himself. If Isaac never spoke to him again, at least they’d be even. Hope swelled in Daniel’s chest as he typed. Maybe, though. Just maybe, Isaac would understand and give Daniel another shot. He’d never been good at apologizing, but he did have words and a voice.