Why did I bring up that stupid induction party again? I guess I felt like my words deserved to be heard finally.

Did he go home with that asshole? I wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but I wasn’t going to put it past him. Addison was addicted to fame. That was putting it lightly too.

Still, if what he said was true, then that made me a really huge asshole. I had to let bygones be bygones. Hopefully, we were both different people at this stage of our lives. It was time to move on and build off of that.

“It sounds like you’re still in love,” Frank said.

I sat next to the chipper old man in the beautiful park. We both spread our legs out against the green grass. “I’m not in love, Frank,” I said. “But he was my best friend, and I miss that.”

“You can’t have everything you want,” he said. “I’m an old man. It’s wise to listen to me now and then.”

“What do you mean?” I asked him. I was genuinely interested in what he had to say.

He smiled and looked up at the clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful Spring day. I was glad we took the time to come here since Frank never got out of the house. “Maybe my advice is old fashioned, but it’s difficult to stay friends with someone you used to love. The history tends to get in the way,” Frank said.

“Yeah, I keep thinking about the night we broke up,” I said.

“You’ve been talking about it every ten minutes!” Frank joked. “Oh, boy. You’re in for some soul searching, that’s for sure. Be open to what comes your way, but be careful too. Not everything will be good.”

I nodded and reached for the phone. “Speak of the devil,” I said.

“What? Let me see.” Frank leaned over my shoulder to read my text. “Oh, lord,” he whispered.

The text read: “I can’t wait for tonight.”

I laughed. I should have known my body’s reactions better than this. When I felt the surge of excitement penetrate into my abdomen, I should have canceled my plans. I was playing a dangerous game, and Frank knew it before I did.

“That’s not a bad text. It’s positive!” I exclaimed.

Frank shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, dear,” Frank said.

I took Frank’s words to heart. He had lived a lifetime in a world that didn’t accept omegas as full people. Nowadays, that type of thing was unheard of, but Frank’s stories really blew my mind.

As much as I wanted to delete Addison’s number, I knew that he needed help. He needed to be around people who loved him. Otherwise, he’d do something reckless and stupid.

“Come on, Frank. Let me help you up. I have to get you back in less than…” I paused to check my phone. The time read 4:40PM. “Oh, crap. We’re running so late.”

“Those bastards can shove it. I haven’t seen a nice day like this in years,” Frank said.

Very carefully, I helped lift him up. He was a tough omega, and he hated asking for assistance. Frank was my favorite patient. I hated thinking that every day was a battle for him, but he had diabetes and a severe case of arthritis. Frank also had some lung problems. Every day was a constant struggle for the man.

I drove Frank home, hugged him goodbye, and listened to his last warning. “Wear protection, dammit. I don’t want you coming here tomorrow in tears. I’d have to slug the son of a bitch.”

“Thanks, Frank.” I chuckled and waved goodbye.

In the car, I texted Addison back. “Sorry, just got off work.”

The three dots appeared on the text screen. “Got a bathing suit?”

It was a pretty beautiful day out and who didn’t like to swim over a nice Californian view? I just wanted to make sure that we actually came up with a plan tonight. “I’ll stop by the house first to pick it up. We have to work, though. Okay?” I asked.

“Babe, you have to relax hard to work hard,” he said.

Babe? Really, Addison? I didn’t like how this was playing out. His logic was utterly flawed. I sent back a devil-faced emoji and drove home.

I dug through my closet for the right swimsuit. I held up each pair of shorts to the mirror and sighed. “What am I doing?” I thought. I wouldn’t admit that I was trying to impress him, but for some unexplainable reason, I wanted to look my best.

After holding up a much too revealing speedo, I decided on the pink trunks. They seemed safe enough to wear around him. Plus, I promised myself that we wouldn’t have too much pool time together.

As I drove to Addison’s house, I tried to put all my worry behind me. We were both very different people. If he tried anything, I’d leave in an instant.

Then I pulled up to his gated house, and my jaw dropped. “Shit,” I whispered. His mansion was huge.

Addison walked nonchalantly to the gate and let me in. When I got out of the car, he smiled proudly. “I have to be honest here. I didn’t think you’d come,” he said.

“Well, I’m a man of my word,” I said, trying not to marvel at the large cobblestone entrance. “This place is crazy, Addison. It’s like three houses.”

“It’s not as nice as you think. It gets pretty lonely,” Addison admitted. “I’ll probably sell it and buy a cabin in the woods like my parents eventually. Here, let me take your things.”

Addison awkwardly fumbled with my hand. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I’m not trying to pull anything, I swear.” He took my swimsuit and towel and led me through the massive front door.

Our footsteps echoed loudly in the main hall. “No worries,” I muttered.

I was too infatuated with his house to worry about him pulling anything. “So, this is it,” Addison muttered.

He clapped his hands and the lights dimmed. He clapped them again, and they turned brighter. Outside, the pool was lit. There was a connected hot tub and what looked to be a steam room. “Wow. I feel like I shouldn’t be allowed in here. This is way too aristocratic for me,” I said.

He grinned and set my things in the bathroom. “You like?” he asked. I nodded and watched as he slowly took off his shirt. “Get ready. I’ll make us some drinks.”

I tried not to look at his perfectly molded body. He walked over to the kitchen and winked. “What? What’s wrong?” he asked, smile fading. I kept staring at his chest and the muscular lines that curved deep into his pelvis.

“Nothing at all,” I lied. I dipped into the bathroom and locked the door. Leaning against the wall, I managed to take a few deep breaths.

Okay, Kristoff. Just focus. Addison isn’t that hot…

But I couldn’t deny that he was hotter than he used to be. Addison looked like an Olympian. “Hey,” he called out, “I’m going to need you to lather me up!”

“Shut up, Addison. It’s night,” I muttered. I imagined my hands rolling over his beautiful abs. Then, I looked down. Fuck. I was hard, like, really hard.

I pulled down my pants and hopped on my heels, pursuing every trick in the book. I thought of my grandparents, I pinched myself and held my breath. Then, I thought of our last argument. That did the trick.

I opened the door and pursed my lips. “Nice shorts,” he said, handing me a blended drink.

“I thought we said no drinks,” I groaned.

“Let’s just have one.” His smile was so charming that it was hard to say no to him.

“Okay. One is fine, I guess,” I whispered.

Addison wanted to show off tonight. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be pulling out all the stops so early. He reached for a small, silver remote. With one press of a button, the glass doors to the backyard slid open.

“Welcome to California,” he said with pride.

In front of me was the best view I had ever seen. You could see the massive buildings downtown, the beautiful twinkle of lovely homes, and where it all began to fade into the infinite ocean. “You’re such a bastard,” I said, laughing. “I wish I could afford something like this.”

“Someday you will.” Addison merely shrugged. To him, this was nothing. He was so used to his bubble, but owning a mansion like this wasn’t common. And I sure as hell wouldn’t get the chance to own something like this.

“I’m a personal care aide, Addison. I have a set income,” I said.

“Then, I’ll give you mine,” he said, winking again. “Lord knows I don’t need it, and I have enough money to last me all my life.”

I stayed silent. It made me nervous how nonchalant he was being. I didn’t like being offered things like this by men. It told me they were up to something.

I had to remember that I drove here for a reason. I came to help Addison get back on his feet. But what did I get out of helping him? I hadn’t figured it out yet. I guess it was the fact that Addison still felt like family.

Addison did a swan dive off of the board, but I dipped my feet in slowly. I was surprised by how warm the water was. “This thing is heated? I should have guessed,” I said.

“You have to jump in! It’s better that way,” he said.

The blue light reflected off of his handsome face. I took a small sip from my drink and lowered my body into the water. “Fuck, that feels good,” I moaned.

I hovered toward Addison, floating gently below the surface. “I go swimming almost every night here. It helps me balance my thoughts,” Addison said.

We floated next to each other. The light from underneath the water illuminated our bodies. All I wanted to do was to feel his arms up around my back. I hadn’t felt close to anyone my age in years.

“Remember when we used to swim at my parents’ house in the summer?” I asked.

Addison nodded his head slowly with a saddened frown. “Yeah. It was our cure, remember?”

I let out a small giggle. “It would calm us down whenever we fought,” I said.

“We’d just hold each other and listen to the rhythms of our hearts,” Addison whispered.

I hastily looked into his eyes. Tears were floating on the surface. “Yeah,” I whispered.

The memories cut deeper than we expected. Those were important moments for both of us. They shaped who we became. But at that moment, I felt empty.

I swam back to my drink and swallowed the remainder of it. “A bit fast, no?” Addison asked.

“Fuck it. I don’t have work until noon,” I said. “I might as well get a buzz going.”

I stepped out of the pool and quickly walked to the diving board. I closed my eyes and did a front flip into the water. “Oh my God! Omega! Ten out of ten.” Addison clapped.

I dove back under the water and swam back over to Addison. I felt the alcohol warm my soul up. I popped back up in front of Addison’s chest, sucking in huge gasps of air.

“Jesus, you almost made me spill my drink!” Addison exclaimed.

At that moment, the alcohol seemed to take control. As dumb as it was, I felt like taking a risk. I shot up from the water and pecked his lips quickly before diving back under the water.

Underneath that water, I let out a scream of pleasure. My face broke out into a smile. I swam to the surface and stepped out onto the pool deck. I grabbed my towel and walked toward the inside of his house, still smirking.

“Hey, wait! Are you serious?” Addison asked.

I shrugged. “I’m pouring myself another drink,” I said.

Addison just stared at me in wonder. I knew how big of a mistake I was making, but I chose to keep up the charade. I blended another drink and poured myself a glass. Taking another sip, I sat down and crossed my legs.

“What was that?” Addison asked. “I thought we were just friends.”

“We are,” I said. “I just… got an urge.”

“Well, I liked it,” Addison said, climbing out of the water. He sat down next to me. “I haven’t been close to anyone in a long time.”

“Yeah. Me neither. My job is intimate enough,” I said, laughing a little.

He nodded his head, but how could he know who I was these days? We both led such different lives from one another. “I can’t hang out with anyone in the industry,” Addison said, sprawling back. “No one understands me. Everyone is just trying to get ahead.”

I rolled my eyes and looked at Addison. He was a total loner, but at one point in his career, he was known as a socialite playboy. “Don’t lie, Addison. It’s unbecoming,” I said.

“I’m serious!” His smile revealed it all. “I mean, I went to some parties because I had to but I never had anyone in my life that I could trust.”

“There weren’t any cute omegas? I highly doubt that,” I said.

Addison’s naked eyes stared back at me. “The ones I took home don’t count. They just wanted me because I was famous. No one cared for me like you did, Kristoff,” he said.

“Yeah, well… you kind of fucked that up, Addison. You were the one who begged me to let you go, remember?” I asked him.

I regretted kissing him. It was a dumb, instinctual move on my part. I just wanted to feel that glimmer again. I wondered if he felt the same.

He didn’t. The vibe just felt wrong, and Addison knew it. He took my hand and squeezed it, but I pulled away. “Come on, Kristoff. I was all mixed up back then. I wanted to play. It was the only thing I was good at,” he said.

I stood up angrily and drank the rest of my drink. I threw the perspiring cup into his grass. “I never said you couldn’t play the damn sport. Don’t you dare put words in my mouth,” I said.

“Wait! Don’t go, dammit,” he said.

I stopped near the sliding glass doors. “What do you want from me, Addison? Do you even remember what you told me that night?” I asked him.

“Don’t make me remember. Please,” he whispered.

My hands were shaking. “Fuck it. It doesn’t matter. I loved you, Addison. I would have done anything for you. Just remember that,” I said.

I quickly walked to the front door, feeling my stomach suck back as the tears came into my eyes. Addison put pressure against the door, blocking me in. He leaned forward and kissed the side of my temple.

“Addison!” I yelled this time. “Please, just let me go.”

“Just hear me out,” Addison muttered, looking hopeless. I wanted to listen, but I couldn’t. I was always inclined to feel that whatever Addison had to say was worthwhile, but that got me into trouble. It put me in bad situations. If I listened to his million dollar excuses, I’d regret it tomorrow.

“Let me go,” I repeated. Addison moved aside. I calmly opened the door and walked to my car. I stepped inside and backed out.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” I whispered to myself.

I turned on the radio to my favorite station. I listened to the song that played back to me. It was a song we both used to listen to together.

I remember your room and coming home to you. I remember our room. And you…

I loved him. And I still did.