It was true that Declan would mostly leave him alone if he thought Ronan was going to inherit the country estate. Ronan was less convinced that Declan would give up trying to marry him off even if he had a lover (it wasn't like Declan cared if he cheated), yet it was enough to throw his brother off of it for now.
Yet he would be living lies. Lies that hurt especially because he wanted them to be truths. Ronan wanted Adam to be his lover. Longed for him—even when they were young he'd cast Adam aching looks when the other boy wouldn't notice. Time hadn't changed his feelings. In fact, it had only worsened them, given that he was in denial about his sexual orientation for a long while.
It was even worse when Adam had said that just for his benefit, out of a kindness, to keep Declan off his case. Ronan didn't want Adam to live lies either—not ones that he would hate, like this one. Being in a relationship with Ronan was scowl-worthy.
The country estate was a different matter altogether. With that, he was mostly just confused. Why would Adam want to work for him? Though, he supposed, if Adam assumed he wanted nothing to do with the house, he wouldn't really have to worry about Ronan.
Head and heart hurting, Ronan rubbed his fingers along the bridge of his nose, not unlike what Declan had done earlier. Brother like brother.
"No. No, it's fine." He didn't even have the heart to curse vibrantly as he usually did. He just sounded tired. "Thank you for caring, Adam." That, at least, helped ease the ache in his chest. Adam had wanted to help him. Adam had no way of knowing that Ronan had been pining over him. Before tonight, Adam didn't even know he liked men. No one did.
Dropping down onto the side of his bed, he gazed out the window. "You don't have to lie for me, though. I don't want you to do that to yourself."
no subject
It was true that Declan would mostly leave him alone if he thought Ronan was going to inherit the country estate. Ronan was less convinced that Declan would give up trying to marry him off even if he had a lover (it wasn't like Declan cared if he cheated), yet it was enough to throw his brother off of it for now.
Yet he would be living lies. Lies that hurt especially because he wanted them to be truths. Ronan wanted Adam to be his lover. Longed for him—even when they were young he'd cast Adam aching looks when the other boy wouldn't notice. Time hadn't changed his feelings. In fact, it had only worsened them, given that he was in denial about his sexual orientation for a long while.
It was even worse when Adam had said that just for his benefit, out of a kindness, to keep Declan off his case. Ronan didn't want Adam to live lies either—not ones that he would hate, like this one. Being in a relationship with Ronan was scowl-worthy.
The country estate was a different matter altogether. With that, he was mostly just confused. Why would Adam want to work for him? Though, he supposed, if Adam assumed he wanted nothing to do with the house, he wouldn't really have to worry about Ronan.
Head and heart hurting, Ronan rubbed his fingers along the bridge of his nose, not unlike what Declan had done earlier. Brother like brother.
"No. No, it's fine." He didn't even have the heart to curse vibrantly as he usually did. He just sounded tired. "Thank you for caring, Adam." That, at least, helped ease the ache in his chest. Adam had wanted to help him. Adam had no way of knowing that Ronan had been pining over him. Before tonight, Adam didn't even know he liked men. No one did.
Dropping down onto the side of his bed, he gazed out the window. "You don't have to lie for me, though. I don't want you to do that to yourself."