Stuck in the Middle (MxMxM)?

After eating, Kendric went home while Adan drove Ryder back to the campus parking lot where, once again, he insisted he catch an Uber. He didn't want the men to draw attention from the rogues and put them in danger.

It was odd how quickly he'd switched from worrying for his own safety to worrying for theirs, but that's how it was.

"Can I ask you something?" Ryder asked. "Did you ever used to date anyone before?" He already knew the answer, but needed to pry a little more information out of the man.

"Yeah, but only one person. I'd rather not talk about them though." Adan's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Ah, that's fair. I understand. I just had a pretty bad breakup this afternoon so, I mean, I get it."

A small pang in his chest made him almost regret bringing up Delilah. So far throughout the evening, he hadn't mentioned her at all, and neither man had tried to force information out of him to figure out why he'd been sad in the first place. He was grateful that they were respecting his privacy, but maybe he could use his situation to his advantage?

"Is that what happened? I didn't know you were dating anyone."

"I was." Ryder shrugged. "Technically she broke up with me before the first day of school. It was sudden. Today I asked why she ghosted me and...I didn't like her answer."

"I hate that treatment. Being left on read, no replies for days, nonchalant greetings."

"Did someone do that to you too?"

"Er, no. I was just guessing."

*Buzz!*

"Right. I wonder why people would do that though? That's no way to end a relationship."

"It just means they weren't the right person for you. Communication is important when dating and if they can't do that much, then fuck them." Adan remembered himself. "Excuse my language."

"It's fine. My dad curses like a sailor. His friends are worse."

"Yeah, but still. I don't like being so crude around people."

"Why not?"

Adan contemplated his next words before glancing over at Ryder. "I don't want to scare people off."

"What's wrong with being a little scary? It makes people respect you at least, right?"

"Like you?"

Ryder recalled how scared he had been of the man after the wolf attack. Yeah. He hadn't felt respectful at that time. "Good point."

"Exactly." Adan returned his eyes to the road. "You had me in a box. Someone my size is very intimidating to be around. I've had to deal with it ever since middle school. People would get scared of me if I didn't smile or do whatever I could to make myself seem friendlier. I can't be any sort of leader if everyone is afraid of me. You know?"

"I imagine it would make it hard to convince people to vote for you."

"Vote?"

"Isn't that how a mayor gets elected?"

"Ah, yeah. That is how mayors work."

Ryder couldn't help laughing. "Did you seriously forget that? How do you expect to get elected if you don't know how it works?"

Adan cracked a smile himself. "Shut up!"

Ryder proceeded to laugh himself into a fit until they arrived at the campus. There, Adan offered once more to drive him the rest of the way home, but he had already summoned an Uber.