Page 21 of Inevitable
“What exactly makes this weird for you?” Ezra asked. “Oh, are you not used to forcing people to stay at your place?”
Bas tutted. “So sarcastic. And no, I meant more the part where this is the first time I’ve ever actually seen somebody Drew has slept with. Now hush, the movie’s starting.”
With that comment still lingering between them like a stick of dynamite with its fuse lit, Bas concentrated on the screen, leaving Ezra to deal with that bombshell of a revelation on his own.
7
Ezra winced as the floorboard under his bare feet creaked. He froze in place, listening intently. It was barely six o’clock on a Saturday morning, and he didn’t want to wake anybody. Every door in the hallway was closed. Drew, who’d arrived sometime late last night, and Bas were both hidden from view in their respective bedrooms.
Ezra didn’t want to wake them. Not only because as a guest, it was polite to give the hosts an opportunity to enjoy a lazy Saturday morning, but he was also apprehensive about what would happen now that Drew was back. He hadn’t talked to the man after their confrontation on the street, and despite Bas’s reassurance that Drew wanted Ezra there, he wasn’t convinced.
He silently opened the bathroom door and went in. He took care of business quickly and quietly. He didn’t dare take a shower, afraid of making too much noise and waking everybody up, stealing his opportunity of a quick, painless escape.
After his bathroom visit, he snuck toward the kitchen. He stopped dead when he saw Drew sitting behind the table in the breakfast nook.
“Morning,” Drew said and let his eyes slide over Ezra. He had a slight smile on his lips, and he was dressed casually in sweats and a T-shirt, a large mug sitting in front of him on the table.
Ezra hadn’t forgotten a single thing about Drew. Somehow, he was even more handsome than the last time Ezra had seen him. And fucking fuckity fuck, he was not supposed to perv on Drew. Not after what Bas had confessed. Not while the guy was sound asleep in his bedroom. That was some thank you for saving Ezra’s ass in that diner.
Hey, how about I fuck the guy you’re secretly in love with as thanks for not letting me die? Cheers, mate.
Ezra took a hesitant step into the kitchen. “You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep. Bas got up when I came in the door, yelled something about inspiration, and took off. I’ve been tossing and turning ever since.”
So, Bas wasn’t even in the apartment anymore. Somehow that made the whole situation feel even more wrong. Ezra leaned against the counter, trying to look casual.
“He said he couldn’t work without you.”
“I’m not sure that’s exactly true, seeing that he took off the moment his eyes landed on me.” There was a slight edge to Drew’s voice when he said it, and for whatever reason, Ezra found that he wanted to reassure Drew.
“He missed you.”
“Yeah, we’re extremely good at that part. You want tea?”
The change of topic was so abrupt that Ezra had to blink a few times to catch up.
“Sure.”
They both sat silently for a while, sipping their tea.
“Is this as weird for you as it is for me?” There was amusement in Drew’s tone.
“It’s weird,” Ezra confirmed.
“Well, then, maybe we should stop.”
“Oh.” He’d had always known he had to leave, but he’d honestly thought he could do it on his own terms, without the polite hint that he’d worn out his welcome. At least that was what he’d been trying to do until running into Drew. It seemed he’d been too slow. He should have gotten the hell out of there on Wednesday and not let himself be seduced by Bas’s friendliness.
“Stop feeling weird, I meant,” Drew said, his all-knowing, all-seeing gaze firmly fixed on Ezra. “I’m not kicking you out.”
“Why not?”
“I’m glad you’re here. You can stay as long as you need. Bas wants you to stay, too.”
“Look, you’ve both been very nice to me, but I can’t just… move into your guest room or some shit,” Ezra said.
Unlike Bas, Drew didn’t start arguing. He merely regarded Ezra with a level gaze and waited. Fucking lawyers. Ezra fought the need to explain himself.