Page 24 of Inevitable

Bas’s eyes lit up. He played the intro, but instead of starting the first verse, he played the intro again and looked at Drew.

“You going to help me out, or what?”

Drew laughed. “No way. Drunk at a karaoke bar is one thing. I don’t want to traumatize anybody.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” Bas glanced at Ezra. “He’s actually pretty good, so your ears are safe.”

“I’m afraid I’m gonna need proof,” Ezra said.

Drew shook his head with a smile.

“You were the one who said I had to relax,” Bas taunted in a singsong voice. “Come on. Here’s your cue.”

“I hate you,” Drew replied, but just as Bas finished with the intro, he opened his mouth and started singing.

Ezra’s smile stretched wider and wider as Drew really got into the song. By the second chorus, he was standing up, singing at the top of his lungs, really playing up the rock star angle of his performance, and Bas could hardly play because he was laughing so hard.

When the song was done, both Drew and Bas fell onto the couch next to Ezra, all three of them breathless from laughter. Ezra had never been in the moment with such reckless abandon, had never been so in the moment that he forgot everything else, but Bas and Drew had given it to him.

It was dangerous to forget reality like that, but just for that one night, Ezra was going to allow himself that one slip.

They didn’t go to bed once they’d calmed down. Instead, they settled in on the couch, talking about everything and nothing.

Snow was falling outside, but Ezra was warm and content as he drifted off to sleep. It was barely dawn when he woke up. His head was propped on Drew’s lap, and Drew was combing his fingers through Ezra’s hair. Bas’s head was on Drew’s shoulder, and he was humming softly.

“Thank you,” Drew said quietly.

“I didn’t do anything,” Ezra whispered.

“You’re here. That’s enough.”

Drew’s fingers kept moving in Ezra’s hair. He had to get up. This was dangerously comfortable and way too intimate. Nothing about staying was safe.

He didn’t move an inch.

Bas started singing in a low voice, the notes moving through Ezra, tethering him in place. One song was followed by another.

After that, Ezra didn’t remember anything else as he fell into deep, dreamless sleep.

Warm.

Safe.

Happy.

8

Sunday morning, Ezra was gone. Drew stood at the doorway of the empty guest room.

The duffel was gone, the bed neatly made.

The pang of regret pinged in his chest like a loud echo that followed him through the rest of the day.

* * *

Bas: You alright?

Ezra: Who’s this?