“For, like, three hours.”
Evander grimaced. “Fuck. Seems like somebody would have missed us in all that time.”
Ozzy could still make out the voices coming from somewhere else. Inside the outbuilding for sure. “I think they might have sent a search party.”
Ev sat up, a frown on his face. “You want to act like we didn’t sleep together?”
Ozzy shoved his shoulder. “Wedidn’tsleep together. We had an accidental nap together. Very different things.” He considered it, though. Not for long. It was an easy answer. “Who cares? We’re friends now, right? Friends fall asleep with each other sometimes.” It sounded desperate and not fully true to life, so Ozzy pushed ahead before either of them could examine it too long. He was groggy, but had enough of his faculties left not to fall into the trap. “But we should probably head them off before they walk in on us mussing up a client’s new bed.” Not to mention, it might be harder to convince everyone that they reallydidn’tsleep together if they walked in and saw them in bed with each other. Just maybe.We do have a history on some of these job sites.
Evander popped to his feet and stretched side-to-side. “Might have to break in their toilet, too.”
“TMI, my guy.”
“I admitted I tried shrooms and ketamine, but you’re scandalized that I have to pee?” Evander rolled his eyes, then grinned. “Come on. Let’s go greet the search party before they call in the dogs.”
Evander walked out first. Ozzy hesitated just long enough to soak everything in. It took wading through a hell of a lot of bullshit, but they felt a lot more like they used to. The conversation was flowing better, the jabs were light and playful, and they’d done it all without getting naked and sweaty with each other.Definitely breaking the pattern there.
Ozzy quick-stepped to catch up, but it didn’t take long. The rest of the guys were in the living room, along with Melanie,Jack, some of the contractors hauling stuff back outside…and Jamie.
It was almost impossible to reconcile him with the kid he’d talked to a few hours ago. He was all smiles and bright eyes, standing with his head tall…his family had clearly accepted him. A lot better than Ozzy’s ever did or ever would.
“Finally woke up.” Aras wasgrinning,which wasn’t good news for anyone. Ever.
Ozzy shot a glance to Ev, who sighed. “Seems we conked out pretty much immediately. They walked in on us and let us have out little nap session.”
“Or whatever was happening in there,” said Aras.
Ozzy raised an eyebrow. “Children present. Andnothinghappened.” He looked over at Melanie and Jack. “Nothing happened. Sorry for falling asleep on the job.”
Melanie shook her head. “You busted tail getting all this work done for us already. I’m not bothered.”
“And I’m fourteen,” said Jamie. “I’ve heard of sex.”
Thatof all the things happening rushed heat up to Ozzy’s face. “I’m sure. But for the record,nothing happened.” Thanks to Evander, nothing happened. Ozzy’s chest went cold at the thought of someone walking in to see themin flagrante delicto. Again. God forbid it be one of the Trangs instead of someone who was a little more used to their nonsense.
“All right, now that we’re all up and about.” Mason clapped his hands, grinning broadly. “We’ve got most of the big stuff taken care of. Need your advice on clearing up the lawn again, Ozzy, but I think we’re in pretty decent shape.”
Aras nodded. “For being down two bodies.” He pointed to a box tucked in the corner. “Also, the light fixture for the bedroom showed up. I’d like to get in there if you two are done. I can air it out, too. So they don’t smell the sex.”
Ozzy snorted, then stepped aside. “Be my guest. Sincenothing happened.”
“Not for lack of trying, I’m sure.” Aras grabbed the still-boxed fixture and carried it down the hallway. “I know how you two get. Only a matter of time, honestly.”
If not for Jamie standing there, Ozzy would have flipped him off. Yeah, fourteen was old enough to see someone’s middle finger—flipping the bird was a lot tamer than Aras’s running commentary anyway—but it just didn’t feel right to him.
As the meeting broke apart, Ozzy caught Mason’s eye and tilted his head toward the patio. Mason followed along, thankfully, and Ozzy closed the sliding door behind them. Not exactly the cone of silence, with everyone still milling outside, but it was something.
“I’m sorry for biting your head off. Not doing the best.” Ozzy massaged the back of his neck. “I’m not trying to excuse it, but—”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Mason flashed that entirely too affable smile of his and patted Ozzy on the shoulder. “All is forgiven. Seriously. You’ve been on edge since we got to the house. Something had to give eventually, and it’s better you lay into me than lay into the family.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t deserve it.”
“I know you’re sorry. I care about you. It happened. Try not to let it happen again.” Mason shrugged and backed away. “You’re not getting rid of me just by shouting a little bit. You’ll have to try a hell of a lot harder.”
I don’t deserve these stupid fucks.Ozzy tilted his head down and grinned. If they had an ounce of common sense between them, they’d have left him by the wayside a while ago. Probably him and Aras, but mostly him. Yet even when they hadn’t seen each other at all for two years, Ozzy had zero doubt they’d stay by him.
Even Evander.
