“Carolineisgoingtoabsolutelydiewhen she sees this.”
Aras had to agree with Evander, although he found himself incapable of being so effusive at the moment. Part of him kind of wanted to sock Ev in the mouth so he’d stop talking. Or at least talk less. Not that he ever would, but his particular brand of happiness and intensity rubbed at all of Aras’s raw edges. Ever since Dane left for Atlanta, Aras was nothingbutraw edges.
Still, if there was one project he could be on that helped calm him a little, it was this one. They’d already done Caroline’s final walkthrough of the place, so it was time to get to finishing, and Aras was going all-in on the carnival glass room. Evander had to split his focus across the house—a lot of his work came at the end, whereas Aras and Robinson did most of theirs earlier—but Aras got to spend time surrounded by gorgeous pieces of glass, the colors shifting through the light as he put them in place. A collection of different Hen on Nests on these shelves. A full Imperial Grape wine set in purple on these. Like a lot of collectors, Caroline had a bunch of floating mugs and punch cups and tumblers. She had lots of complete sets, but it was always easier to get your hands on parts and pieces. Aras had taken a fair selection of them and put them all on a shelf together. Not in a prominent spot, but he thought he’d done a good job setting them up for appearances.
And Evander seemed to agree. Once he was done with his over-loud praise, he turned, smiling at Aras. “Really. This looks great. Who knew the electrician had this kind of eye for interior design?”
“You’d know if you ever bothered to visit.” It wasn't the subtlest way to change the subject, but it would do the job.
Ev raised an eyebrow. “Is that an invitation? Because I will come over with a bottle of…white wine?”
Aras had a retort ready—how could Evander not know he preferred red wine? Or gin? They’d known each other so long—but he bit it off. Pushing everyone away wasn’t going to make him any happier. It wouldn’t make the time away from Dane easier if he was all alone. And it sure as hell wouldn’t bring Dane back any faster.
So he shook his head. “Merlot. Zinfandel. Not fucking white zin. Malbec or Grenache if you can find one.”
Ev’s eyebrows went straight up toward his hairline. Then he stood up taller, composing himself…and very obviously putting on a bit of show of shock, after he got the real shock under control. “I don’t want to startle you and make you rescind, but you haven’t had me over to your house in…have I been to your new place?”
Aras was ready to smart off aboutthat,but he stopped himself.Hadhe ever invited any of the guys over? Robinson stayed with him, but the others…a lash of guilt wormed through his belly. Maybe it was because of his stupid exposed emotions—
No. Not maybe. It was because Dane was gone and he was raw and not doing okay, but that wasn’t the real core of the issue. He liked being connected. He missed having someone he could totally trust.
Except that he didn’t need to. If he could fully trust Dane, who he’d known for a few months, and been together with for a couple weeks, then how could he possibly sit there and say that he couldn’t trust the Pine Point guys? They’d grown up together. They’d worked together, both back in the day and now on the show. They were, in spite of the distance that had grown between them over the years, his best friends. And if his memory and Evander’s assertions were right and he really hadn’t invited them over in all this time…
Aras turned toward another box of glass, pulling out a white Embroidered Mums plate, the edge still wrapped in plastic and foam padding. He tore through the tape holding it together with a box knife, but only on the shallowest setting. Guilt or not, correct or not, it was easier to deal with the emotions if he wasn’t actually making eye contact with Evander.Baby steps.“When we’re wrapped up on all these jobs, I guess I need to throw a dinner party or movie night or something.”
Silence met it, which was an annoyance. Then Evander was at his side, pressing the back of his hands to Aras’s forehead. “Hmm. No fever. But you’re not acting like yourself. Not surly at all.”
“Never mind. We’re not having a party. Get the fuck away from me.”
“There he is.” Ev gripped him by one shoulder and gently pushed until Aras turned around to face him. Then he nodded. “I’d be absolutely delighted to come over and critique your design choices.” He winked. “Seriously. You’re not allowed to withdraw the invitation. I’m telling everyone right now.”
He turned as if to leave, so Aras grabbed him by the shoulder. “Hold your skinny little butt here.”
Ev put his fingertips gingerly to his chest. “You think I’m skinny?”
“Skinny enough to snap.” Aras put the plate down and sighed. “I hate all this mushy crap, and I really hate that you’re the one I’m doing this with. No offense.”
“None taken. I’m only soft and cuddly compared to my boyfriend, not normal people.”
Aras nodded to cede the point. “Thanks for not biting my head off. I…Dane being gone sucks, and I’ve spent the last three nights alone.”
Ev’s face softened. A touch. “I don’t think Ozzy would be down for a threesome, but I can ask.”
Aras pushed him in the chest, even as he tried to suppress a laugh. “Notinterested. But I was hoping…going to be a minute before I can host anything at home. Could we just chill and drink tonight?”
Evander’s face went through a whole mess of emotions, fast enough Aras couldn’t really follow them effectively. It wasn’t immediate agreement, that was for absolutely certain, and Aras’s stomach tightened.Should have asked Robinson or Mason or Bunny. He’d been thinking about this the whole day. He needed an escape from being him all alone now that Dane was gone to another state. The opportunity had just arisen during their conversation, but Evander was not the right in-road to the rest of the crew. They’d never been—
“Fuck yes. Jesus, it’s been way too long.” Evander slapped him on the chest, knocking all of Aras’s thoughts out of order. All he could see was agenuinesmile on Evander’s face as he fished out his phone. “What are you thinking, hotel room bash? Back room at a pizza place? Big booth at a bar?” Evander held up a finger before Aras even landed on an answer. “Never mind, I know your hermit ass. We’ll shower, I’ll send Ozzy out to grab some bottles from the liquor store, we’ll order something in, and we’ll get shit-faced.” He clapped and jumped while spinning in a circle…which Aras somehow didn’t find annoying. It was kind of endearing. Pure Evander, that was for sure.
“You don’t have to.” Aras spat it out without thinking about it.
“You are big and hot and dumb, sweetness. Just like my Ozzy, but with different baggage.” Ev gripped him by both shoulders and shook his head. “In spite of your best efforts to be an antisocial curmudgeon at age forty—”
“Thirty-two.”
“An antisocial curmudgeon since you were twenty-three.” He sighed and smiled. “In spite of all that, you have people who like spending time with you. It’s why we all put up with your bullshit.” He tapped lightly on the center of Aras’s chest. “We all love the sweet, gooey center.”
“Stay away from my gooey center.” Aras reached up and grasped Evander’s hand. “Thank you.”
