Page 55 of Inevitable

By the time Ezra shut Bas up with a kiss, they were all laughing.

Bas turned serious after a moment, though.

“You do realize this would be so much simpler if it was just the two of you?” he asked quietly, all traces of his usual humor gone from his voice once again.

Ezra met Drew’s gaze. Bas’s words hung between them. Loud and… wrong. Drew looked down at Bas, gaze filled with determination.

“Oh, absolutely,” he said and nodded seriously. “But you know, you have the nice apartment, so I guess we’re going to have to put up with you.”

Ezra swallowed and forced a smile on his face.

“You’re here for the apartment?” he asked. “See, I figured that once he won that Oscar for best film score, he could take me as his date, and then I’d finally get to make my move on Hugh Jackman.”

“He’s straight,” Bas muttered.

“I can still let him know I’m an option. Otherwise, how will he know?”

Drew nodded.

“Good attitude.”

“Well, we engineers are known for our common sense and practical thinking skills,” Ezra said. He laughed and tried to move away as Bas pushed his fingers into his side, tickling him.

Bas shook his head as he glanced between Ezra and Drew.

“You two are idiots,” he muttered.

Drew smiles as he kissed Bas.

“Maybe, but we’re your idiots.”

Bas couldn’t seem to pretend he minded the idea.

17

Bas stood in front of the living room window with a cup of coffee in his hands. He could feel Drew even before he could see him. The tall body behind him was so very familiar. He’d gotten to know every inch over the years and committed it all to his memory over the course of their lives.

Drew was so close that Bas could feel the warmth of his body, but they weren’t touching. He wanted to, though. Needing closeness with Drew had always been both a blessing and a curse. A source of a lot of confusion and a lot of happiness.

“You’re up early,” Drew said.

“Or late.” A yawn cracked Bas’s jaw. “Depends on the perspective.”

“Did you sleep at all?”

“Couldn’t,” Bas said.

“Because?”

Bas shrugged. He didn’t know how to explain the way hope and happiness could make for a desperately terrifying combination.

“Was it us in your bed?” Drew asked. He didn’t sound disappointed or like he would be offended if the answer was yes.

Bas turned around, all the while shaking his head.

“No. God, no. I want you both there. More than you know.”

Drew smiled.

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