Page 53 of Something Unavoidable

Keegan hoped the extra people wouldn’t set off Izzy’s anxiety, not that he’d ever shown signs of his trouble being social. But he’d been hesitant to tell even Xavier his story, to the point that Keegan had suggested Xavier do some of his own research on Joshua Martin beforehand.

Keegan let their visitors in, directing them as to where they could hang their coats and leave their boots. While they did that, Keegan turned to check on Izzy.

Izzy was waiting in the space between the kitchen and the living room. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, and he was rocking on his heels, hiding his reaction behind an unconcerned mask. Keegan was taken aback for a moment, but of course Izzy would protect himself. The bigger surprise was Izzy’s walls being so far down that it was a shock to see them raised again.

Keegan shook Xavier’s hand and thanked him for coming. Despite Xavier’s power and money, he was a good man who took care of his friends and family. When Keegan had reached out, hehadn’t hesitated to offer his help. In fact, he’d expressed remorse that Izzy hadn’t come to him sooner.

Xavier turned to Izzy, who returned his handshake somewhat reluctantly. “Thanks for driving up,” he said, tone bored. His gaze drifted to Finn, and Keegan saw the deflection coming a mile away. Instead of letting Izzy act like an ass, he cleared his throat and gave him a pointed look.

Izzy’s eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared like a horse that was deciding whether to lash out.

Keegan raised an eyebrow and Izzy winced, deflating.

He turned back to Finn. “Good to see you, Finny. Sorry to fuck up the end of your vacation.”

Finn’s eyes went wide. “You didn’t,” he exclaimed, then stepped forward and flung his arms around Izzy’s waist in a hug that had Izzy freezing in shock before slowly returning it. Finn was blushing when he stepped back.

Izzy ruffled his hair, then nodded to Asher. “Hey, Ash.”

Asher smiled, showing off his perfect teeth. “Good to see you again, Izzy.”

Keegan bristled at the look the two of them exchanged, then scolded himself. There was no reason for him to act like a jealous idiot. The look was nothing. Just because Asher had driven Izzy that night didn’t mean there had been anything between the two of them. In fact, it made it less likely. Keegan’s inner caveman needed to cool it with the possessiveness. It would be ridiculous to get worked up every time he encountered someone Izzy had potentially slept with. Not to mention exhausting.

Instead of stewing in his thoughts, Keegan offered everyone drinks.

They got settled in the living room. Keegan had to pull the two kitchen chairs over so they’d have enough seating. Izzy had claimed a spot on the sofa, and Riley had commandeered the space next to him, her chin on his thigh as he stroked her head.Asher took one of the chairs, while Xavier took the other and tugged a blushing Finn to sit on his knee.

When Keegan finished handing out the drinks—cider for Izzy and Finn, coffee for himself and Xavier, and tea for Asher—he took the open space next to Izzy. He stretched his arm along the back of the couch, surreptitiously giving Izzy’s neck a supportive squeeze.

They indulged in a few minutes of small talk, Keegan asking about their trip and how Asher was enjoying living in Split Rock. Izzy was quiet through most of it, fidgeting with his mug, his knee bouncing.

Once the polite part was out of the way, Xavier surprised Keegan by suggesting he and Izzy take a walk. Keegan’s first instinct was to protest. He wanted to be there to help keep Izzy calm and fill in any gaps. And he especially wanted to make sure Izzy wasn’t taking on any blame for Josh’s actions.

Except Xavier knew what he was doing, and Izzy looked relieved that he wouldn’t have to tell the story in front of the entire group. Keegan relented but insisted that Izzy take Riley with him, just in case. He kept his voice low, but Izzy still made a face and shifted uncomfortably. In the end, he agreed, and Keegan felt better about having Izzy out of his sight.

Once they were back in winter gear and out the door, Xavier promising they were only walking down the fire road and back again, Keegan tried to relax. This was good. This is what he’d hoped for and what Izzy needed. So why did it feel so wrong that Keegan wasn’t part of it? It wasn’t as if Keegan had some kind of savior complex. He didn’t need to personally fix the issues in Izzy’s life. But he did want to be there to support him, to give Izzy someone to lean on, to remind him he wasn’t alone anymore. That Keegan loved him.

Keegan should probably tell Izzy that he loved him.

Finn had abandoned his cider on the coffee table and gone to pet Lucky. Within seconds, he was on the floor with a lapful of excited German shepherd, getting his face covered in doggie kisses. After a few minutes, Chance wandered over to greet Finn as well. Finn was careful to stay calm and let Chance come to him, and he ended up with the wolf-dog stretched out next to him getting pets while Lucky did his best to become a lapdog.

Finn’s easy way with animals reminded Keegan of George. It was part of the reason Keegan was looking forward to working with him on the Fly Away Home project, as Finn had dubbed it. They were still in the early stages, but George was enthusiastic, and Finn had already identified several people with private planes who were willing to help transport rescue animals to their new homes.

“When’s your last day at the store?” Keegan asked Finn.

Finn did all the deliveries for his grandfather’s feed and general store, but with the new venture, he was stepping back so he could devote more time to it, with Xavier’s complete support—both emotional and financial. “Two weeks,” Finn said, his eyes alight with excitement. “Pops has agreed to work part time and let Grace take over the day-to-day. And Grace’s son, Jamie, has been looking for a second job when he isn’t at the café, so I’m going to train him to do the deliveries.”

Keegan’s eyebrows went up. “Jamie? I didn’t realize he could drive.”

Finn cocked his head. “He’s twenty-three.”

Keegan huffed. That wasn’t what he meant. He knew the Cabots well, and Jamie was notoriously clumsy. He’d failed his driver’s test three times, and the last Keegan heard, he was trying to convince his parents to let him borrow the car so he could attempt it a fourth time. He must have finally passed. “Well, good for him. I’m sure he’ll do his best.” He tried hard tokeep that from sounding condescending, but he knew he’d failed when Asher snorted.

Moving on. Keegan changed the subject to Asher’s plans now that Xavier had relocated from Los Angeles to Split Rock.

As they spoke, Keegan found himself checking both his watch and the door repeatedly. How long had they been gone? Was the conversation going well? Was Izzy getting anxious? Keegan was grateful he’d sent Riley with them, but she could only do so much. He should have warned Xavier that Izzy could get vicious if he felt cornered.

He tried to keep in mind that Xavier was excellent at his job and had dealt with clients much more difficult than Izzy was at his worst. And Izzy wouldn’t be at his worst. Probably.

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