Page 19 of Forged

It didn’t feel like a bad idea.

It felt like a terrible idea.

“We should probably be getting back,” he said in an embarrassed rush, standing and starting forward without checking to make certain Bax would follow. “I’m so far behind on the unicorn.”

“And I’m farther behind with the arts center’s books than I want to be,” Bax agreed, standing and falling easily into step with Nick, like nothing had happened between them.

Nothinghadhappened between them. They were just two friends talking, two friends who had both experienced a kind ofloss recently and who were leaning on each other for emotional support. That was it. Nothing to see, nothing to write home about.

“What are you going to do once you’ve finished auditing the arts center?” Nick asked, more panic swirling in his gut with that question than he wanted. Would Bax leave? Would he head off to London or someplace where he would be around people like him?

“I’ve already started the process of opening my own accounting firm,” Bax said. “I’ve filed the necessary papers to register the business. I’ve been working as an independent accountant for six months or so now, but I’d like to expand that.”

“Expanded accounting,” Nick laughed.

He immediately writhed with embarrassment. He was babbling and laughing for no reason. Bax would think he was an absolute nutter.

“I’ve got this idea that I’d like to specifically serve the LGBTQ community and hire LGBTQ staff,” Bax went on as if Nick wasn’t the most ridiculous person on the planet. “Back in the Victorian heyday of The Brotherhood, there were all sorts of accountants and lawyers and the like who specifically served that community. Call me sentimental, but I’d like to carry on with that tradition.”

“And you’d have a built-in clientele, what with The Brotherhood still existing and all,” Nick said.

“Well, yes, there is that,” Bax said, smiling.

Nick smiled in return, but he didn’t feel at all happy. If Bax got involved with The Brotherhood there would be no possible way he would want to stay at Hawthorne House. He’d be off swanning around London, meeting all sorts of fascinating and beautiful men. Men who didn’t have two small children to raise. Men who weren’t towering blacksmiths who couldn’t eventalk to a friend without worrying they were making an arse of themselves.

But why did it matter to him what Bax thought or who he met and potentially dated?

Because it did. That was all there was to it. It mattered to Nick that Bax was close to him. It would matter if that closeness suddenly vanished.

“Thanks for the walk,” Bax said once they’d made it back to the house and had crossed into the family’s portion of the building.

“Anytime,” Nick said, hoping he sounded smooth and relaxed when he was anything but.

“I might just have to take you up on that,” Bax said with a wink as they started up the stairs.

Nick laughed, not because it was funny, but because his heart was so filled with giddy uncertainty that if he didn’t laugh he’d probably wail like Jordan having a fit.

That jumble of emotion immediately took a backseat when they reached the upstairs hallway only to find his mum standing in the doorway of his flat, arguing with Imogen, his babysitter.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered, picking up his pace. Bax followed him. “What’s going on here?” he asked once he reached his mum.

“Oh, hello, dear,” his mum said, perfectly calm. “I’ve decided to spend the day with my grandbabies, but this poor woman seems to object.”

“I didn’t know she was coming to fetch them today,” Imogen said, looking nervous.

“I didn’t know she was coming either,” Nick said, glancing from Imogen to his mum.

Bax swayed to his own flat’s door, but before he turned the handle to go inside, he sent Nick a questioning look.

“It’s fine,” Nick said, smiling both at Bax and at Imogen. “We can figure this out.”

Bax nodded, then winked at him before heading into his flat and shutting the door behind him.

That wink felt like it might unravel Nick’s soul.

He took a breath and turned back to his mum and Imogen. “Mum, you know you need to call before you come fetch the kids. You can’t just decide to have them.”

“I did call,” his mum said, looking offended.

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