Page 19 of Wolf Lost

“Technically the least you could contribute is nothing, but I’m not going to say no when someone cleans up after me,” Dez told him, leaning some weight against his cane as he pushed up. “Just be careful about making a habit of it. We cavemen might get used to it.”

Sawyer and Ash went off to the kitchen together, and Dez had to tamp down a strange pang of jealousy.

Ash wasn’t interested in Sawyer.

Right?

Of course, Ash had been the one to handle the beta. And he and Sawyer loved the video games Dez couldn’t stomach. Ash could be there for him in ways Dez couldn’t. Dez could barely take care of himself; how—

“Maybe we should get a contractor in to make an estimate on redoing the kitchen,” Gavin said, coming up next to Dez and distracting him from his downward spiral. “Then we can subtract it from the offer.”

Dez’s first instinct was to dismiss it. He was pretty sure they could buy the building and redo the kitchen themselves without running through the money. It wasn’t his area of expertise, but he was pretty sure they could buy ten buildings and kitchens. But the important part wasn’t the money. The important part was taking that expression off Gavin’s face: the one that said he was supposed to be the one providing, and he was ashamed that wasn’t the case.

So instead of waving it away, Dez pretended it was important to him. It was, in a way, because it was important to Gavin.

“How long do you think it’ll take to get an estimate?”

Gavin tipped his head back and forth, thinking, then paused. “I think Daryl could get someone in pretty fast. Also, I think he’s getting desperate. The location should have sold in five minutes flat, and this ghost nonsense is getting in the way of an easy commission. Not to mention his pride.”

“You really think people are avoiding the place because they think it’s haunted?” Dez furrowed his brow. It seemed ridiculous. No one believed in that crap, did they?

After a moment’s consideration, which was more than Dez thought warranted, Gavin shook his head. “No. I mean, maybe they believe in ghosts, but that’s not what’s keeping the place from selling. I think they’re scared of the death in general, and of the gas leak. Pretty sure the neighbor still is too, and why not? Such a mundane thing that most of us live with all the time, a gas line, and it killed those people. It’s scary.”

That actually made sense. Death was the ultimate equalizer, and the single thing most people realized they couldn’t defeat. An invisible killer like a gas leak was much scarier than any person. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “I think you’re right. I’m sure Ash agrees”—a call of confirmation came from the direction of the kitchen—“so let’s do it. You don’t mind doing the hard stuff, do you?”

Gavin gave him a cockeyed look, one brow raised and no amusement, to let him know he was onto him, but he nodded. “Yeah. I’ll get going on it. What if they don’t want to come down?”

There was a whine from the kitchen at that. Clearly, Asher was already attached. If he were being honest, Dez was too, though he wasn’t sure why. His mind kept replaying Sawyer bursting through the huge wooden doors, panting, and staring at Dez. Of the betas following, and that moment when Sawyer chose him and moved to stand by him. Trusting him to be the good guy, or at least hoping for it.

No one but Ash and Gavin had thought Dez was a good guy in a long time. He could get used to the feeling.

13

Iris

They bought him a bunch of clothes, and his own sheets for the bedroom. Hell, Asher offered to help paint the bedroom, as though there were no doubt he was staying for good. Maybe that had been Asher’s goal with the notion of painting: cementing Sawyer’s intention to stay. How could he make his mark on their house and then leave?

He’d turned it down, not because he was still planning to go, but because the computer called the room the green room, and the walls were a pale sage color, so it fit. He couldn’t think of a better shade of green for walls, let alone one that went with the rest of the decor, so he figured it was best to leave it.

It had nothing to do with the fact that he was considering how to get himself into Dez’s room. Preferably for good.

The fact that Asher seemed determined to help in that goal didn’t hurt. Over the next few weeks, he made sure they sat together at meals, and whenever they were making plans he suggested Sawyer accompany Dez. Sawyer wasn’t sure which of them he was playing wingman for, but either way, he was grateful.

On this particular morning, Dez and Sawyer were picking up some wood and assorted things Sawyer didn’t recognize from a hardware store. Dez seemed to know what he was doing, so Sawyer didn’t question, just grabbed the items Dez pointed him at.

When it came time to pick up the actual wood, Dez clenched his jaw and stared at the huge selection for a moment before looking away. Before Sawyer had a chance to ask him what was wrong, he muttered, “We probably need someone to help move everything.” He handed Sawyer a list that looked like gibberish, all two-by-four, and two-by-six, and other arrangements of numbers, with length measurements at the end.

As much as he wanted to be useful, he couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so he gave Dez a bright smile and went off in search of an employee to help.

The man made small talk, to which Dez didn’t respond, so Sawyer did his best. “I’m not sure what we’re making. Probably a new side counter, since Dez had the guys rip out the old one. Something about water damage.”

Dez scowled, but finally spoke up. “They put it behind a faulty refrigeration unit. The constant condensation made the wood swell and split.”

“Aw, that sucks man. Good luck with it!” The cheerful employee seemed pleased with the response, checked them out, and sent them on their way.

“Is this where I keep my mouth shut about you being mad?” Sawyer asked him, and from the glare Dez cut his way, he guessed the answer was yes. Still, he forged ahead. “I know it sucks, but sometimes it’s okay to ask for help.”

“I can do it myself.”

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