Page 90 of Under Water

My face heats. North is always kind, so I don’t want to assume he’s disgusted by the idea, but he doesn’t seem very happy right now.

“I can’t believe he lowered his standards.”

Easton looks offended. “Excuse me!”

North bursts into laughter, then tugs his best friend into a tight hug, and something in my gut twists. It wasn’t that long ago most people believed North and Easton had a secret thing going on—including me. Then Easton made a big stink about being the token straight, and I figured if North didn’t interest him, no one would.

And now here we are.

North turns to me when he lets Easton go. “So we can talk about this in the open now, right?”

“He’s my boyfriend,” Easton says.

North’s eyes widen. “Like, boyfriend boyfriend?”

I take a breath, then nod.

“Wait!” Elio shouts. He rolls back into the room. “Hold the fuck up!”

“Language!” I snap.

He ignores me. “Boyfriends?”

Easton swallows heavily, then turns to him. “You cool with it?”

Elio gives him a very long, very slow, very silent look before shrugging. “He could do worse.”

“High praise,” Easton mutters.

I shuffle over to his side and lean in. “Trust me, it is. He really likes you.”

Easton’s cheeks go a little ruddy, and he watches as Elio goes back to roaming the house and touching things he should not be touching. Luckily, I have savings if he breaks something important.

“Anyway,” North says, clapping his hands. “Who wants a tour?”

I carry Elio through the upstairs since it really would be a giant pain in the ass to get his chair up, and he doesn’t mind so long as he gets to see everything. It’s slightly annoying to be ordered around by my tweenager with an attitude problem, but he gets very excited when he learns he gets to sleep in North’s gaming room, which has a very plush daybed and three gaming systems, including an old-school SNES, which makes Elio light up like he’s an archaeologist discovering a forgotten, ancient Roman city.

“And I can play anything I want?” he’s asking as we head back down the stairs.

North takes over doing the straps on his chair so he can answer him. “Anything you want, but you’d better check with your dad about the newer games.” He glances up at me. “I have a couple that might be—ah—not appropriate?”

“Listen, I’ve totally seen—” Elio starts, then suddenly goes silent.

“Don’t finish that sentence. Let me live in ignorance for a little while longer,” I beg.

He nods—a silent agreement between us both—and then North leads us out back to the gazebo I’m very familiar with. Elio looks like he’s gone to a second heaven, though, and hurries ahead of us to get inside while North and I linger near the back.

“You’re alright with me and Easton, right?”

North gives me a confused look. “Yes? Why wouldn’t I be?”

I shrug. “I’m still technically married,” I remind him, as though we didn’t just talk about this. “I have a kid. My life is complicated. It might stop Easton from doing things he’s always wanted to do.”

North lets out a tiny snort and shakes his head. “You’re one of my favorite people in the world, Rune. And not just at work.” I feel a warmth spreading through me. “Also, fuck your ex. I don’t count that as married. And third, Easton isn’t the kind of guy who has spent his life having big, broad dreams about…I don’t know, world travel or hiking mountains. Give the man a cozy corner, some cuddles, and a rainy day, and he’ll be the happiest person on Earth.”

I find myself smiling. “I can do the cozy corner and the cuddles.”

North laughs and slings his arm around me. “I think you’re exactly what he didn’t know he was looking for. You and the kid. He’s always kept his cards close to his chest, but he and Leo didn’t grow up with a lot of love.”