Page 31 of Emeric

“She was being dramatic.” I walked to the kitchen with my coffee in hand to see what food Lana had left me. In the bag on the counter, I found a ham, egg, and cheese wrap. Quick, easy to eat, and filling. “Are you hungry?” I couldn’t even offer to whip something up, but I could order him food.

“No, I ate at home.” That was good then. I had to find out why he was here and get dressed for work. Who knew how long what Lana had me doing would take?

“You’ll have to excuse my rudeness in eating in front of you. I’m starving, and Lana piled on more for me to take care of.” I took a bite of the wrap and nearly moaned at how good it was.

“You’re fine. Listen, I was wondering what you meant last night when you said now wasn’t the time. What discussion am I missing?” I had a feeling Oleander wouldn’t have spoken to Sylvan about it. While they seemed to have a good friendship, I wasn’t sure how much they’d told each other about personal things, and I didn’t mean how they felt for each other. That hadn’t happened yet.

“Sylvan could have answered the question.”

“Sure, but I don’t want to ask him. You’re the one who said it.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “That’s how you’re going to play it? Not how you can’t seem to cross the invisible line you’ve drawn with Sylvan? All these years, and you haven’t made a single move. Why?”

“We’re going to do it this way, then? A question for a question?”

“It’s only fair. You get to know what I meant, and I have insight into how you really feel.”

“I’m not a closed book, Emeric. I just don’t volunteer the information.”

“Okay. You first.”

Oleander turned away from me and walked to the windows, looking out at the other buildings and the traffic moving along the city street. “As I’m sure you’ve realized, Sylvan isn’t like Jordan and the others I work with. He’s kind and humble. He doesn’t care about the latest trends or get wrapped up in what others are doing. He does his own thing, and I think it’s admirable. He likes helping Jordan. He loves that home, but he’s not from our world. He’s not deep into everything.”

“And I am?” I knew where he was going and what he meant. I wanted to hear him say it.

“If you saw half of what I did for Jordan, would you let me into your home?” He turned, shoving his hands into his pockets. How could someone as big as him—and I didn’t just mean in size but personality too—look so small?

I crossed the room until I stood within touching distance of him. “I know what you do, Ollie. I know what Jordan does and everyone on that side of the business with him. I’m the one defending him and the rest of you, along with my sister. Do you think if I didn’t want you here, you would be? You enjoy your job. Before you say you don’t, I’ve seen you in your element.”

“I do, but not all the time. There’s a point when it starts to weigh on me.”

“I’m sure it does. You need someone to lean on. You can’t always be the rock for everyone else. And so we’re clear, both Sylvan and I want to be with you. That’s what I meant last night. You two haven’t gotten anywhere, but we’re going to change that. If you want to, that is.”

He stared at me with his mouth agape, obviously shocked at what I’d told him. It was better to get it out in the open. Sylvan wasn’t here, which wasn’t ideal. I would have preferred to have this conversation with the three of us, but maybe this was for the best. If Oleander was on the same page as Sylvan and I were, we were about to get somewhere together.

14

OLEANDER

Emeric’s words hit me like punches.

You need someone to lean on. You can’t always be the rock for everyone else. That was a quick one-two, slamming into me with the harsh truth.

How many times did I wish I had someone who was there just for me? Not only with the shit I dealt with at work, but when life got too heavy, and memories flooded my mind. Watching others have someone to go home to at the end of a bad day made me ache even more. I was happy for them. I truly was. That didn’t stop the loneliness from creeping in when I went home to an empty space.

And so we’re clear, both Sylvan and I want to be with you. That’s what I meant last night. You two haven’t gotten anywhere, but we’re going to change that. If you want to, that is. This one was more like a roundhouse kick. It was the last thing I thought he’d say. Here he was laying the truth on me, one I hadn’t been prepared to hear.

If I wanted to? In what world would I say no to that? Except, I didn’t reply at all. I stood there like a fucking fool, not able to form words, thanks to the air being forced from my lungs from the blows he’d dealt.

“Ollie?” he asked softly and closed the small distance between us, his hand lifting to the side of my neck. The moment his skin touched mine, I moaned. I’d be embarrassed if I had any sense at all, but I didn’t. Sense went out the window when he said they wanted me.

Sylvan… Well, I’d desired him for so long it wasn’t even a conscious thought anymore. It was a reflex. I saw Sylvan and wanted to give him the world. And taste his lips. I never did anything close to that.

Emeric… The man was just about the sexiest person I’d ever seen. No one filled out a suit like him, but in the relaxed clothes he wore at home like he was now, goddamn, was he fucking gorgeous. That wasn’t all I wanted him for though. Emeric was incredibly smart, empathetic, and could handle me.

Wait, did I want to be handled? Maybe I did by him.

“Yeah?” I rasped, my throat suddenly dry.