11. Liam

Liam

Chapter eleven

“We need you to come in this weekend,” Maude said, her arms crossed. My shift was almost over, but she’d cornered me in the hall on the way to the breakroom. Bully for me.

I blinked at her, not able to process how she could make these demands. Whenever someone called out or they needed coverage, they didn’t ask around and pool resources. No, the director always told me I needed to show up, as if my life outside of work didn’t matter. The killer part was that they didn’t hold most of the staff to those standards.

Just me.

“I’m not able to,” I said, shoving down the flare of my temper.

Maude glanced at me incredulously, all five foot three of grizzled old broad who looked like she chewed on tar for gum and spat tacks at her enemies. “Why? It’s not like you’ve got a partner at home or kids to worry about.”

Oh, fuck her.

This wasn’t the first time she’d made comments about my lack of the trappings of heteronormative culture, but holy fuck, it made me so angry. I didn’t feel the need for a partner. My stint in boyfriends had burned me hard, and kids wouldn’t ever be in my equation. But that didn’t mean I should get worked to death because they wouldn’t hire enough people to cover the shifts. If I ran my own place, I’d make sure we had enough coverage rather than the penny-pinching bullshit I dealt with here.

I heaved out a sigh. Another notch in the ”should’ve opened my own business” category. Maeve would leap on this and build a fucking spreadsheet. I just clung to a scrap of driftwood against the tsunami of changes I’d been facing lately.

“I’ve got a family thing,” I said, even though it was a flat-out lie. I’d been pulling twelve-hour shifts. People didn’t last long here, as evidenced by the way Maude blew through PTs, but she refused to hire more, and we’d all felt the burden of her cutbacks.

“Laura’s off that day for her kid’s recital,” Maude said as if that might sway me somehow.

“And I have obligations too.” I swallowed the sharpness creeping into my tone. I wouldn’t back down on this one. It might be the fact that I wanted to soak in however long I had with Ollie before he snapped out of this fever dream and realized he was straight. Or it could also be because the volume of the little voice—whose name was Maeve—telling me to start my own business had dialed up the volume. Either way, I refused to roll over like I usually did. “So you’ll have to find someone else for coverage.”

“Careful, Liam,” Maude said, her tone so fucking preachy I wanted to knock her over. “We take team player behavior into account when we do evaluations for raises.”

Great. Leveraging my pay against me, all because for the first time in years, I didn’t want to come in on a day off. I drew a slow, unsteady breath in. “I’m sure my lengthy history with helping out will weigh in my favor.”

And hopefully, I’d be done with this fucking place before the next evaluation came up. Maybe I needed to talk to Maeve. The second I mentioned wanting to get the ball rolling, she’d be all over it.

Maude didn’t say anything, neither of us budging in this standoff, but I had places to be, and it sure as hell wasn’t here. I strode past her and marched to the breakroom, a paste-colored room that reeked of bleach and mildew, just like the rest of the place. We’d been graciously given a shitty microwave that barely worked, a table we’d had to bolster the legs of with duct tape, and a handful of cracked chairs in disrepair. If I owned my own place, I wouldn’t treat my employees like garbage. They’d be family.

I grabbed my backpack with my laptop for client notes and slipped the strap over my shoulder. My phone was in the front pocket, and I slid it open, ready to message Ollie. I needed a distraction as soon as fucking possible. And hell, if our hangout turned into anything like the last time, that’d be all the stress relief I needed. The memories of our kiss, sucking him off in the woods, and the way he’d fucked me in bed played on constant repeat in my mind. Never in my life had I had a hotter experience.

The drop would likely wreck me, but I couldn’t help checking my texts. He’d already messaged me.

Date tonight?

My heart sped as I stared at two words I’d never expected to see from my best friend. I kept waiting for him to freak out, the shock that not only was he getting divorced but also that he’d started hooking up with me, who was also a guy. Except it hadn’t arrived yet. He’d seemed to have already come to terms with what his family and I had realized years ago—that he and Josie were a square peg in a round hole. And he hadn’t blinked when it came to kissing or having sex with me. He’d launched into it with a sweet curiosity that had always been pure Ollie.

My heart thudded hard, and I shot a message back.

Sure, whisk me away.

By the time I’d gotten home, showered, and changed into something clean, a knock sounded at my door.

I stumbled as I toed into my shoes, having just thrown on some cologne and buttoned my ”fuck me” jeans. I’d tossed on a slutty little blue lace thong in the hopes I’d be getting laid tonight, but even the chance to steal even more time with Ollie had my heart racing faster. Crazy, considering my best friend and I had spent years attached at the hip, especially after I’d moved back to the area postcollege.

The knock made it feel like a date. Normally, he busted into my place like he lived here. I willed my thundering pulse to calm down as I pulled the door open. The sight of Ollie in my doorway lobbed a thunderbolt of lust right through me. He always looked hot as sin with his big, bear frame, the chest hair spilling out of the top of his shirts, and the tattoos and gauges. But after we’d slept together, I found him infinitely sexier. Heat bloomed in his eyes as his gaze raked me over. He’d also put care into his appearance, all scrubbed and clean in a nice form-fitting olive-green tee and khakis that his thick thighs tested the confines of. Combined with his beard nicely oiled and the rich scent of him, metal and whatever woodsy body wash he’d used, and I was in fucking heaven.

“Damn, Liam,” he said, breaking the silence first. He stepped in front of me and wrinkled his nose. “Wait, how are we supposed to handle this? I’m used to walking right in for a hug, but I really want to kiss you right now.”

“Kiss me.”

Ollie closed the space between us, and his lips crashed to mine. He wrapped his hand around my nape with a possessive hold. A silent thrill rushed through me, almost as intense as the butterflies bursting in my stomach. Ollie coaxed my mouth open, sliding his tongue in, hot and desperate as he deepened the kiss, fast turning it filthy. My knees grew weak, and I clutched the fabric of his shirt, sinking into the way he weakened me in moments.

He stole a few more long, languid kisses, then pulled back, and our breaths came out in harsh pants.

“That was a way better greeting,” Ollie said, a slow grin curving his lips. Fuck, he was so damn attractive. And having him up in my space like this made it easy to forget all the complications, hell, everything else that mattered.

Made it a little too easy to lose myself.

I swallowed hard as the realization splashed a little ice on my glow, and I stepped back. “So, where are we going?”

“What’s the point of a date if you’ve got all the information? Come on, let’s go.”

I followed him out the door, locking up behind me, and walked to his Jeep, since he insisted on driving. He kept dropping the word date as we talked, like it wasn’t everything I’d been yearning for throughout so many years. We’d only been on the road for a few minutes, right through the thick of town, when he found street parking and pulled into a spot in front of La Taqueria. We’d gotten tacos and burritos here about a million times, and I loved that he’d picked a tried and true for us rather than branching into something fancy that didn’t fit.

“Maybe this wasn’t the best choice?” Ollie asked, scratching the back of his neck as he cast a nervous glance at me. Holy hell, that was cute as fuck, and my heart twirled in my chest.

“It’s perfect. I’m fucking starving.”

When we got closer to the tiny Mexican place with its little black awning and bright red door, the scent of cooking meat wafted my way. A handful of picnic tables littered the front, which was where we’d be eating. I pulled the door open, and Ollie slipped his fingers through mine before he led us both inside. My heart marched in double-time. Fucking me behind closed doors was one thing, but this? Claiming me for the world to see? I almost swallowed my tongue as every pent-up, swoony feeling I’d been holding on to since high school surged in like that adrenaline rush of a plane lifting off.

“You want the usual?” Ollie asked all casual, like he wasn’t holding my hand in public for the first time.

“Uh, yeah.”

As he placed our order, the voices from the other patrons faded into the background. All I could process right now was his palm brushing against mine, our fingers twined perfectly together. In no time, we were already waiting at the counter for our food because Ollie insisted on paying. Sparks lit through me at how he wanted to take care of me. The thought he’d put into this date and the small gestures he showered me with lifted me higher than I’d ever soared.

No wonder no other guy had compared.

“Let’s sit outside.” I said, casting an eye toward our regular picnic table that was empty. The breeze was a little cooler today, but the waning golden rays of the sun were rich and warm, beckoning me outside. Besides, I wanted our rituals, our familiar. I clutched to them with all my might amid the massive shifts that had occurred in our friendship over the past week. We were changing so fast—ever since Ollie had announced his divorce—yet I didn’t want to put on the brakes.

I was strapped into this roller coaster, no matter the outcome.

“Thanks,” Ollie said to the guy who delivered over our burritos, covered in foil and guaranteed to be fucking delicious. Ollie passed me mine, unfortunately unlinking our hands. My stomach rumbled at the sight and smell of the savory meat, beans, and cheese. As Ollie walked to the door, I followed him, not skipping the chance to watch Ollie’s ass flex in his khakis. After years of furtive glances, it felt so damn good to soak in this man’s gorgeous body in action.

I almost tripped from staring too hard, so I clutched my burrito tighter and tore my gaze away as we stepped outside. The early evening sun seeped through my skin, lazy rays compared to the daytime intensity, and we settled into our normal spots at the picnic bench, on opposite sides from each other. Not like I could sit in his lap or mount him in public, but damn, did I want to.

“You have no idea how badly I needed this,” I said, tearing open the foil and taking the first bite. As I savored the taste, all salt and grease and goodness, I moaned. When I looked up, Ollie’s jaw had dropped, and he just stared at me. I swiped at my mouth. “Is there something on it?”

He shook his head and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “No, just realizing how hot even watching you eat a burrito is. Like, you’ve always been hot, but I was with Josie, so it didn’t really matter, you know?”

I blinked as my heart stopped and restarted in my chest. “What do you mean I’ve always been hot?”

“Look, I might have always figured I was straight because I dated women, but I’ve been aware of your looks for a long time too. I guess that’s why none of this is coming as too much of a surprise to me,” he said, chewing on his lip. “That’s not weird, right? Because of how long we’ve known each other?”

“Only if having a crush on you for ages is weird.” I dropped my gaze.

“Fuck, really?” The sheer excitement in his tone had me looking back up again. Ollie’s eyes were bright, and a broad grin stretched across his features. “So, this was inevitable, right?”

My heart thumped hard at his words, ones I could barely process. Sure, I might’ve sworn off relationships after Hal, but this was Ollie. The fear of losing myself to another guy didn’t exist with him because I’d been lost to him years ago.

In truth, it had always been him. I hadn’t been waiting around, because he was married, but at the same time, no potential partner could ever measure up to this connection we shared.

Ollie tore into his burrito, and I did the same, enjoying the later afternoon sun, quality food, and the man I adored.

“What were you going to say earlier?” he asked, nudging my foot with his.

“Oh, that.” My shoulders slumped. “Just tired of working at Tethered Connections. Maude wanted me to drop everything and cover this weekend with no notice, and she keeps shoving the lack of kids or a partner in my face.”

“I’ve been telling you that’s fucked up.” Ollie gestured at me with the last quarter of his burrito. A few flakes of rice drifted out. “Do Maeve and I need to strap you down and make you watch inspirational videos about owning your own business for twenty-four hours? Because we’ll do it.”

I let out a sigh. My folks had said I should too. The only person who wasn’t backing me at this point was myself. “How would I even get started, though? When I look at the paperwork, the sheer amount makes me want to toss it all out a window.”

Ollie lifted a brow. “You know you’re talking to someone who works for a family-owned business, right? Cor and I have already handled most of the paperwork for the business, since Dad’s days before retirement are numbered. Say the word, and I’ll sit with you, and we can figure it out together.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I scarfed more of my burrito to avoid being a total sap. Ollie had always been the best friend I could ever have hoped for, but since he’d started looking at me through a different lens, the potential I saw in him as a partner was so perfect it terrified me.

“Thanks.” The first threads of resolve seized inside me. Maybe starting my own business would give me something to hurl myself into when all this fell apart. Ollie and I fit together too seamlessly, and this had progressed so fast I waited for the other shoe to drop.

“Ready for part two of the date?” Ollie said, crumpling his foil into a ball and lobbing it into the closest trash can.

I crammed the last bite of my burrito in and pushed up from the seat. “Lead the way.” Ollie could have taken me to a McDonalds, and I’d be thrilled because he’d wanted to go on a date. However, the fact that he showed how well he knew me—the man had completely ruined me for anyone else.

We climbed into Ollie’s Jeep, and he blasted his terrible 80s music, and I fucking loved it. We’d only gotten through one of his badly sung renditions of Toto’s “Africa” when he pulled to a stop in front of Pets and More. Why were we here? Neither of us owned a pet due to the lack of time to take care of one.

“Did you need to pick up birdseed for your feeders or something?” I asked. The old red-lettered sign had been around forever, as was the big picture of a goldfish they had plastered across the window.

“Come on.” Ollie hopped out, being all smirky and mysterious, and strode to the entrance, expecting me to follow. I did.

We walked inside, and he took my hand again as if he couldn’t keep from touching me. I swooned at the contact, and my heart accelerated as we headed down the aisle. The scent of wood chips and kibble greeted me, the odd blend that always lingered in pet stores. The place wasn’t huge, but it was well known in the area for having a good animal selection, unlike a lot of the stores that just stocked pet supplies.

We’d barely gotten a few steps in when the squawking of birds drew my attention. I always loved looking at the cages, seeing the different types I’d studied over the years. Not like any of the pet birds here were the types I saw while birding out in the wild, but I still appreciated them. “Sadie said they got strawberry finches in,” Ollie said.

I perked up at once, moving a little faster down the aisle. “You’re kidding me, right? They rarely get more than the normal conures and zebra finches.”

“I called just to check, and I figured this would be the perfect stop for us,” he said, swinging our clasped hands back and forth.

Goddamn, slay me now. I wouldn’t never be able to recover from a single date with Ollie Brannon, because his consideration, the way he knew me better than anyone on the planet, and all that his pure sweetness had claimed my heart years ago.

I squeezed his hand, meeting his gaze. “Thank you,” I said softly. “I love everything about our date.”

We rounded the corner to the back area where the bird cages were set up, beautiful flashes of yellow and green from the conures, and a few African macaws chattering away in their spot.

Except I zeroed in on the strawberry finches. The tiny little things flitted around, a shocking bright red with black tipped feathers and bright white speckles.

I stole a glance at Ollie and caught the warm glow of his gaze. Hell, the rarest birds in the world couldn’t compare.