Page 52 of Saving You

“I didn’t learn until my sophomore year of college, when I was brave enough to take a class.” Oz’s hands were shaking now, and he clenched them into tight fists. “We had a few homesigns, so I could go without my processors sometimes, but yeah. I wasn’t allowed to learn it, and I was terrified to tell my parents I’d signed up for the class because I thought they’d cut off my financial aid if they knew.”

Grady licked his lips slowly. “She said you two used it. That…that she used to interpret for you.”

Oz wanted to laugh. She had—sort of. When they were in public and he had the old processors that made everything sound like the inside of a tin can full of static. She’d yell into his ear until he understood on those bad days when his lipreading failed him.

He took a breath. “Yeah, no. She learned a little after I did, but none of them ever took classes. It wasn’t allowed in the house.”

“Motherfucking…” Grady trailed off and groaned, his head flopping backward and hitting the cushion behind him. “I thought the whole thing was because of the girls. I knew she was freaking out that it might be genetic, and I thought—Christ, I thought she was scared because you had such a hard time with communication.”

Oz managed a smile, and he shrugged. “Surprise, I guess.”

“Fuck me. Sheliedto me. Foryears,” he said. His own hands were trembling, and he jumped up, pacing the room. Suddenly, he spun and stared at Oz. “I can’t do this.”

Oz figured as much. At some point, Grady was going to break, and Oz knew he should bow out now. Let him figure out how to fix it himself. “I understand. I’ll head out and?—”

“No,” Grady said in a rush. “No, don’t go. I don’t mean this. I mean her. I can’t be married to someone who lies andmanipulates me. How can I love someone who would treat her own kid the way your parents treated you?”

“Your girls aren’t going to go deaf,” Oz said quietly.

Grady grimaced and shrugged. “Maybe not. Maybe they will. Who the fuck knows. All I care about is that my girls know that they are loved no matter what. There are no conditions with me, and I’m…Christ.” He let out a noise, which Oz was pretty sure was a sob, and he missed half of what Grady said next because he covered his face. When he looked up, his eyes were red, and he dropped his hands, lifting one to his chest. ‘I’m sorry.’

Oz stood up and walked over, carefully pulling Grady into a hug. Grady collapsed against him, whole body trembling faintly as he clung tightly. Oz had to wonder when the last time was that Grady had been held like this, the poor bastard.

He was falling apart, and Oz knew there was going to be a fight ahead. Alora wasn’t going to let this go easy, and he knew she would use the kids as her ace in the hole if she had to.

“I know a lawyer,” Oz said softly.

Grady lifted his head. “Oh, yeah?”

“Uh, I don’t know if he’s in family law, but he probably knows people if he’s not. He can point you in the right direction at the very least.” He felt a little bad for volunteering Monty like that, but he didn’t think the guy would mind.

None of the guys would. Hell, they’d probably take on Grady like he’d always been part of them, if that’s what he wanted. But there would be time enough for that later.

Grady sniffed. ‘Thank you,’ he signed.

Oz nodded, then let Grady cling to him again. They stood there for what felt like forever, and right as Oz’s body started to feel fatigued, he heard the faint sound of a door slamming. For a moment, he thought it was Ina waking up, but a second later, a body appeared in the archway to the living room.

Ridge stood there looking half-frantic, half-confused. ‘Am I…interrupting?’ he signed.

‘He’s having a moment,’ Oz replied back in kind.

Grady sniffed again. “Ridge is here, isn’t he?”

Oz laughed and eased him back before spinning him around to face his friend. “I think you need to be on crisis duty.”

Ridge nodded, but he didn’t stop staring at Oz. It was almost like he couldn’t. Even when he walked the five steps over to Grady, his eyes were locked on Oz’s face. And when he took Grady into another hug, his gaze didn’t waver.

“So, I should go—” Oz started.

“Wait,” Ridge said quickly. ‘I want to talk to you. Go to the store with me so I can pick up a few supplies for Grady?’ he asked with one hand.

Oz bit his lip, but he knew he wasn’t going to say no. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to give up spending extra time in Ridge’s presence. ‘Ok.’

Ridge smiled, the expression full of happiness and relief. Had Oz really done that? Had he put that look on Ridge’s face? Or was that his relief because he wanted to take this time to end things with Oz?

Oh God, what if Ridge was in love with Grady? What if this was like Myles’s story? Ridge probably had a crush on Grady, and now that Grady was going to be single, there was no room for Oz. Not if he wanted a clear path to his own happily ever after.

His stomach hit the floor, and he opened his mouth to tell Ridge he couldn’t go after all, but the man was already guiding Grady to the couch and explaining that he and Oz would be back in a few. “Text me if you need me, okay?”

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