Page 53 of Saving You

Grady nodded. “Yeah, you got it. And Oz…hey. Thanks. I owe you so much.”

Like the destruction of your marriage, he thought, but he wasn’t foolish enough to say that out loud. ‘No problem,’ he signed instead.

Grady closed his eyes and settled back into the cushions as Ridge grabbed Oz by the wrist and hurried him toward the door. Oz had no idea what the hurry was. He wanted to drag his feet—to savor this as long as he was allowed, which was clearly only going to be a few more minutes.

But Ridge wouldn’t let him. He hustled Oz to the car, opened the passenger door for him, and barely waited until his arms and legs were safely inside before he slammed the door. His heart was hammering against the inside of his chest.

Don’t freak out, he told himself.Be polite. Thank him for his help. Don’t beg. Don’t show him how pathetic you already are after a single fucking blowjob.

“Shit,” Ridge said when he got in. His breath was heaving in his chest loud enough that Oz didn’t have to focus to hear it. “Shit. Are you okay?”

Oz was startled. Not the question he expected Ridge to ask him. “Um. I’m not the one crying and falling apart.”

“Yeah, but he’s crying and falling apart because he’s leaving the woman who has spent years tormenting you,” Ridge said. He sounded almost angry. “He’s my friend, and I’m there for him, but you’re my priority, Oz. Are you okay?”

He felt stunned, like he’d taken a blow to the head. Of all the things he expected Ridge to be, he hadn’t expected protective. And he hadn’t really given himself much space to think about how all this with Grady was making him feel.

He licked his lips and realized in that moment he wasn’t brave enough to check in. A lie was easier. “I’m fine.”

Ridge hummed loudly, then leaned over and cupped Oz’s cheek. Oz’s breath halted halfway up his throat. “I know you said not to ask anymore, but can I kiss?—”

“Yes,” Oz gasped.

Ridge smiled, closed his eyes, and leaned in. Their lips pressed together, soft and careful at first, and then something snapped, and Oz grabbed him, urging the kiss deeper, heavier, needier. He parted his lips and let his tongue touch Ridge’s, tasting the lingering spices from whatever he’d had before he came home.

After a short forever, Oz forced himself to pull back. “Why, ah…are you home early?”

“Grady texted me and said you were coming over. I kind of panicked.” He pulled back and rubbed the back of his neck, offering a sheepish smile in the low light of the car. “Adele saw me freaking out, so he sent me home. It’s going to be a slow night anyway. I hope.”

Oz closed his eyes and let himself just feel. He was overwhelmed, and there was a pressing anger and sadness from everything, thanks to his family, but it was eclipsed by this. By this absolutely fucking ridiculous, wonderful man.

How was he supposed to do this without falling head over heels?

It was already too late.

“You didn’t need to do this,” he said softly.

Ridge scoffed and lifted his hands. ‘I wanted to. I worry about you all the time, which I know isn’t my right.’

‘It feels nice,’ Oz told him. He was maxed out on lies. ‘No one’s ever cared this much.’

‘I had a feeling, and I hate that for you. How can I help?’

Oz shook his head. ‘I don’t need anything. Really. Seeing you was nice, and I want to be there for Grady. I’m glad he’s leaving. I feel guilty because there were things he didn’t know until tonight.’

It took Ridge a little bit to fully process what Oz was signing, but eventually, he got it. ‘His wife lied to him, didn’t she? About you?’

Oz nodded, biting his lip.

‘I knew it. He’s such a good guy. I could not figure out how he was with someone like that. I can’t imagine him falling for someone who was so terrible to their brother.’

Oz shrugged. ‘For some people, that doesn’t matter.’ He supposed he was glad Grady was a better person than that. And maybe if he’s gotten to know Grady better—if he’d made an effort earlier—things wouldn’t have ended like this.

Once again, was this all his fault for not having some kind of spine with his family?

“Hey,” Ridge said aloud.

Oz glanced over and realized Ridge had been waving at him to get his attention. “Sorry. I don’t know if I’m handling this very well.”

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