Page 83 of Just A Little Magic

“How will the boys going away for the weekend help you show Owen you’re all in?” Gabe asked.

Reed nodded. “It’s a nice gesture, and I legit mean that, but I don’t see the connection.”

Before I could answer, Enzo delivered the cocktails they’d already ordered and brought me my usual. We all chose the chef’s choice for our meals but waited to continue our discussion until Enzo had cleared the area. The last thing I needed was for Owen to get wind of my plan because I spoke about it in front of someone. I needed complete secrecy if I wanted this plan to work.

“There’s a secret room attached to my bedroom behind a bookcase…”

“Well, that’s just really fucking cool.”

“I want a secret room.”

“If I may continue?” I asked with a haughty tone. They rolled their eyes but shut up so I could finish. “Right now, it’s a sitting room, but I want to turn it into the nursery of his dreams.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold up,” Gabe interrupted me. “Owen hates your taste mostly because it’s garage-sale chic, and he’s right that it sucks. He won’t want you to design his nursery.”

“Fuck you, but also, I already know what he wants because I found his nursery design board hidden in my office. All I have to do is follow the directions on there, and it’ll be perfect. He’s done everything.”

“Everything?” Gabe and Reed asked in unison.

“Yes, literally everything. Owen doesn't fuck around with his designs and his level of organization. So while the boys are gone, I’m going to make his nursery, and he’ll come home to it.”

“Well, damn. It’s a big effing deal gesture. Go big or go home,” Reed said. “But I get the feeling there’s more.”

“Goddammit, I knew it was too good to be true. What do you want from us?” Gabe sighed.

“Now that you mention it, there is something you can do. It’s not even that hard.” I smiled at them, and they both gave me the finger in response. “You can help me put it together.”

“Fuck. I hate manual labor,” Reed whined. “I’m a doctor. My hands need to be pristine.”

“Oooookay, Mr. Big Shot, you’re a hospitalist and used to be in the ER. You’re not a surgeon.”

“You’re a hospitalist. You’re not a surgeon.” Reed mocked Gabe’s tone before he added, “Hey, I’m very busy and important.”

“Yes, yes, the big doctor is special. Super special. We’ll give you the fanciest brush.”

Gabe and I laughed at Reed, but everyone at the table knew he’d be there helping. He was going to whine about it first though. Truthfully, I wanted to join him in the complaints. If I tried to wheedle another emergency job out of Quinn, he was likely to fire me as a client, which was the last thing I wanted or needed. That catio had been a legit emergency though.

“That’s right. I am special because Jakob says so.”

“Jakob wants to get laid.”

“Well, if he does, I’m not going to turn him down.” Reed laughed. “Why can’t you call Quinn?”

“Because I dragged him off another one of my projects to build a catio for Elizabeth,” I answered.

“Barrett, the obsession you have with that cat is reaching Swiftie levels,” Gabe offered.

“Are you talking shit about Mother? I will call Rory right now, and you won’t survive the night.”

“I would never, ever insult Mother. Also, don’t call Rory because I really would like to not get murdered in my sleep. He takes that shit personally.”

“Who the fuck is Mother?” Reed asked in confusion.

“Your Swiftie-obsessed husband is going to hear about this.You really do like to live dangerously, don’t you?” Gabe smirked.

I cleared my throat to get their attention focused back on my genius plan. “Here’s my only downside. The only time I would get them in and coordinate the delivery is the few days before the Halloween party at Dandies. So they’d go up there on Wednesday and come back on Saturday, but the party is that night, so it will be a long day for them.”

“If I tell Owen I need him to work out some issues with Quinn’s foreman, he’ll definitely go. Then Quinn’s guy will ‘cancel’”—I paused for air quotes around the last word, then continued—“and if he’s already up there and the never-a-real-appointment cancels at the last minute, there’s no danger of him coming back early.”

---