Page 89 of Bully for Sale
“Ezer talked with his brothers today, sir,” Earl said, when Ned was seated at the big table in the living room of the nest. He’d had it moved there when it became clear Ezer had no desire to eat in the windowless kitchen. He was working on his Literature homework. He hadn’t even read the book, but he could fudge his way through the essay pretty well, and he knew the teacher would go easy on him.
“He did?” Ned asked, looking up to gage Earl’s opinion of the phone call in his body language. “How did it go?”
“He seemed tired after. A little sad. But no more than he has sometimes been in the past, I suppose. Did he mention it to you?”
“No.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” Earl said defensively.
“Of course not,” Ned reassured him, though, he suspected Earl had absolutely listened to the entire call and on purpose.
“His father’s omega had an alpha.”
“Really? That’s good, I suppose. Fersee wanted one.”
“And now he plans to get rid of his other omega sons. The twins are next in line for it, it seems. I don’t know why he delays with the oldest, but there you have it. Ezer seemed…”
“He seemed what?”
“Tired.”
Earl had said that before.
“He’s growing twins. Of course he’s tired.”
“No, it was different. I think his family grieves him, but he loves them anyway. I think they don’t love him the way he wants to be loved.”
“Whose family does?”
Earl nodded thoughtfully. “Anyway, I though you should know, sir, in case he’s exceptionally taciturn tonight.”
“Me? Taciturn?” Ezer’s voice cut into their conversation. He trailed out of the bedroom with a silky sheet wrapped around his shoulders and his eyelids weighted down with sleepiness. “I’m always a bundle of cheer, Earl. I’d think you’d know that by now.”
“Of course, sir. Always laughing. Always smiling.”
That made Ezer actually smile, but he didn’t laugh. “I’m fine. My brothers are exhausting is all. And I thought you were in your rooms when I made that call.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, sir. I just wanted to check on you.”
Ezer sighed. “In the future, I want my privacy, and I mean it.”
Earl bowed like some old servant of yore, and Ezer sniffed haughtily like a prince. “I might have nothing left of my old life, but I have some pride still, and I deserve my personal privacy, and I won’t be the subject of gossip between my alpha and his servant.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Earl said. “I overstepped in my urge to protect you while Ned was at school.”
Ezer’s anger deflated, and he sat at the table. “I’m too tired to stay angry. Just don’t do it again.” He turned to Ned. “Show me those math problems. I’ll help you.”
Ned wordlessly pushed his math assignments over, and Ezer grinned as he took them up. “Oh, these are fun ones, Ned. Look…”
Ned dismissed Earl with a wave and bent over his omega’s shoulder to see the problems. The solutions still didn’t make a lick of sense even when Ezer was done working them out, but he loved seeing Ezer so happy.
“Let’s do the next one.”
Ned agreed.
He wished things could stay this easy between them forever, but he also knew that was too good to be true. Post-partum drop was a real thing, and Ezer was likely to be handful during it.
But Ned would handle him.
