Page 116 of Perfect Pairing
“I love you, boy,” Rik said to his son. “But there are some things a father just doesn’t need to know about his son. I let it slide those months you guys were doing…whatever on those late-night phone calls, but I draw the line at having to hear both of you under the roof I’m trying to sleep under.”
“Oh my god,” I whispered, burying my face in my hands. I’d never been more mortified in my entire life. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and pretend I didn’t exist.
Reasonably, I understood Rik knew Ezra had sex. Obviously, Hansen’s existence was proof of that. But he was right—there were certain things a father shouldn’t know about his son, and the way he sounded when he came, or the noises he elicited from his girlfriend while he drove her to climax, were definitely on that list.
“Wait a minute,” Ezra said, his face pale, eyes comically wide. “Months?”
Rik chuckled in disbelief. “The walls in this place were paper thin before we renovated.”
Ezra covered Hansen’s ears as he said, “Fucking hell. Do you thinkheheard?”
“Daaaaad!” Hansen wailed, attempting to shove Ezra away.
“Nah,” Rik said. “His room is on the opposite side of the house. I’m the one unfortunate enough to share a wall with you.”
“Jesus,” Ezra breathed. “I’m…so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Rik said. “We all have urges.”
“Gross. Don’t say urges.” Ezra sounded like such a petulant teenager with that comment, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Just…keep it down,” Rik continued, unperturbed, before he winked at me and disappeared from the room.
When he’d gone, Ezra looked at me and let out a disbelieving snort. “What the hell?”
“I can never show my face in this house again,” I said into hischest as Ezra gathered me into his arms.
“You think I’m ever letting you leave?” he asked, pulling away and placing a kiss on the tip of my nose.
“You really want this?” I asked quietly.
“You? Always, in all the ways you’ll let me.”
I grinned as he captured my mouth with his, but before the kiss could get too deep, Hansen said, almost conversationally, “What’s adult playtime?”
We broke apart as we devolved into a fit of laughter, and Ezra moved away from me, ruffling Hansen’s hair on his way back to the stove.
“Something you’ll learn about when you’re older.”
Hansen harrumphed but didn’t press the issue as he continued forking eggs into his mouth.
Ezra set my meal in front of me, and as I lifted a bite to my lips, my phone pinged.
My heart rate kicked up when I realized it was a text from Logan to my entire family.
Logan Daniels: Aleah Iris Daniels made her debut at 6:22 this morning. She’s 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 21 inches long. Chloe is doing well and said you guys can come down and meet her whenever you want.
Mama: Such a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl! Grammy and Papa can’t wait to meet her!
Delia: God she’s gorgeous! Congratulations, you two. QB and I will be down ina few hours. We love you <3
Ella: Omg look at all that hair!
Amara: Well now I’m ready to kick my little tenant out. Can’t wait to meet her!
Me: I’m coming down ASAP. Congratulations, guys! Love you!!!!!
I looked up at Ezra and grinned. “I have a niece.”
