Page 135 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
Oh God, it really was Todd. This wasn’t some kind of insane nightmare. “What...” The words stuck in Fazil’s aching throat.What are you doing here? How? Why?
Eli, shit-eating grin and all, strolled forward. “I’ll let you two have some privacy. Remember what I said, Todd.” With that, he shut the door behind him.
“What—did he say?” Fazil managed to push those words out.
Todd blushed. “He said not to stain the carpet. Or the chairs. Or anything else.” He stood and stepped away from the table.
Fazil couldn’t move. This could all still be a dream and he’d wake up any second. “What are youdoinghere?”
“Here in the office or here in Pittsburgh?”
“Both.” It came out as an undignified squeak.
Todd moved closer. “I’m here in the office to see you. I’m in Pittsburgh to accept a job at CirroBot and finish all the damn paperwork.”
Job.Fazil’s blood burned, but his bones might have been carved from ice. He shivered.Pittsburgh.“What?” Todd couldn’t be here for a job. He wavered on his feet.
Todd caught his elbow. “Hey. Why don’t you sit?”
He didn’t want to sit, not this close to Todd. He wanted to wrap his body around him and never, ever let go again. He resisted Todd’s pull. “Todd, why are you here?” He met Todd’s gaze.
“I’m taking a job in Pittsburgh. I’m moving here.” Todd let go. “I stopped by to see if you still wanted to be friends.” He backed away. “I’m sorry, Z. I’ll go.”
No,no.He was fucking this up. “Wait!” He reached out for Todd, but missed and headed for the floor instead.
Todd caught him. “Z?” This time, he didn’t have much choice but to sit. Todd poured him into one of the guest chairs.
“I haven’t been doing all that well.”
Todd brushed fingers across his forehead. “You’re not running a fever.”
“I’m not sick.” Fazil gripped Todd’s arm. “I’m...”Exhausted. Malnourished. Stressed out beyond belief.He looked up into those blue eyes. “You’rehere.”
“Yeah, I am.” His brows were furrowed.
“You’restaying?”
“Yup.” His features smoothed out.
Fazil swallowed, his heart thudding against his chest. Todd was moving here. “Forme?”
“Yes. If you’ll still have me.”
Fazil didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He rose from the chair on shaky legs and threw his arms around Todd.
Strong arms closed around him. “I didn’t listen to you, and you wereright. I was trying to make you live my dream.”
The warmth from Todd’s words clashed with the reality of his own actions. “I ran again. Shut you out after I said I wouldn’t.” He pulled back. “God, Todd. You shouldn’t change your entire life for me, either!”
There was that amused smile. “I’m not doing itentirelyfor you.”
Fazil blinked. “No?”
“Z.” Todd huffed a laugh. “Can I kiss you?”
“Yes?”
“Good.”
