Page 88 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“God, Z, if I knew that, I’d solve the world’s problems.” He pulled Fazil closer. “Do you want me to stay? I can get a room.”
“I’m not good for anything but sleep.” He sat up and finished the last of his beer. “But I can’t think of anything I want more than to wake up next to you.”
The thump of his heart made his chest ache. “Me neither.”
Fazil charged the drinks to the room he shared with Eli. “Normally we’d pay, but Eli says Sam owes us this round.”
Made sense. And it seemed Eli was fine with the idea of spending the night alone. Fazil stopped briefly to grab a few things before they headed to the room Todd had checked into. When they finally slipped under the cool sheets, Fazil pulled Todd close and shivered against him. “Truth is I’m not okay.”
“I know.” Todd kissed Fazil’s brow. “I’m here.” And he would keep those fuckers away. He drew Fazil into his arms and held him until they both slipped into sleep.
***
When Todd got to the office, separately from Fazil, it was as if nothing had happened the day before. The usual folks stood in the kitchen around the coffeepot, and no one seemed to have the haunted feeling he did. Even when Fazil came in, there were no looks, no comments.
Which was odd, considering Eli wasn’t with Fazil. He’d have thought someone would’ve remarked upon his absence.
The only hint anything had gone down was Nathan’s wolfish grin. Despite the hairs raised on the back of Todd’s neck, he ignored it and got to work.
Halfway through the day, he realized therehadbeen a change. People were working with Fazil. More procedures rolled in. Information about the open source code they’d used was found. Stand-ups weren’t the long monstrosities they’d been, and Stephen even decided they’d skip the afternoon meeting. No Ryan, either, thank God. Only Nathan, being as annoying as ever.
Around noon, he hazarded a text to Fazil.Lunch?
Going with Sandra and Stephen.
He should have expected that.
Gotcha. All well?
Yeah. It’s good.
And that eased his gut. It looked more likely that Anderson might help them turn over. More likely that Fazil would stay another week, too.
He’d take more time with Z any day.
Around three, Todd’s phone buzzed with one word:Staying.
Relief dripped through Todd.
Another text came after five:Leaving now. Meet at the hotel?
Yes. Will leave around 5:30.He had no idea what the plan was, but he guessed it involved Fazil staying at his place for the weekend. He ached for the man more now than he ever had in high school—for his presence and laughter and touch.
The last minutes of the day seemed to crawl, but by some miracle, traffic wasn’t utter shit. He parked and tried not to jog into the hotel.
He tapped out a message on his phone.I’m here.
A moment later, it beeped.508. Come on up.
In short order, he was at the door, but paused when he heard the murmur of two voices. Right. Eli. He knocked.
It was Eli rather than Fazil who opened the door. He looked a hell of a lot more relaxed today. Might have been the jeans and t-shirt, but Todd didn’t think so.
Then again, the man was going home to his handsome husband. That was bound to improve his disposition.
Inside the room, Fazil stood by one of the two beds. “I’m packed; I just need a hand hauling this stuff downstairs.”
“Oh, so I’m unpaid labor?” Todd grinned at Fazil.
