Page 56 of Return to Me

“We both want the same man.” He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, but I suspected he wasn’t feeling as casual as he led me to believe. “Maverick only wants you, but you still act like a jealous ass from time to time. It seems that you like to touch him in front of me as a reminder of who he chose at every opportunity. I was often amazed that you didn’t whip out your dick and piss on his leg to mark your territory.”

“Oh, so I was a dick then.”

Derrick threw his head back and laughed. Maverick poked his head back in to see what was going on, but I waved him away. “I wouldn’t say you were a dick. I think you were a guy who was scared to death of losing someone you had wanted for so long. I probably would’ve been the same way in your place. I didn’t hold it against you, Noah.”

“I’m sorry if I rubbed our relationship in your face. I won’t do that again unless you make it obvious you need a reminder,” I quickly amended.

“I’ll quit flirting shamelessly just to piss you off too.” He stuck out his hand and we shook on it.

Maverick ordered pizza and fed the crew to thank them for their help. They happily told me funny stories about some of their jobsites and the odd things they had found. Things from toupees, wooden eyeballs, and once a lady left her vibrator out in the middle of her bed after she left for work. The guys weren’t sure if it was accidental or an invitation, but regardless they thought it was fucking weird.

It was a great night and it felt so good to laugh and forget about my problems for a while. I wanted to get my life back to normal, but I was on medical leave until my headaches went completely away and my memories returned. I hoped for both to occur soon so I could feel like a functioning adult again, but until then I would search for the object that kept Elijah from being reunited with Octavius.