Bri hooted. “I totally think so. I love the idea that my friend is a ranch owner.”
That made him shake his head. “You mean your friend who has kids who own a ranch. Is it weird I’m worrying that my kids grow up to hate me, and in fifteen years I find out that I’m homeless, and I’ve had been on this ranch for all this time, and they throw me out?”
“Yes, it’s pretty fucking weird, but it’s you. Pretty freaking weird and a worrywart, and you’ve got to stop because you didn’t used to be.”
No, he used to be brave and playful. Then he’d had kids, and, somehow, life had gotten hard.
And not a little hard, but hardcore hard. Hard in that way where he didn’t quite know what to do.
But right now, he liked Ellis, and out of everything he was up to these days, that seemed easy. “Also, with four kids around all the time, it’s hard to do anything about it.”
“Three of them are in school, though, right?”
“One of them is in day care two days a week…”
“Good for you! Go out there on one of those days and tackle him, snog the living hell out of him—but ask first. Don’t be that guy. Consent is important.”
Ichabod started cackling, just rolling. He could hardly breathe, and that told him how much he needed to laugh, howimportant it was to take a break and let things go. All the stress and weirdness and hard of this move and the house and everything.
“There you go. That’s better, isn’t it?” Ben was laughing with him. “Scott and I should come out to see you. Maybe at the first of the year.”
“That would be great, hon. By then I ought to have a guest room that’s all prettified for you to stay in.” He would never make Bri go to a hotel.
“Cool. I would love that too.” Brian paused. “Feel a little more settled?”
“Always, when I talk to you. You make things so easy to reason out. Even if your logic is wild and rainbowy.”
“Can logic be sparkly?”
“Maybe?” He laughed a little more. “The girls would say yes.”
“Hey, how’s it going with Zane?”
“Right now, really good.” He thought about the last few weeks, and there had been very few fights. “I asked him to help me out, gave him some responsibility, and he calmed down a lot. There have been three or four bumps in the road, but they’ve been more speed bumps than potholes. And now he’s making friends at school and taking driving lessons, he’s busy and having fun. He’s fitting in. I think he’s much happier.”
“Oh, that’s so great.” Brian laughed. “I was worried.”
“Me too.”
They chatted about the kids and about work for both of them, but Brian wrapped it up with, “Don’t forget what I said. Snog him silly.”
“I will. I promise.” He would work up the courage, dammit.
“Good. Love you. Call me if you need me.”
“Love you too.” He hung up, feeling lighter. Easier in his skin. Brian had known him when he was with Chris, and if hethought Ichabod wasn’t being disloyal to the man’s memory, well, he probably wasn’t.
Now all he had to do was bide his time and pick his moment.
“Daddy! I need hep!” Chrissy called.
Which wasn’t now.
But soon.
Ellis figuredif he didn’t get to kiss Ichabod soon he might lose his damn mind.
The man did it for Ellis more and more every day. He was quirky and funny and hot as hell, and Ellis was thinking of hiring a damn babysitter so he could take the man out to the bunkhouse and love him up some.
