Ollie shoved a fork full of eggs in his mouth. “I’ve known Zeke longer than you.”
“I’ve talked to Zeke more than you.” Though it was always a one-sided conversation.
“Zeke taught me origami.”
“Zeke knows all my secrets.”
Ollie pulled his brows together and swallowed. “Everything?”
I nodded once. “Everything.” I dragged the word out for emphasis.
“Is that so?” Ollie dropped his fork over his tray. “Guess I need to get the boy talking, then.” Ollie waved his hand in front of Zeke to get his attention, then out of nowhere, made rapid movements with his hands. I snapped my head in Zeke’s direction as he signed back, and this went on for a full minute.
A full minute.
Ollie brought his fingers to his eyes as a controlled laugh spilled from his pressed lips. He turned away for a moment before turning back in front of him and lifting his fork to take another bite of eggs with a grin.
My jaw dropped. My eyes went wide.No. “What was that?”
Ollie couldn’t contain his smile as he tried to close his mouth while eating the eggs.
“Ollie!” I hit him in the leg. “He knows sign language?”
“Yup,” he said after swallowing.
“And what did he say?” I wanted to hide under the table. I wanted to run out of here. I wanted to drive my face into the tray full of eggs.
Ollie’s cheeks flushed as he fixed his eyes on Zeke. “The only way you could get through sex with Liam was to imagine it was me.” He pressed his lips together harder. His dimple pierced his cheek.
“Oh, my God.” I exhaled, bringing my hands over my face.
Ollie removed my hands and slid one over his lap. “Can’t say I’m not flattered, love.”
Every confession I’d ever told Zeke raced through my mind. Pointing a finger at him, I said, “We’re not friends anymore.”
Ollie rested my hand over his thigh while he used his to communicate with Zeke again. With more movement from Zeke, more than I had seen since I had arrived, Ollie let out a raspy laugh and fist bumped him before returning to my hand under the table.
“What did he say now?” I asked, impatient. Eager.Annoyed.
Ollie quickly kissed my cheek as he bounced my hand over his knee. “Never trust a bromance, Mia. The bond Zeke and I share is lethal.”
Heat rose to my cheeks as Ollie took another bite, the smile never leaving his face.
“Hey, you adorable two, Merry Christmas!” Jake said as he took a seat beside Zeke.
Zeke moaned, and Ollie quickly swallowed and waved him away. “No, you have to pull up a chair. You can’t sit by him.”
“My bad.” Jake held up his hands in defense and turned around to grab a chair. He dragged it to the end of the table. “What are you guys doing today? We’re free all day, no lockdown.”
“Let’s get outside,” I suggested. It was a beautiful day, and it had been precisely a week since I’d felt the sun.
“Power?” Jake raised a brow. We hadn’t played power since I ran off in the woods, and I never wanted to play another game again. It should be called “powerless” instead.
Ollie shook his head. “No. No more bloody games.”
“How about football? American football? It’s a tradition in the states to play or watch football on Christmas day. I’m sure there’s a ball here somewhere.”
Ollie squeezed my hand in approval as a smile reached his eyes.
