Out of the corner of his eye, Maxim saw Bryan frown.“Should I take him upstairs, Maxim?”
“Uh, I think Jay needs to spend the night as well.And he needs to sleep on his side,” Raven said.
From behind Maxim, Clement heaved a sigh and came forward.“I will take care of that.You said you took him to the bathroom because of the champagne?”
Raven shrugged as best as he could with Jason leaning on him.“He said he wasn’t feeling too well.Then he threw up and blamed it on the champagne.”
Clement cackled as he heaved Jason off Raven’s shoulder.“Oh, this idiot.”
“I did make him drink your water, I just don’t know how much it helped.”
Clement focused on Raven.“Thank you for that.”
“No problem.”
Heath roused in Maxim’s arms.“I didn’t drink water.I ordered the drinks for all of us.We drank fire, and then some more fire—oh, the barkeep taught us how to do it, but Raven blew on his fire.”
Raven chuckled and stepped out of the elevator to allow Clement and Jason to go up.
“He means the bouncer, not the barkeep.”
Heath grinned at Maxim.He smelled of liquor.“This was a business expense, can you believe that?”
Maxim faked interest.“Was it really?Darling, that’s nice.Such a smart plan to hatch.Now, come on.We shall take you upstairs.Raven, do you mind if I take him upstairs to his room first?”
And Raven, when he smiled in his oversized hoodie, looked for a moment like the college student Maxim had seen in all those photos, a young man who had a life full of possibilities ahead of him.He looked unburdened.For that alone, Maxim was grateful.
“No, of course not, and better you than me.He’s sort of slippery.He went right back to the dance floor when I was trying to get them both to leave.”
Heath lifted his head.“Yeah, that’s because that barkeep told me he can do the foxtrot as well, and that’s much more fun that the paso doble.Stupid dance, that.”
“I see,” Maxim said and once more petted Heath’s head.
Ume had apparently decided that now was his moment.He walked right up to Raven, pushed his ears back in delight, and began to look all enthusiastic about his human being back.Raven bent down immediately to scratch behind those ears.
“I guess I should take this one for a walk, huh?Wouldn’t mind the fresh air either.”
Bryan dropped whatever pen he’d been playing with and stood.“Yes!And you shouldn’t go alone.I’ll take Heath to bed, and then Maxim can go with you.”
“Are you sure?”Raven asked from where he was kneeling next to Ume, who had rolled onto his back to get his belly scratched like the shameless dog he was.
“Absolutely,” Bryan said, rounding his desk.
“Huh?”Heath said.“What’s happening?”
“Bryan is going to take you to bed,” Maxim said.“And I’ll take Raven out.”
Heath nodded, his mouth tensing in that way that usually meant he was about to say something serious.“About time.I think.”He raised a finger in Maxim’s face.“But if you are weird to him or do old people shit, I will come after you.For real, Dad.Raven and I are friends, and we go friends before business expenses in this house.”
Raven made an insecure sound.“Ignore him, he’s drunk.”
Heath turned and nearly stumbled out of Maxim’s arms.“Yeah, I am.That barkeep’s fault.But I’m not that drunk.I have your back, Raven.And your front and side.Maybe also your…above?Guess it would be better to wear a helmet for the above, to be honest with you.”
“Riiiight.”Raven stood and looked at Maxim.“Should we head out, then?”
“Yes, I should think so.”
Maxim handed Heath over to Bryan, who had to push him toward the elevator while Heath kept waving at him, Raven, and even Ume.Ume completely ignored Heath but circled Raven’s legs, black eyes watching closely for what was going to happen next.
