It felt strange to shake hands after everything, but their relationship wasn’t the kind where they’d hug or kiss goodbye. They were, at best, acquaintances who’d screwed a couple of times.
Seth took Oz’s hand, and held it for maybe a second too long.
He kept telling himself that it was fine that whatever they’d had was over. It had run its natural course, and now it was time to say goodbye.
Which was fine.
Kinda.
Well, maybe it wasn’t completely fine, but it was how it had to be.
“I’d kick someone else out for you,” Seth said. “You’re still the reigning champion.”
Oz laughed softly. Seth was sure he thought it was flattery, but it really wasn’t. The sex had been hot, and that was important, but it had also felt good after. Seth had walked away from a lot of encounters in his life feeling cheap and used.
Oz managed to make him feel special. Which might have been a dumb thing to like, but Seth liked it anyway.
Whoever caught Oz’s eye when he was really ready to settle down was a lucky man.
“I will see you at the inevitable family get-together,” Oz said.
Seth hadn’t thought of that. He wasn’t used to having family get-togethers.
He did like the idea of having an excuse to see Oz again, though. Even if he was only allowed to look next time.
“You being invited is the only thing that could entice me to show up,” Seth responded, and then immediately wondered if that had been too honest.
A voice over the PA system announced that check-in was about to close for Oz’s flight.
“Gotta go,” Oz said. “Thanks for everything.”
“Safe travels.” Seth wasn’t sure what else to say, and was afraid that if he said anything else, he’d let slip how much he wanted Oz to stay one more night.
Oz grinned at him, then turned to walk away without another word, waving back at Seth as he disappeared into the crowd.
Disappointment settled uncomfortably in Seth’s stomach. He hated himself for it, but he missed Oz already.
It was just about the sex. Seth hadn’t felt really good about sex for a while, and Oz had given him that back.
That was all.
Chapter Thirteen
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?”
Oz looked up at the man who’d sat down next to him at the bar, blinking in surprise at him. He’d almost forgotten there was anyone else here.
He remembered the guy sitting down and saying hello, he remembered thinking that he was being flirted with, and then…
Well, then he’d ended up thinking about Seth.
Again.
Like he had been all week.
“I’m sorry, man.” Oz smiled wryly. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought I was.”
