“Ezra Powell?” Roman asked. “Cute little brown-haired kid with freckles.”
“Ezra, Ezra…” Jay murmured to himself. “You mean my house cleaner Ezra?”
“Yes. He said that you sent him my way.”
“Oh yeah, I told him when his spring semester ended that you might have an extra room. You’re hardly at home anyway.”
Roman pondered that. “So, heisn’tthe man you were talking about the other day?”
Jay was slow to respond, which wasn’t an accident. “Depends. What’d you think?”
“I thought…”Goodwas the word that came to mind. Ezra wasgood,though Roman couldn’t articulate much more beyond that, and it didn’t matter because Jay was talking again.
“He’s a sweet little guy. Very considerate. I turn up the thermostat when he’s over, so he’ll wear shorts and a tank top.”
The idea of Jay manipulating Ezra in that way bothered Roman, bothered him in more ways than one.
“Well, he’s my new housekeeper,” Roman said. “And roommate, I guess.”
“Wait, does that mean he’s not going to clean for me anymore?”
“I don’t know his situation, but can you vouch for him? He’s going to be alone all day and night with my stuff. I don’t want him cleaning the place out.” Roman paused. “In the bad way.”
“No, no he’s totally cool. A little obsessive, but I guess that’s what you want when someone is scrubbing your toilet, right?”
The idea of Ezra doing such an intimate task threw Roman for a minute. He’d come from humble beginnings and had never grown up with a maid or cleaning service. Even in his football career, he’d not had the kind of wealth some of his teammates had acquired. With his finance degree, he’d saved religiously, invested wisely, and made his money work for him. With regard to another man cleaning his toilet, he supposed he’d have to aim very well or perhaps do a little pre-cleaning. Maybe his bathroom was just off-limits. But that was silly, wasn’t it?
“You going to dress him like a French maid?” Jay asked, then chuckled at his own stupid joke.
“No,” Roman said, the back of his neck burning at the thought of it.
“Hide the mop and tell him he has to wash the floor on his hands and knees?”
“And we’re done. Enjoy your workout. I hope you pull a muscle.”
Roman ended the call with Jay’s obnoxious cackle ringing in his ears, a sound that both warmed and irritated him. He’d always associated his best friend’s laughter with the unbridled joy and mischief that Jay brought to everything he did. Unfortunately, he then spent the next few minutes imagining Ezra on his hands and knees in a short fluffy skirt that rode up just a little too high in the back, asking to be “gently corrected.”
Maybe this was a bad idea.
2
Swole
After packing his things but before returning to his new lodgings, Ezra planned a visit to hisotheremployer Mr. Jaylen Reid, the man who had so wisely suggested he meet with Roman Reynolds. Ezra stopped by N’awlins, Jay’s favorite bakery, and bought an order of beignets. Even though they were mostly fat and carbohydrates, two of Jay’s arch nemeses, Ezra also knew the doughy pastry to be the man’s guilty pleasure, and after all the kindness he’d shown Ezra, he certainly deserved the reward.
Ezra climbed the stairs to Jay’s doorstep, paper bag in hand, and rang the bell. Jay opened the door wearing only his sweatpants, which was common enough, since he preferred to go shirtless in his own home. At first it had made Ezra uncomfortable, as Jay was extremely “swole” as he liked to call it, and Ezra didn’t want to have to explain his own biological response to the man’s admirable physique. But over time, Ezra had grown used to Jay’s frugal attire, as he’d grown used to his bawdy humor and gentle ribbing.
Before Jay, Ezra had been wary of very athletic men because they reminded him of the jocks who used to make fun of him in high school, but Jay had proven that you really can’t judge a person without getting to know them first. And, as his mother had once told him, both kindness and cruelty can come in all packages.
“Mr. Reid,” Ezra said with delight.
“Ezra,” Jay stepped onto the front porch and enveloped the smaller man in a tight embrace that was only slightly inhibited by the bag of doughnuts between them. Hugs were another thing Ezra had grown accustomed to with Jay. He’d only ever hugged his mother before, but he found that he liked Jay’s hugs too, so long as he wasn’t sweaty and the hug didn’t last for too long. “Is that what I think it is?” Jay asked with a playful smirk.
“Yes, I know they’re off-diet, but I wanted to thank you for suggesting I meet with Mr. Reynolds.”
“You got the job, huh?” Jay said, grinning.
“Yes, but Mr. Reynolds was very confused. Did you tell him it was a restaurant position? I thought I was very clear about it being housekeeping.”
