“Hey, relax, man.” Falcon slapped Oscar’s good knee. “You look like you’re about to jump out of the car. You’ve met them all before. They’re not gonna bite your head off.”

Oscar offered Falcon a quick smile. “Yeah, of course. Sorry. Just lots on my mind.”

Falcon eyed him critically across the backseat of their Uber. They’d already discussed Oscar’s studio a little more, and Falcon’s hunch that Blane was going to propose, and just about everything Oscar could think of that wasn’t related to Roman.

Which left an awkward and very obvious silence between them.

Falcon knew him well enough to leave well enough alone when he wasn’t ready to talk, but he was giving Oscar the look that meant he knew something was up.

“It’s nothing,” Oscar mumbled, looking out the window. Why did his new boyfriend have to live so far out in the freaking suburbs? Like a white-picket-fence guy. Which he was.

He couldn’t believe he was dating a white-picket-fence guy. Hell, he couldn’t believe he was dating any guy. Let alone his best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend. Like some weird little dating club.

“Uh huh. Nothing,” Falcon repeated, his lips twitching upward in amusement. “I believe you.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“I gathered, because you’re not talking about it.”

“I’m not saying.”

“I’m not asking.”

Oscar stared out the window, his cheeks burning. “Good.”

“But the other guys won’t have a problem asking.” Falcon was smirking at him.

Oscar looked over and rolled his eyes. “Asshole.”

“I know. So?”

“There might be… a thing going on.”

Falcon burst out laughing. “Wow. So specific. I’m very glad I asked. I’ll run to the tabloids now.”

“Fuck off.”

Still laughing, Falcon covered his mouth and looked away, desperately trying to regain composure.

Unable to help himself, Oscar joined in the laughter. “Fine, fine, all right. Jesus. I’m kinda seeing someone.”

“Nooooo.” Falcon couldn’t have been more sarcastic if he’d tried. “Really? I had no idea.”

“Fuck off.”

Even the Uber driver made a stifled sound of amusement.

“Okay, don’t tell me more,” Falcon answered with a wry smile. “Keep blushing every time I say Roman’s name. Oh… there you go again.”

Oscar’s cheeks were hot at Falcon’s words. Oh, for fuck’s sake. Does everyone know? “Whatever.”

“I haven’t told them. And Blane hasn’t noticed. Sometimes I wonder if he’d notice me trying to propose to him,” Falcon laughed. “I’d have to get a skywriter. But like I said, I’m just waiting for him instead. Much easier than repeating some long marry me speech when he just stares at me.”

Oscar relaxed slightly and chuckled at the mental image. “You think he’d be that surprised?”

“Oh, yeah.” Falcon winked. “But some of the others are more, uh… perceptive. Nico and Deen will be all over you.”

“Fuck. I haven’t asked him what to say.” Oscar glanced out the window as he frowned. “It’s nearly morning there, and this all so new to us…”

“Then don’t give them the whole scoop. If anyone asks you when to expect wedding bells, I’ll kick him in the nuts for you,” Falcon offered cheerily. “But you better not withhold on me.”

“I thought you…” Oscar trailed off, then shifted uncomfortably.

Falcon waited, eyebrow raised. “Hm?”

No getting out of it now. Oscar wasn’t sure how his best friend in the world would take it. “I thought you’d judge us.”

Falcon paused for a few long moments, then squinted at him. “Huh? Judge you? Why the hell’s that?”

“You and Blane didn’t want us getting together. You’ve been trying to keep Roman and me apart since the start, you know,” Oscar said, trying not to make it sound like an accusation. But now that he was talking, something was unknotting in his chest, like a burden he hadn’t even admitted to himself. “It’s like you don’t trust us to date like adults.”

“I… guess we were,” Falcon said slowly, rubbing his forehead. “At the beginning for sure. I mean, you’ve both been a little… how do I put it…”

“Slutty?”

Falcon laughed. “Sure, but I meant love him and leave him.”

“So, slutty,” Oscar grinned. “I cop to it. It’s fun.”

“But now that there’s you and Roman…?” Falcon prompted, clearly curious.

Oscar felt his cheeks flush again. It sounded so stupidly romantic in his head. “We talked a bit about it. Like I said, really new. We both think we only want to see each other. There’s room to talk about things in the future, and stuff, and whatever…” he waved a hand, then bit his tongue. He was in serious danger of rambling now. “But I guess we’re officially boyfriends. And stuff.”

Falcon was beaming at him when he finally dared to glance over. “That’s adorable. I like seeing you in this stage. You usually don’t sound so optimistic, though.”

Oscar drew a breath to protest, then let it out. “I guess not.” His usual attitude was we’ll see how long it lasts, and he was usually right, because he’d had a whole life that wasn’t compatible with dating outside the company, and dating inside the company was an even worse idea.

“No pressure,” Falcon added and punched his shoulder lightly. “But man, that’s cool for you. If it’s anything like what I found with Blane…” he trailed off. It was his turn to look embarrassed.

“Hm?” Oscar teased. “What’s this mushy stuff?”

“Fuck off. You know I love him. Having him around just makes me feel like I’m… I don’t know. Vibrating at a higher frequency or something.”

“Vibrating?” Oscar grinned as the Uber pulled up outside the bar. “No, I don’t wanna know.” He leaned forward and thanked the driver, then stepped out.

Falcon snorted as he joined Oscar on the sidewalk and shut the car door. “You know, they make great long-distance ones now.”

“Oh, I know.” It wasn’t the first time the thought had occurred to Oscar. “But he might switch around his shifts for… more evenings at home. Go to short-hauls.”

Falcon’s brows shot up. “Oh. He’s serious.”

Something lurched in Oscar’s chest: fear? Anxiety? He wasn’t sure what it was, exactly, but it was unsettling to hear that Roman was pursuing him seriously. “We’re trying to take it slowly,” he answered, avoiding Falcon’s gaze.

Thankfully, Josh was just walking down the block toward them. He raised his arm in an enthusiastic wave. “Hey, guys!”

Falcon gazed at Oscar for a moment longer, making it clear the conversation wasn’t over, then looked back at Josh. “Hey! At least we’re not the last here, huh?”

“Shut up. I had errands. Forgot the time,” Josh grumbled, rolling his eyes. He was ruddy-cheeked and out of breath, and his overshirt was the kind of plaid monstrosity that came straight from his farm wardrobe rather than the clean but plain t-shirts he seemed to favor otherwise.

“Hot Grindr date kept you busy?” Falcon teased, noticing the same things but having more license to tease their friend.

Josh flipped Falcon off and pulled open the door. “After you.”

“Enjoy the view,” Falcon countered and sauntered through, towing Oscar after him. “But the goods are taken.”

“Wait a minute,” Josh said when he caught up with them in the middle of the bar. “Is there another boyfriend on the scene? Oscar’s? Why isn’t he here?” He looked between Oscar and Falcon.

“For you all to terrify?” Falcon laughed. “Give the man a break.”

“I hope you realize he’ll have to pass the test with us,” Josh told Oscar, elbowing him but grinning. “Good for you. Gonna spill?”

Oscar glared at Falcon. “You could have kept a secret for more than three seconds, you know.”

Josh laughed. “Don’t blame him. It was my nosiness.” He gave them that broad boyish smile, looking every inch the easygoing country boy. He might attract some attention tonight, if he were lucky. From someone who didn’t mind plaid and faded denim.

Man, I picked the right brother. Oscar resisted the urge to laugh to himself as he approached the table with the others and raised a hand to wave. He still felt a bit shy around them, but they’d welcomed him in so thoroughly that it wasn’t bad.

And, apparently, they were intrigued by his love life as much as the others’. Josh said loudly, “I’m buying this round so we can get Oscar drunk and interrogate him on this mysterious new man in his life.”

A round of ooohs went around, and Oscar groaned as he shut his eyes.

I was right. Totally fucked.

* * *

Through skillful subject changes, strategic silences, and pleading looks at Falcon, Oscar made it about an hour into the get-together before the attention turned to him.

He’d spent the last hour mentally preparing for how to brush off questions truthfully but without implicating Roman, but he wasn’t prepared for Nico to lean over the table and drop the grenade.

“So, you and Roman shacked up respectably yet? Or are you still living in sin?”

Deen burst out laughing and slapped Nico’s chest. “Don’t scare off the poor guy.”

Josh nearly dropped his beer. “Ohhhh.”

Blane stared at Falcon. “What? Really? I didn’t—what?”

“It’s a good thing you’re cute,” Falcon told him with a head shake. “You didn’t figure it out last time they visited?”

Even Dustin was smiling to himself, not commenting but also not dissuading them from this line of questioning.

“Is it Roman?” Tyler pressed, never one for subtlety or unanswered questions.

All eyes were on Oscar, who groaned and looked at Falcon.

His best friend winked. “Hey, don’t look at me. They figured it out on their own. My lips have been sealed. Unlike yours.”

A roar of laughter went around the table.

“Et tu?” Oscar couldn’t help laughing, even though he kind of wanted to disappear into the floor. “Jesus.”

“If he doesn’t wanna talk, it’s fine. We’ll just grill Roman next,” Tyler cheerily continued. “We can break him a lot faster.”

Oscar laughed again, a hand over his face. His cheeks were roasting. “Fucking… okay, fine.” Bare details. “We’re still figuring it out.”

“All the benefits, none of the responsibility?” Josh grinned.

Falcon winked. “You’re one to talk.”

“Hey,” Josh elbowed Falcon. “We’re not talking about me.”

Dustin snuck a word in edgewise. “We’ve never gone this long without Roman hinting at his next conquest, you know. It was pretty obvious.”

“Was it?” Blane said, still looking dazed. “He never said…”

“Of course he didn’t say. He likes him. When does that ever happen?” Josh muttered under his breath.

Someone hummed a few beats of the wedding tune, to more laughter.

Okay. That’s kind of overwhelming. Being the one for him or whatever. Yet Oscar was trying hard not to beam as he heard this. “Fine. We both, uh, kind of stumbled into each other. So it’s still really new. We’re boyfriends, but we haven’t even agreed to tell you guys yet. If you can give me a chance to get there first when he wakes up…” He checked his phone: late enough that he was awake now. “Tonight. Or until his flight back tomorrow.”

Nico groaned. “No teasing group texts? Fine.”

“I was going to give him a congratulations, about fucking time card,” Josh chimed in.

Falcon flapped a hand at them all, finally jumping in to rescue him. “Okay, enough gossip. Before Oscar dies of embarrassment. He looks like he’s trying to camouflage himself in a tomato field.”

“You’re a good sport,” Josh assured Oscar with a warm smile and slapped his back. “Sorry we’re nosy asses. Another beer? It’s on me.”

“I’ll take one,” Tyler told him.

“I wasn’t offering you. Unless you have juicy gossip for us.”

Tyler looked disappointed. “No. Goddammit.”

“Stick your dick in something other than one of those supercars and report back, I’ll buy you a beer,” Josh told him. “Hell, figure out how to stick your dick in a supercar and I’ll buy you two.”

Deen looked thoughtful. “You know, I once saw this video…”

“Don’t give him any ideas,” Dustin hissed. “You know how many guys end up in the ER with their junk stuck in things?”

Oscar stared, horrified. “I wanna know how you know. It’s not like you need a forensics expert to figure out whose dick is stuck in the fence…”

They all winced with reflexive pain.

Dustin snorted with laughter. “Friends in high places. I have this buddy who’s a nurse. He’s seen things, man.”

Josh slid out of the booth, squeezing across Nico and Deen’s laps to do so. “Is he going to tell that story again? We’re all gonna need more alcohol for this conversation.” He headed for the bar.

Oscar held his breath, but he could tell the group was waiting for him to ask. If this was the worst hazing got, he could deal with it. The things I do for friends. “Okay, I’ll bite. What story?”

“An unlucky, lonely bastard plus a pool intake valve and several firefighters.”

Oscar winced and covered his groin for a second. “Okay, Josh was right. I will need beer for this one.”

There was another round of laughter, but now that the attention wasn’t on him, he joined in. He was proud that he’d navigated that kind of smoothly—the best he could under the circumstances, anyway.

Now to hope that Roman wasn’t pissed off at him tomorrow morning.