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Two
Graham jerked away from me and I realized Oz had a fistful of Graham’s shirt and had pinned him to the doorframe.
What the hell? “Cole.” My exclamation came out tighter than I intended.
“This bastard ruined your life,” Oz growled. “He manipulated you, he got you arrested, and I wouldn’t be fucking surprised if he was grooming you from the moment he met you.”
“Whoa.” Graham held his hands up, palms out. “Grooming? Never. Besides, you knocked on my door. What is this, Luna?”
Oz stepped between us. “You’re talking to me, not her.”
“Stop. Please.” I rested a hand on Oz’s arm. “This was never his fault. I sucked him in. You know that.” He was one of the few people who was familiar with all the details.
Under my fingers, Oz’s grip relaxed, but his muscles stayed tense. He let go of Graham and stood next to me. Loom might be a more appropriate word.
The disruption was nasty, but it didn’t erase the warmth spreading through me from the hug. From seeing Graham again. And Oz’s stance certainly didn’t erase the fantasies dancing in my head. If Oz weren’t here, a hug could’ve become a kiss, leading to roaming hands, stepping inside, clothes falling off—
“I was never grooming you.” Graham held my gaze, yanking me into reality. “You were the most brilliant student I ever had. I wanted the best for you, and I still do.”
A door opened and shut behind me. “Everything okay out here?” an older woman asked.
“All good, thanks, Gracie.” Graham was warm and friendly.
She frowned, then headed out the front door of the building.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” Graham said quietly.
“Oka—”
“Nope.” Oz cut me off.
I appreciated the concern, but it didn’t seem to have been the best idea to do this with him. He had a point though that I should have this conversation in a public place. I trusted Graham, but I also hadn’t seen him in a few years, and I was an optimist, not an idiot. “Coffee? I saw a place a few blocks away.”
Graham cast a pointed look at Oz.
A billion scenarios had run through my head about this reunion, and this was nowhere in the bunch. “Can I talk to you outside?” I asked Oz.
He joined me on front porch, his arms crossed and an even deeper scowl than normal in place. “I don’t care who approached who for help when you knew him. I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t have to,” I said. “But thank you for being here for me.” It really was sweet. “And thank you for taking the time to bring me out here. I’ve got it from here.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“I’m sure that’s my decision.” I smiled sweetly at him.
Oz sigh-growled. “I’ll see you tomorrow. “
I waited until he was in his truck and had started the engine before heading inside. Graham was still in his doorway. “You’ve made some interesting friends.”
“He’s a good guy, I promise.”
“Seems like it.” Graham sounded sincere. “I understand wanting to look out for you. Coffee?”
We walked side-by-side toward the cafe. He was so close I felt the heat radiating from his arm. How did I restart this conversation? How have you been felt a bit weak, but what else was I supposed to say? Especially when I couldn’t stop thinking about that hug becoming a kiss, then roaming hands, us slipping into his apartment to lose our clothes...
In the unlikely event that Oz wanted to stay and watch, that was even better.
“This isn’t at all how I thought seeing you would go.” Graham’s tone was impossible to read.
