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“No, Russian rubles,” Felix deadpanned.
Avi fell silent, staring at the ceiling. “That was a fifty-thousand-dollar rim job?”
Felix turned to glance over his shoulder. “Are you trying to say my ass isn’t worth fifty thousand?”
“Tread lightly, bro. That is definitely a trap,” Asa said around a laugh, gathering Zane to his chest and burying his nose in his throat, weirdly scenting his husband again.
“Your ass is worth three times that. Just maybe we lie and say it was a birthday present.”
Felix gave him a pissy look. “My birthday is in December.”
“I know that. But does she?”
When Felix continued to stare, Avi deflated. “Fine. An anniversary gift?”
“You took him to Greece for your anniversary three months ago,” Zane reminded him.
Avi groaned. “I can’t tell Madge Milbrook that I just spent fifty K so my husband would look sparkly with my tongue up his ass. She looks like Ms. Frizzle, but she’s a five-foot demon from hell. That’s why my father loves her.”
“You didn’t put it on the corporate card. Do you really owe her an explanation?” Zane asked.
Asa scoffed. “Dad is going to want an explanation. You know he monitors all our spending.”
“Well, maybe if you two didn’t insist on living off his money like freeloaders despite having successful companies of your own, we wouldn’t need to explain fifty-thousand-dollar rim jobs,” Zane admonished.
Felix nodded, threading his fingers with Zane’s then squeezing. “Zaney’s right. This is your fault. Nepo babies.”
Zane gave a firm nod. “Let’s take a nap, Lixie. I’m sleepy.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Asa whined.
“Go get us dinner,” Zane said around another yawn, wriggling free of Asa’s arms to curl into Felix’s. “Something expensive,” he joked.
“You hate rich-people food, Lois,” Asa said, nibbling his shoulder for a moment before rolling to his feet, Avi mimicking the gesture.
Felix’s heart did that squeezy thing again as Avi gently removed Felix’s boots, setting them next to the bed, then forced the two boys to untangle their limbs long enough for him to take off the necklaces.
The chains whispered against the gauzy fabric as Avi lifted them away one by one, his fingertips brushing Felix’s throat. Then the weight of the boots disappeared, leaving his legs strangely light.
It was such a small thing, being undressed after. Being put back to rights. But Felix loved it.
As soon as Avi finished, Zane snuggled back into Felix’s arms, his thigh slotting between Felix’s knees, his head tucked under Felix’s chin, his voice sleepy as he said, “So find me a gold-plated hamburger.”
“Go,” Felix said, waving the boys off as Zane wiggled, burrowing deeper against him. “Forage. Bring home sustenance.”
“Sometimes, I get the feeling we’re just here to provide food and shelter,” Asa griped as they got dressed.
Felix watched through slitted lids as they grabbed their wallets and phones.
Avi bumped Asa’s shoulder, looking back at Felix and Zane curled up together on the bed. “But it’s worth it.”
Something warm settled low in Felix’s chest.
Asa chuckled, opening his phone and snapping pictures of the two without asking permission. “This might be my new phone lock screen.”
“I’ll kill you in your sleep,” Zane said, his voice muffled against Felix’s chest.
“You’re no fun, Lois. Can I at least make it my wallpaper for my home laptop? Please?”
