Page 82 of Backward Motion

“Well, you’d better hurry,” Mimi retorted. “I’m due in three weeks.”

Evie and Marcus arrived shortly after with their two kids and a large wrapped box for Matty. The boy sat on the grass and began tearing off the paper with rabid enthusiasm.

Sam appeared at Connor’s side, holding two cups of lemonade, and handed one to Connor. “I didn’t have time to spike it.”

Connor clinked the rim of his plastic cup against Sam’s. “I appreciate the thought.”

“It’s Lego!” Matty cried and sprinted off to show his mom.

Brian grimaced. “The scourge has begun.”

“Payback.” Marcus smirked. “For the packing peanuts you gave me for Christmas last year.”

Tyler sidled over while Brian and Marcus traded barbs. “So, Sam, I hear you’re sticking around.”

“That’s the plan,” Sam said. “I figured I’d give Oakdale another shot.”

“Well, we’re lucky to have you—especially this guy.” Tyler slapped Connor on the back. “I hope you don’t mind; Brian filled me in. Good for you, man. I want you to know we’re in your corner.”

“Thanks,” Connor said, fighting the heat that rose to his cheeks.

“Might need to brush up on company policy, though,” Tyler teased. “Pretty sure there are rules about dating employees.”

“Ha ha,” Connor returned dryly.

As Tyler was pulled into the ongoing fracas between Brian and Marcus, Connor watched his friends’ antics and felt an odd relief. Sam was right: Itwasfine. It didn’t matter to them. And armed with that and the knowledge that his father hadn’t disowned him, Connor felt ready to face the rest of the town.

Sam’s warm hand slipped into his. “I take it back. The socks were a hit.”

“It’s not the first time you’ve underestimated me.”

“And it won’t be the last.”

Connor reached out to brush a stray strand of hair back from Sam’s forehead. “I was thinking, what if I made you manager? I want this to be a team effort, and you deserve a say in how the business is run.”

“This isn’t because of what Tyler said, is it?” Sam shot him a coy look, the one he saved for when Connor emerged from the shower in just a towel or woke up with a particularly demanding erection. “Because you should know I have zero qualms about bedding the boss.”

Connor laughed and ducked his head. “No, it’s about what you said—giving this a real shot. I want you to have a stake in the business. For us to be partners.”

Sam’s expression changed. “Do you really mean that?”

“You already do everything except for the actual jobs, and you know way more than I do about marketing and strategy. Plus, with all the extra work you’ve brought in, I think it’s only fair you get a share of the profits.”

“I don’t know. What about your dad? What will he think?”

“Well, it’s a family business, and you heard my mom—you’re part of the family now.”

Sam seemed to struggle to contain his excitement. “You’re serious about this?”

Connor’s heart skipped. “You’d better believe it.”

And they both stood there, surrounded by squealing children, grinning like idiots.

Sam finished chopping the cucumber and swiped the chunks from the cutting board into the salad bowl with the dull edge of the knife. Connor stood beside him in the kitchen of Sam’s new apartment, tearing a head of lettuce into bite-sized pieces.

After spending far too long trawling Oakdale’s meager rental listings and having to revise his big-city expectations—fitness center, trash valet, rooftop terrace—Sam had opted for a spacious one-bedroom apartment in a quiet neighborhood close to the center of town. It retained its original 1960s decor, which gave the place a charming, albeit slightly run-down, feel. While nothing like his swanky condo in downtown Austin, it was cozy all the same.

Connor helped him move in and was more than willing to assist Sam in christening the place—every room except the laundry, but there was still time to check that off the list. Connor had also fixed the broken heat lamp in the bathroom and the glitchy outlet for the dishwasher that kept tripping the fuse. It was a five-minute walk to the office and a ten-minute walk to Connor’s apartment, where Sam often found himself after work. But having his own space was important; it gave him a place to retreat to when he needed time alone. There had been enough change in his life recently, and he didn’t want to rush into the next thing straightaway. What surprised him was how right that felt—to discover he could pump the brakes and not send everything toppling over.