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“Reckon I do.” It was all he could say to that, really, and Ren offered no follow-up.
The father and son enjoyed half their smoke before either of them spoke again, and when Ren opened his mouth, the words were startling. “I want to offer you a job.”
Oliver blinked at him. “Is this because of what your mate in there said? I don’t need nepotism, and…”
“It’s hardly nepotism when you qualify for the position,” Ren said, waving his hand dismissively. “I’ve several openings for editors, and of course I will not deny it’s a small attempt to make up for my lack of presence in your life.”
Oliver drew his tongue over his bottom lip. “Is it the California or the New York office?”
“San Francisco. You’d be working on fiction and in the office. You’d have an editing pseudonym of course. No one would know you were my son, if that’s a concern of yours.”
Oliver hummed. “You don’t even know if I’d be any good at it.”
Ren chuckled. “Fair enough, but I owe you the opportunity to try. You and your sibling have impressed me immensely. The offer stands. I would of course provide an apartment, and Leo is welcome to come along and finish out his graduate degree there if he feels he’s ready to make this sort of change.”
Licking his lips, Oliver dropped the cigarette on the ground and watched the red cherry fade out before crushing it with his shoe. “What if I wanted to bring Sam with me?”
Ren looked vaguely surprised but gave a small shrug. “It’s your life, Oliver. If he makes you happy…”
He doesn’t, was Oliver’s first reaction, but he knew it was knee-jerk. He was enjoying living with Sam. He cared about him. Maybe he didn’t love him just yet, but there was something there. He could feel it. “I’d like to at least ask him.”
“You don’t need to tell me now, you know. Take time, enjoy and celebrate your victory.” Ren dropped his own cigarette, then reached out and gave Oliver’s shoulder a squeeze. “I really am proud of you. I always have been. I’ll forever regret not letting you know before now.”
Oliver felt something squeeze around his heart, but he didn’t allow himself to do anything other than smile. “Thank you. I…that means a lot.”
Ren nodded and beckoned him back inside. As Oliver took a seat, he looked over at Sam who was chatting to one of Ren’s colleagues, laughing and shaking his head, and Oliver knew right then he was going to take his father up on the offer. It was too appealing. He appreciated London for helping him get well, to work past all of his pain, and to see his sibling better, but it wasn’t home anymore.
Maybe it never had been.
The idea of moving back to California, being near the pacific again, created an almost physical ache. He knew he could be happy there, with Leo safe, and with Sam by his side. He’d just have to ask, and hope Sam would understand why he needed this so badly.
When he closed his eyes and remembered the smells and sounds of the place he still thought of as home, he only caught a brief glimpse of dark curls and dimples.
* * *
They didn’t get homeuntil late. The three of them were exhausted, Leo excusing himself before Oliver had a chance to bring up the job offer, but he knew there was time for that later. He knew with Leo, moving back to California wouldn’t be a hard sell. For now, he was happy to be home, able to take off the uncomfortable suit, and fall face-first onto the bed.
Sam joined him a few moments later, running his palm up and down Oliver’s spine. “Good day, yeah?”
With a small laugh, Oliver turned his face to his boyfriend. “Yeah, not bad. I mean, as days go. Thanks for being there with me. It meant a lot.”
“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else,” Sam said, and leaned forward to press a kiss on the tip of Oliver’s nose. “You too tired for a chat?”
With a small yawn, Oliver shook his head and grinned. “Nah, that’s fine. I believe you owe me some gifts.” He waggled his eyebrows with a small laugh. “Also, there was something I wanted to talk to you about too.”
“You’re not going to propose, are you?” Sam joked.
“Oh, sod off. You’d say yes if I asked.”
“Yes,” Sam deadpanned, making Oliver flinch. “But I’ve never been particularly interested in marriage, so no need to worry your pretty little head.”
“Pretty, is it?” Oliver quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
Sam leaned in again to press kisses along the one cheek not smashed against the duvet. “The prettiest. So, you want to go first? Unless you’re breaking up with me again, of course.”
Oliver laughed once more. “Not this time. It’s actually kind of a big thing, really. Bigger than anything we’ve done so far.” He cleared his throat, then pushed up, propping himself up on his forearms to better look at his boyfriend. “My dad offered me a job today.”
Sam blinked, then grinned. “At his publishing company?”
