“You couldn’t stand that prick either, so don’t even go there.”
Church grabbed two beers out of the fridge and handed one to Severin.
“Beer? It’s not even noon.” Severin arched a brow.
“Am I insulting your delicate sensibilities, your majesty?”
Severin cracked open his beer and took a swig. There was only one reason why Church would be feeding him beer this early in the day. “So what is it this time? You sign me up for another therapy group?”
“No, no. Not that.”
He relaxed a fraction. As long as it wasn’t that, he didn’t give a shit.
“Then quit being a pussy and spill it.”
“You need to give Minnow a chance. We’re running out of options.”
“Options for what?”
“You have to make your world bigger, Sev.”
“It’s big enough,” he growled. How many times did he have to veto this damned conversation before they understood he was serious? “Leave if you want to leave. You can’t buy me a fucking family to replace you. I’m fine with quiet.”
“Ha.” Church chugged his beer and banged it down on the workbench. “Do you remember what happened when Ilse and I went away on our honeymoon? We were gone a month, and you ended up in jail again.”
Severin shuddered and swallowed more beer. “That won’t happen anymore.” Sharing a cell had been worse than solitary. He’d learned his lesson – not that he had to stop beating people because it was wrong, but he had to stop beating people because they’d force him to live in a small space with people he couldn’t get away from.
“Will you try, for me?” Church asked. “Just have a few conversations with her where you honestly try to be nice.”
“So what – I’m nice to her and then what happens next? We become BFFs and do each other’s nails? I don’t know anything about women. What do they even talk about?”
Church rolled his eyes. “What do you talk to Sutton about?”
He shrugged. “Welding? What we should have for dinner? Her misguided desire for more hellion grandchildren from you?”
“You never talk to her about music or TV or anything?”
“Sometimes. Maybe we host big fucking block party barbecues when you’re not here and invite all the fucking neighbors. You’d know if you still lived here.”
“Kids grow up and move out. It’s just how things work.”
“I know that.” He also knew he didn’t have to like it. “I’m not an idiot.”
“I’ve accepted a job offer in Virginia.”
His heart stuttered to a halt. “Virginia.”
“Vox Vogel. It’s my dream job, Sev. I wouldn’t have said yes if it wasn’t. I went to school for a million years to become an architect, and I can’t make all of my life decisions around keeping you in your comfort zone.”
Severin nodded. He wanted to ask how often he’d come back, but knew better. Once Church was gone he wouldn’t be back. It was funny how the knowledge that Church would eventually leave hadn’t kept him safe. He’d let him in. Loved him. Panic tried to surface, but he stuffed it down.
Stop.
The feelings got iced.
It wasn’t love. It was just habit.
Severin was used to having him around, but he’d get over it.