Chapter 9 #2
Kenji… Tacoma wouldn’t stop flirting with me and seemed uninterested in giving you my number.
He was being a jerk and wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I told him I’d MAYBE give him a shot, if and only if you didn’t want me—simply as a means to persuade him to give you my number.
I didn’t have ANY intention of sleeping with that asshole you call a roommate, nor will I now that he’s blowing up my phone.
Block him like I did you… although you found a way around that, didn’t you?
While his explanation did sound plausible and Tacoma was an asshole, Kenji’s feelings were hurt, he was sick, and he just didn’t have the energy to put up with the drama.
Kenji blocked the second number and tossed his phone to the bed.
After his stomach settled for a few minutes, he fished out the wanton soup and got something in him before slipping back between the covers and drifting off.
That is… until the screamer started screaming.
Kenji got out of bed on a hunt for his noise-cancelling headphones bought just for muting the sounds coming from the next bedroom, slipped them on, and got back in bed, where he finally got some rest.
Two days later, Qylar and Cryss moved the last trunk into position in the cargo hold before their trip back to Nefyria. When they had it tied down, Cryss eyed him, a sad look on his face.
“I’d ask if you were sure you didn’t want to come with us, but I know you’re not leaving this planet anytime soon.”
“No.”
“You still haven’t heard from him?” Cryss asked.
“No,” Qylar repeated.
“Do you want me to shut up about it?”
“Yes.”
Cryss sighed. “We’re going to miss you.”
“Yeah,” Qylar muttered.
When Alex and the children appeared, he forced a smile on his face. Zaadi ran up to him and held out her arms. He scooped her up and gave her a big hug.
“Why can’t you come with us, Uncle Q?”
“Because someone has to stay here and keep the home fires burning,” Qylar said.
“What does that mean?” Zaadi asked.
“I don’t know. Something humans say,” Qylar replied. “Let’s just say I’m going to keep home safe for you until you get back.”
“I wish you were coming,” Zaadi said, pouting.
“You’ll see me soon.”
Zaadi continued pouting.
“Ael’s turn,” Ael said from below, tugging on Qylar’s pants leg.
Qylar didn’t put Zaadi down but scooped Ael up, too. He gave them both a hug, growling playfully as he did. Both kids giggled and held on tight.
“Come on, you two,” Cryss said. “We’ve got to get you both buckled in before we take off.”
Cryss took Zaadi from him first and then Ael.
“Bye, bye, Uncle Q,” Zaadi said, fat, unshed tears hanging from her lower lids.
Qylar’s chest tightened. “Honey, it won’t be for long.”
“It’ll be forever,” Zaadi said before turning into Cryss’s neck and bursting into tears.
The backs of Qylar’s eyes stung just listening to her. Of course, her tears set off Ael.
Qylar closed the gap and pressed kisses to both their heads. “You two are going to kill me.”
Cryss smiled weakly at him before he walked out with his children grasped tightly to him.
When they’d disappeared, their cries fading as Cryss moved farther away, Alex closed the gap and wrapped his arms around Qylar.
“Are you sure you want us to go? We could delay a few more days and be just fine.”
“We both know you only want to stay so you can meet Kenji before you go,” Qylar said.
Alex pulled back. “That’s not the only reason.” He snickered. “It might be part of the reason.” He lifted a hand to Qylar’s shoulder. “We’re worried about you. It looks like you haven’t slept in days.”
“That’s because I haven’t.” He drew in a deep breath. “Don’t worry. I’m going back to bed to try again after you all take off.”
“He’s going to come.”
“He’s ignored every text from every number I’ve sent,” Qylar said.
“So… stop. Give it a break and let him come to you.”
“I just want to make sure he knows I didn’t want his roommate.”
Alex scoffed. “That was a misstep of epic proportions. If you hadn’t said that, maybe he’d be here already, and you wouldn’t be a complete mess.”
“Who knows.”
“I know,” Alex said. “Just like I know you need to stop pressuring him… as I’ve already told you.” He dusted Qylar’s shoulders off. “Has the other one stopped blowing up your phone?”
“No. If I wasn’t worried about Kenji possibly calling, I’d destroy it.”
Alex sighed. “Send a subspace message when he finally shows up. That way we can relax, too.”
Cryss reappeared. “The babies are all locked in. Are we ready to go?”
Alex gave Qylar one more hug before turning to kiss Cryss’s cheek. “See you in a few months, Q. We’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” Qylar said.
Cryss walked closer. “I made Thanksgiving dinner for you a few days ago.”
“It’s not even Halloween.”
“It’s in the freezer. I know how much you look forward to Thanksgiving, so I made sure you’d have one even if we weren’t here.
” Cryss eyed him. “There are some other meals in there, too, marked with your name and directions on how to reheat. Don’t you overcook my food and don’t you dare burn it, either.
I’ll know, all the way in Nefyria Prime. ”
“I am capable of foraging for food, you know?”
“I know… I just wanted to make sure you had a few meals along the way to help you miss me less,” Cryss grinned. “Because we both know you’re going to be starving for one of my meals by Christmas.”
“If you make it back by then.”
“Alex is determined that we make it to the Aspen house at least three days before Christmas and you know how he is when he sets his mind to something.”
“He’ll be there four days before Christmas,” Qylar said with a smirk.
“Exactly.”
Cryss opened his arms and dragged Qylar into them, giving him a big bear hug. “We really will miss you, Uncle Q.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Qylar said.
Cryss backed away, and Qylar brushed at a bit of dampness under his eye.
“You better take good care of my kids,” Qylar said. “And spoil them a little and tell them it’s from me. I can’t have them thinking I’m falling down on the job even if I’m far away.”
“I’ll make sure to spoil them in your name.”
“I’ll know if you don’t. Zaadi tells me everything, so you better follow through,” Qylar said, walking to the teleport pad.
Cryss stepped over to the control console and smiled at Qylar. “See you in a few months.”
Qylar forced another smile just before Cryss returned him to the empty townhouse.
It was way too quiet without Bluey on the television, the children giggling, and Alex and Cryss playfully arguing over who was cooking what for dinner in the kitchen.
He looked around the overly tidy living area and hated it.
After walking over to the kids’ toybox, he took a few things out and tossed them on the floor so it looked like the kids were in the middle of playing and would be right back any second.
His job done, he went through the secret door and ambled down the stairs and dropped onto his bed.
Maybe he could just sleep until Christmas.
That sounded like a plan.