Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Quinton
“Welcome to my Absolutely Amazing Valentine Shindig.” I held the door open for Dean and Adam.
Dean grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.
Adam managed to close the door while holding a tray.
We were going through a warm spell. Well, warm for southwestern British Columbia in February. But the cold weather was coming back with snow in the forecast.
I pulled back from Dean. “Blue-and-green plaid? Seriously? Where’s the Valentine spirit?”
He feathered my hair. “You’re so damn cute.” His Aussie accent might’ve dimmed slightly during his almost year in Canada…but not much.
“Where would you like me to put the curry puffs?” Adam rolled his eyes—quite accustomed to his husband’s antics.
“I’ll snag them from you and take them to the kitchen. Make yourselves at home. No eggnog.”
Dean snorted. “You remember, eh?”
“How can anyone possibly forget that you both love eggnog? Seriously.” I headed to the kitchen with the tray.
Lucia was arranging a spread of pigs in a blanket on a tray to go in the oven. “Oh, wieners! My favorite.”
My favorite nephrologist groaned.
I snickered. “Oh, Adam’s here. With Dean in tow.”
“I’ll have to go say hello to the newlyweds. Christmas feels like a million years ago.”
“True that. They missed the New Year’s party because, you know, honeymoon.”
“It’s a thing, Quinton. Sometimes there are occasions that are more important than your parties.”
I huffed. “Liar. Take that back.” I hissed like a cat.
She laughed. “Oh God, you’re adorable. Mama’s spring rolls are just about ready to come out of the oven.”
“Oh, thanks for the heads-up.”
“No problem.” She grabbed a tray of cheese and crackers with dip. “Later.” With that, she sailed out of the kitchen.
I gave a quick thought to the family hanging out upstairs in my bedroom. They’d been well-fed, and were waiting for the signal from me. On that thought, I tried to time out when to grab the crab dip. One of my most popular dishes.
In walked Maddox, Ravi, and two men I didn’t know.
Maddox wore his plaid shirt—red-and-black checked. The outfit suited his auburn hair and beard. He had stunning blue eyes as well.
“Okay, seriously? You and Dean matching?” I turned my attention away from the yummy lumberjack ginger and pivoted to his scrumptious tan-skinned husband. “At least you’re wearing hearts.”
Ravi grinned and held his arms out. “You know it.” His red shirt was covered in white hearts.
“Glad I got the night off work.” Ravi, like me, was a nurse over in Abbotsford.
But while I rotated, he worked in the pediatric department.
“And with the twins at Maddox’s sister’s place, we’re free.
” He looped his arms around Maddox and grinned.
They had three-year-old twins. Better known as demon children.
No, that wasn’t true. Victor was an angel—Violet was a mini hellion who was way too smart for her own good. In November, she’d attempted to flush her stuffed toy down the toilet.
The men had new flooring in their bedroom after the flooding…
“Your sister is doing babysitting duty?”
“Hillary is extracting a huge payment—she’s dropping her twins, Alannah and Alexa, as well as Oliver, at our place for all of next weekend while she and Steve enjoy a ski vacation in Whistler.” Maddox’s cheeks went ruddier. “I do not want to think about what my sister is going to be getting up to.”
I laughed. Then pivoted my attention to the couple behind my friends. “I’m Quinton. Welcome to my Absolutely Amazing Valentine’s Shindig.”
The taller man, with long blond hair, and model good looks, stuck out his hand. “Archer Chamberlain. This is my partner, Gideon. Thanks for inviting us.”
I should’ve recognized the man earlier. I’d seen his picture, after all. The one Archer had taken of Gideon and the kids. Be cool. Just because this is Leo’s Gideon, doesn’t mean you get to lose your shit. “So glad you could make it.” I eyed Maddox who gestured to Ravi with his chin.
Ravi blinked. “Oh shit. I didn’t tell you at work this week…did I?”
“Um…I’m going to have to say no on that one.”
“We’ll just be going.” Gideon, who was shorter than Archer by several inches, and with brown hair and beguiling light-brown eyes, pushed his husband.
“Not at all.” I offered my best smile. “These parties are by invite only to keep the riffraff out. Friends of friends are always welcome. In fact, two friends called to say they couldn’t make it tonight—bad flu. So you’re perfect.”
“Which friends?” Maddox’s gaze traveled between me and the tray of curry puffs. “Did Dean make those?”
I swatted his wandering hand away. “Never mind which friends. Get drinks for everyone and head back into the living room. Well, and take the spring rolls with you.” I moved swiftly to the oven, donned a mitt, opened it, and pulled the tray out. “Well, they might yet be a little hot.”
Ravi grabbed two sodas off the counter, Maddox grabbed the tray of curry puffs, and both skedaddled.
Archer gaped. “You know…they’re usually so…”
“I really want to hear you finish that statement. Because I knew recluse Maddox before he ever met sunshine Ravi. I believe he’s been corrupted.”
“Who?” Gideon shook his head as if to clear it. “Ravi or Maddox?”
I laughed as I slid the spring rolls onto a plate. “I don’t recognize Maddox anymore. He tries to be grumpy, but he fails miserably. Doting father and husband suit him more.”
“We really don’t have to stay.” Gideon fidgeted with the collar of his shirt.
I tried to see the longshoreman Leo had described. Or the broken man. Things you should know nothing about. “Seriously, I’m glad you’re here. What can I get you to drink? I have wine, beer—”
“Do you have cola?” Again with the fidgeting.
“Sure—regular or diet?”
“Regular.” He leaned back against Archer. “For both of us.”
“Okay.” I offered my widest smile. “So tell me a bit about yourselves. Well, as much as you’re willing to share.” I grabbed two cans of cola from the fridge. “Ice?”
They both nodded.
I nabbed two tall glasses from the shelf, added ice from the freezer, then poured the drinks.
“Gideon’s grandparents lived in the mountains north of town. He was living in their house when I noisily moved in next door.”
After handing first Gideon his drink, and then Archer’s, I cocked my head. “Now that’s a story I have to hear.”
“It’s not as exciting as it seems.” Gideon sipped his drink. “Thank you.”
Archer grinned. “I bought the adjacent property and hired a construction company to build me a country retreat.”
Gideon rolled his eyes. “That makes it sound like a three-room cabin.” He met my gaze. “He built a mansion.”
“Hey.” Archer’s dark-gray eyes sparkled. “My house back in Point Grey was a mansion—this is a family home.” He pressed a kiss to Gideon’s temple.
A wave of longing washed over me.
“I was far more disruptive than I should’ve been.” Archer shrugged. “And then a tree fell on my SUV, and I had to get help. Naturally, I went to my neighbor’s home.”
“He wasn’t in the SUV.” Gideon added that quickly, likely noting the look of horror on my face. “But he had no way to get back to town. So he came to my door.” He gazed up at his fiancé. “I owe that storm everything.”
Archer kissed his lips.
Gideon winced. “God, that sounds so cheesy.”
I laughed. “I think it’ll be a great story to tell your kids.”
“Oh, the kids know.” Gideon bit his lip. “Sorry, I should explain. I have two children from a previous marriage. Archer—” He swallowed.
“I’m trying to ease into the role of pseudo-stepparent without too much stress. They love both their fathers, and I don’t want to screw up.”
“Sounds complicated.” And this is so going to bite me in the ass if Leo ever finds out I’m having this conversation at all. Well, these two might not be pleased either if they knew the truth.
“We’re making it work. My ex has them most weekends. So this is the first time we’ve ventured out.” Gideon took another sip.
“Oh, we’ve been out before.” Archer laughed. “Just this is the first time since the kids have come to live with us that we’ve ventured away from the house. We’re homebodies.” He chuckled. “I used to love living in the city. Now I’m Mission City through and through.”
“Ah. Well, I was born and raised here. I work over in Abbotsford, though.”
“Oh?” Gideon eyed the spring rolls.
I held up the plate. “Before Lucia gets back and steals them away.”
Both men grabbed one.
“Yeah, so I work in the hospital over there. I’m a nurse.” I opened the fridge and pulled out a veggie tray. I held my breath as I peeled off the lid to the dip.
“The Abbotsford hospital?” Gideon’s voice was quiet.
“Uh, yeah. You like carrots?” I held up the tray.
Both men gestured to the uneaten spring rolls in their hands.
“Too hot?”
Archer shook his head, then took a bite.
“My ex-husband is a doctor at the hospital.” Gideon held my gaze. “But he’s new there, so you might not know him.”
“New doctor? Oh, Dr. Rodgers?” I blinked as if this was an entirely new thought. You’re not going to win any fucking acting awards with this shit.
“Uh, yeah. Rodgers. That’s my last name as well.” A slight tinge pinkened his cheeks.
“I’ve met Dr. Rodgers. He’s, uh, an interesting character.”
Before I could say anything else, Foster stuck his head through the door. “Lucia asked about spring rolls?” The shy man offered a sheepish grin.
“For the man who proposed to his boyfriend at my last party? Anything.” I handed him the tray.
He snagged it and disappeared.
“Is it awkward that we’re here?” Gideon winced. “I’m going to be honest and say I don’t know anything about how things work when you meet a friend of your ex-husband’s.”
“As a divorce attorney, I should be better able to advise.” Archer sighed. “Alas, I do everything in my power to avoid my ex-wife and her new husband as well.”
So much to unpack there.
I picked the lowest hanging fruit. “Oh, you’re bi? Me too!”
Except maybe he’s gay and has always been in the closet?