My head was so full of questions. I needed to meet Dean now. Also, I had to get Matthias alone because he had totally called Killian his husband. Since when? Did they secretly get married and not tell anyone? Ugh, this was so unfair. The gossip in me wanted to scream at him, but I wasn’t going to do that. Not with all the people in the car. I could wait. Maybe.
Maverick grunted. “I’m going to need you to stop right now, Andrew.” He met my gaze. “We’ll talk about this when the children aren’t around.”
“Not a child, Dad,” Andy reminded him, as we all heard Leo giggle.
Noel sighed softly. “I am not ready for this dating thing. I am so unprepared.” He leaned into me, and when he took my hand, I nearly fell over. “I appreciate all your help, Ezra. You’re way better at handling Leo than I am.”
Friends with an S.
“You’re welcome.” I wasn’t sure what else I should say because I was so surprised that he took my hand.
Noel had already confirmed he wasn’t the touchy feely type, but I’d take this if he was going to give it to me. I leaned my head against his as Matthias pulled the SUV into the mall parking lot.
“Oh, I’ve been wanting to check out the new record store that just opened,” Andy announced.
Once we had parked and everyone had climbed out of the vehicle, Maverick pointed his finger at his son. “You two can go off alone. However, you’re going to behave yourself,” he warned. “Don’t give me that look. You’re a good kid. I've never had to ever worry about you, but now that you have a boyfriend, I’m going to start.”
“Dad.” Andy rolled his eyes.
Maverick shook his head. “Don’t you dad me, kiddo. I’m too young to be this stressed out. Worry about diseases and sexual education. God, I can’t do this.” He threw his hands up in the air.
“Dad.” Andy sighed before he moved to hug his father. “We’re not having sex yet. We just started dating, and we’re not ready for that. We like each other. That’s it. We’re just seeing what happens. Hey, I promise to talk to you before we take that step, okay?”
Noel shook his head. “I can’t do this either.” He looked at me.
“I’m here if you need me,” I assured him. “Let’s just go inside,” I suggested, watching Andy grab Leo’s hand.
Once we were inside the crowded mall, Andy and Leo went off on their own, promising to meet us back here in two hours. I had no idea what to get CC for Christmas but hopefully something would jump out at me as we walked around. Just as I started to open my mouth to ask them if they had any ideas, Maverick’s phone started ringing.
“My brother is Face Timing me,” he announced.
I clapped my hands. “Answer it. I want to meet him.”
“Of course, you do.” Maverick rolled his eyes but held his phone out as I shoved my face next to his. “Hey.”
“Hey? Hey? I’m having a meltdown over—who is that?” Dean Frost stared at me. “Where are you, Mav? I need to talk to you and you’re in public?”
Matthias chuckled. “Hi, Dean.”
“Matty, is that you? Is Kill there? I need my best friend, too, and he’s not answering my texts.” Dean looked frazzled as he ran a hand through his pink hair.
“Don’t you normally have green hair?” I asked him.
Dean nodded. “I do, but I decided to change it up a bit. I’m sorry, but who are you? Mav, are you making more friends down there? Where’s Jax? I’m coming for Christmas, by the way. I need to get away from Beau. You know what? I’m hanging up so I can just call you.”
Holt laughed as he moved closer to me. “You heard Matthias, right?” he whispered. “It wasn’t my imagination?” I nodded. “Oh, thank God. I can finally talk to someone else about this now. He’s supposed to be my best friend. I knew they got married, but I was sworn to secrecy. But now that he let that slip, it’s not off-limits anymore.”
The smile on my face suddenly disappeared as I caught sight of a familiar face that disappeared into the crowd. Was that Ty? There was no way. Was he following me? I felt sick to my stomach. Did he see Andy and Leo? What if he went after them?
“Hey, are you all right? You look like you saw a ghost,” Noel asked.
I shook my head. “I think...I think we should leave.”
Matthias stepped closer. “What’s wrong?”
The Christmas crowd suddenly seemed like too much. The noise level is too high. “I thought I saw Ty.”
“What?” Noel’s eyes flashed with worry.
