Even as he grumbled, he walked over to pitch in and helped make the kids a quick lunch, vowing to sneak them a taco later. Once they were sitting at their little table and eating, Alex sat on one of the island stools and eyed him.
“You brought a friend home last night.”
Qylar snagged the blueberries on the counter, sliding them closer so he could dive in. “I didn’t know my comings and goings were being tracked.”
Alex scoffed. “They aren’t.”
“Then how did you know I had someone over?”
“I got up to pee around five this morning and I noticed a man rushing out of your townhouse like it was on fire. At first, I feared he might be a burglar, but when I saw he was wearing one of your t-shirts down to his knees and had a pair of leather pants slung over a shoulder, I put two and two together. You were at the Eagle last night, right?”
Qylar’s face warmed. “Maybe.”
Kenji had run away? Why? He’d thought they had fun together. He’d planned to cook the man breakfast and drive him home—maybe after round three. Or four.
“You don’t usually bring your friends home,” Alex said. “Was this one…morethan a one-night kind of friend?”
Qylar’s shoulders tightened. “No.”
Yes.
Qylar hadn’t seen a message left behind or a number. He hadn’t gotten one before taking Kenji to bed. He didn’t have a last name, nor did he have a home address. The guy had blown his mind in bed and then ghosted him.
That was Qylar’s typical move. He didn’t much like it being used on him, especially when he’d found one he actually wanted to have more than one night with.
“Look, I’m not trying to sound like a scold. I just worry that someone might end up seeing something they shouldn’t, or the kids seeing somethingtheyshouldn’t,” Alex murmured. “Especially now that we know Zaadi can sneak next door. Going to a guy’s place might be safer for us all, especially if this wasn’t a long-term kind of friend.”
To illustrate the point Alex was making, Aeloran reached out with a tiny tentacle and snatched a blueberry from the container on the counter in front of Qylar. The kids had been taught never to show their tentacles outside of the house, but they were free to be themselves in it. Even at Ael’s tender age, he seemed to understand and hadn’t had an accidental shift in public in months.
“Of course, while we’re gone, we don’t have to worry as much.”
“No, you’re right,” Qylar said, forcing a smile. “I wasn’t thinking straight last night. We shouldn’t open ourselves to someone finding out. It’s safer to keep outsiders away from our private spaces.”
His mind recalled the eggs, and worry settled in his stomach again. He was almost positive he’d been mistaken about releasing any, but he couldn’t be completely sure. He hated having any measure of doubt when it came to something like that.
Maybe that’s why he ran. Maybe they finally came out, he saw them, and he freaked.
“Are yousurethis one wasn’t something more?” Alex asked, searching Qylar’s face like he could read his thoughts.
Read his thoughts.
“When you were first with Cryss, you were able to hear some of his thoughts, right?” Qylar said.
“I still can on occasion. Usually when he’s feeling a strong emotion.” Alex frowned. “And now I’m sensing panic in you.Why?”
Qylar took a deep breath and released it slow. “No panic.”
“Did something happen last night?”
“Nope,” Qylar fibbed, hoping Alex wouldn’t pick up on it.
Alex narrowed his eyes and stared him down.
“The only thing that happened was I had a very, very good time with my one-night friend—which I promise I won’t repeat with another.”
“Well, notever.I don’t want you to be alone, Q. I just want you to be sure it’s someone we’re all safe with and not some rando none of us will ever see again. We have to be careful. Wearealiens, you know.”
“Don’t say that too loud. Someone from the government might kick the door in and deport us all.” Qylar leaned closer, pressing his shoulder to Alex’s. “Well, maybe notyousince you were born here—but Cryss, me, and the kids were born on Nefyria.”
