“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.“Thatwas 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.”
“Iamcapable 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.”
