Qylar shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You’re not planning to leave us, are you?”
“San Francisco is my home now.” Qylar eyed his best friend. “But having a backup escape option isn’t a bad thing.”
“I suppose,” Cryss said, toying with one of the controls. “You’ve been coming out here more and more, so it felt as if you had a plan in motion.”
“No plan,” Qylar replied. “Just another means of fleeing if shit ever hits the fan.”
“Alex thinks you come out here to avoid us.”
“Sometimes I do,” Qylar murmured.
He lifted his gaze and met Cryss’s.
“I know you were very content with our bachelor lifestyle—which is why we chose to move next door and give you your privacy. Is that not enough?”
“It was more than enough. I never asked you to do that.”
“Well, I knew a new husband and baby might make it a little too loud for your quiet life. And now, we have two little ones making a ruckus, so it’s even louder.”
Qylar lowered the tool in his hand and turned to fully face Cryss. “I have no problem with the volume. Scream at the top of your lungs for all I care.”
“So why do you feel the need to avoid us?”
“As if you don’t occasionally need breaks from me?” Qylar asked with a grin. “A little quiet time to think and reflect is important. For all of us.”
“That’s the only reason you come hide out here?”
“I’m not hiding,” Qylar said. “I’m finishing what we started.” He searched Cryss’s face. “What’s with the third degree?”
Cryss sighed. “Q, I’ve sensed your restlessness lately. I can see it in your eyes even now. Something’s bothering you… and I just want to know what it is. If it’s us, we should talk about it.”
“Nothing’sbothering me.”
“I’ve known you my entire life. Iknowwhen you’re troubled, as much as I know when you’re lying.”
Qylar stared silently at his best friend. He wanted nothing more than to unburden himself, but he feared telling Cryss might make things weird.
“We used to be able to talk about anything. Why not now?”
Qylar shook his head. “It’s all in your head, brother.”
“Bullshit.”Cryss searched his face. “Are we asking you to watch the kids too much?”
Qylar scoffed. “You know I love your children like they’re my own. Can they be little assholes on occasion?Yes.”He smiled brightly. “Because I’ve taught them well how to be one.”
Cryss’s head tilted. “Is it Alex?”
Qylar took a breath. “It’snotAlex.”
Cryss searched his face. “Has Alex said something that upset you?”
Qylar sighed. “It’snotAlex.”
“A lie,” Cryss said.
Qylar scowled. “In about two seconds, I’mgoingto have a problem and it’s going to be you.”
