Kenji glanced over and noticed a couple approaching. One man he suspected was Cryss from the photo he’d seen. Averypregnant man who had to be Alex was on his arm. They stopped a couple of feet away, smiling broadly.
Alex’s cheerful gaze washed over Kenji before he looked at Qylar. “Sorry it took us so long to catch up. I’m at waddle-walk point and the kids took off as soon as they saw you, Q.”
“I told him he could stay home, and I’d come meet you two, but he said he wanted to get out of the apartment and stretch his legs,” Cryss said. He reached a hand to Kenji. “Hi, I’m Cryss.”
“Kenji,” he replied, shaking Cryss’s hand.
“And this is my husband and mate, Alex.”
“Very nice to meet you,” Alex said. Instead of a handshake, Alex went in for a hug. “You don’t know how excited I am to meet another hybrid. We havesomuch to talk about.” He linked his arm through Kenji’s and eyed Qylar. “You didn’t bring luggage?”
“I paid a porter to deliver them to your apartment,” Qylar replied. “They should arrive in an hour or two.”
“Ah, smart,” Alex said. He turned to Kenji. “Want a little tour of the promenade before we get stuck indoors?”
“Are you okay walking?” Kenji asked, eyeing Alex’s round belly.
“The more I walk, the faster this baby’s coming,” Alex said. He peeked at Cryss and Qylar. “If you two can handle the kids, I’m stealing your mate for a little tour, Q.”
Qylar eyed Kenji. “You up for that?”
“I’m more worried he isn’t,” Kenji said.
“You don’t know Alex yet. He’ll do anything he sets his mind to.” Qylar turned his gaze to Alex and gently narrowed his eyes, a hint of a smile on his lips. “And his mind is set on getting you alone so you two can gossip.”
Alex chuckled. “As sharp as ever, Q.” He tugged on Kenji’s arm. “Ready?”
Kenji chuckled. “I suppose so?”
Alex led him away from the men and walked towards the shops. Kenji glanced over his shoulder. Qylar smiled softly at him. The men remained where they were, Cryss watching over the kids splashing their hands in the fountain.
“How was the trip?” Alex asked.
“It was… nice,” Kenji said, averting his gaze from a person passing with a nasty frown sent his way.
“Knowing Qylar, he took a straight shot here and didn’t show you anything cool on the way.”
“Actually, we stopped at this… nebula cluster? We sat on the floor of the pilot’s deck to eat our Thanksgiving dinner picnicstyle in front of the crystal window thingie with it right outside.” Kenji sighed. “It was a gorgeous view for dinner.”
“Well, hedoesknow how to be romantic. I wasn’t sure he had it in him.”
Kenji grinned. “Is that a common complaint among his ex-boyfriends?”
“What ex-boyfriends?In the five years I’ve known him, there’s been nothing but a constant series of one-night stands—any of whom I’ve never met because he usually never hosts. From what Cryss tells me, there weren’t any boyfriends before that, either. So… you are a first for him.”
Kenji frowned. “His first boyfriend? I seriously doubt that.”
“Well, you’re a little more than a boyfriend, now aren’t you?”
Kenji wasn’t sure if Alex was digging or not, so he remained quiet. The stares as they walked along the busy corridor were starting to get to him, too. “You all call him Q. Why is that?”
“Well, his name.”
“His name is Qylar,” Kenji said.
“And how does he spell that?”
Kenji frowned. “I assumed it was K-Y-L-E-R, but I suppose I’ve never asked.”
