Cryss crossed his arms over his chest, an angry tilt to his chin. “The last few weeks, you’ve snapped at everyone in the house—including the kids. If there’s something bothering you, tell me.”
“I haven’t snapped at the kids,” Qylar muttered under his breath returning to the repairs on the console instead of focusing on the conversation any longer.
“You made Ael cry this morning.”
Qylar rolled his eyes. “Only because I wouldn’t let him eat his body weight in blueberries.”
“As if he didn’t get that particular addiction from you.”
“The kid’s going to end up looking like Violet Beauregarde if we don’t stop him.”
“Donotmention that movie. I’m tempted to delete it from our account so Zaadi will stop watching it on repeat,” Cryss said.
“Then you’d makehercry, and I’d have to nagyoufor no good reason,” Qylar said.
Cryss eyed him, the corners of his mouth holding the barest hint of curving.
Qylar went back to his tinkering.
“What do I tell Alex?”
Qylar glanced at Cryss. “About?”
“You.”
“Nothing. Because there’s nothing to say.”
“He’s the one who asked me to talk to you.”
Qylar sighed, his shoulders tightening. Alex noticed too damned much, and it was irritating. “I should’ve guessed.”
“He’s going to ask me about this conversation,” Cryss said.
Qylar ignored him.
“Q…”
Qylar roared, dropping the tool onto the console and spinning to face Cryss. “Can you just fucking stop?”
Cryss’s eyes widened, his lips parting in shock.
A few seconds ticked by, dripping with awkward silence.
“Sure. I’ll lie to my mate and tell him nothing’s wrong when we both know there is.” Cryss backed towards the security door. “I’ll leave you to your work.Alone.”
Qylar sighed and sat back against the seat. He sensed neither Cryss or Alex would let it die unless he answered—and the awkwardness he’d been trying to avoid had already appeared without them knowing the truth. “I’m jealous. Okay?”
“Jealous…?”
“Of you,” Qylar snapped. “Jealous of what you have with Alex. I’m jealous of your happy little family.”
“Yourhappy little family,” Cryss corrected after marching closer.
“It’s not mine, and we both know it.”
“You’re more my brother than my flesh and blood siblings.” A pained look crossed Cryss’s face. “Do you not feel the same?”
“Of course I do,” Qylar snapped, guilt slamming into him. “I appreciateallyou have done for me, too. I’m an ungrateful ass for feeling this way, but I do. And I can’t seem to shake it.”
