Qylar leaned in and kissed him. “Captain Obvious?”
Kenji laughed, and Qylar fell in love with him a little bit more after seeing his smile that came along with it. They locked gazes for a moment, and his chest ached a bit.
“Can I help you fellas?”
Qylar turned to find one of the lot’s workers. “Yes. I’d like this tree here.”
“That’s a big one. Need it delivered?”
“Delivery?I wished you’d offered that in years past. My friend Cryss and I usually have to come together to get it on the roof.”
“We’ve always offered delivery.” The guy narrowed his eyes. “Actually, I think I remember you. Your friend a big guy like you with gray hair and a beard?”
“That’s him.”
The lot guy chuckled. “Yeah. I offer to deliver it every year, but he says taking it home is part of the tradition.”
Qylar rolled his eyes.
“I guess you shouldn’t break tradition,” Kenji said at his side, lifting a brow.
Qylar shook his head.
“I gotta kid who can help you get it loaded,” the lot guy said.
“With this, I think I need more than a kid.”
“Bigkid,” the guy said. “Football player almost as big as you. Just slip him a fiver for the help, if you don’t mind. He’s not one of those rich kids and he’s trying to save up to buy his mom something nice for Christmas.”
“I can do that,” Qylar said.
Once the tree was purchased and wrapped, Qylar and John, the football player, hauled it on top of the Range Rover and got it all tied down. Qylar eyed John—who’d beenextremelyhelpful and polite. Not the smooth kind ofactingpolite, but the genuine, earnest kind you felt down to your bones. “I hear you’re getting your mom something nice for Christmas?”
“She’s been wanting one of those fancy mixers for the longest time. She’s asked my dad for the past two years and got nothing, so ifhewon’t, I will. Hopefully.”
“Your mom do a lot for you?”
John grinned, his face lighting up. It reminded him of the way Zaadi and Ael looked at Alex and Cryss. “My mom’s pretty awesome. She doesa lotfor me and my brother.”
Qylar pulled out his wallet and handed John a couple of bills. “For your present fund.”
John’s eyes widened. He lifted his palms, pushing it away. “No, sir. That’s too much. I didn’t earn it.”
Qylar chuckled and placed the money in the front pocket of his heavy flannel shirt. “Buy your mom the mixer. She deserves it.”
John fought a smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it, but you really didn’t have to.”
“Yes I did.”
Qylar turned to get into the car and found Kenji staring at him.
“Why’d you do that?” Kenji asked.
Qylar shrugged. “He was a good kid. Anyone that lights up like that when asked about a parent usually is.”
“Yeah,” Kenji said. “That was really nice of you.”
“Nah,” Qylar said, opening Kenji’s door. “He earned it.”
