Cass fights back a flinch. “Uh, boyfriend,” he corrects awkwardly, forcing a smile. “I don’t think either of us is ready to pop the question yet.”
Melinda looks amused. “Well, don’t put it off too long. He seems like quite the catch.” She points towards a few college girls sitting around a table farther down the shore—a few college girls who, Cass realizes with a start, are watching JJ with undisguised interest. “And I think they agree with me.”
Cass’s brain short-circuits. There are at least five of them gathered for what looks like a lunchtime study session, tortilla española and bibimbap and textbooks spread out between them, but instead of reading or taking notes, they’re all peering at JJ and whispering to each other.
They’re too far away for even Cass’s enhanced hearing, but he can make some educated guesses about what they’re saying. After all, as Cass was vividly reminded during his trip to the Sanctum’s training grounds, JJ is an attractive man. Obviously, he has a glamour modifying his features right now, but even with that?—
Even with that, there’s no disguising his easy grace and perfect posture. There’s no disguising his deep voice and warm laugh.
There’s no disguising that amazing smile.
But there’s nothing for Cass to worry about, right? JJ doesn’t seem to notice them at all, and even if he did?—
I generally prefer men.
But just what the hell doesthatmean? Is JJ gay? Is he bisexual, but swings harder towards guys?
Is there any chance ofhimbeing just as interested in those girls?
Cass isn’t about to stand around and find out. “Thanks for the warning,” he says, grabbing his tray and making a beeline towards where JJ and Desi are play-wrestling. Steeling himself, he raises his voice just loud enough for JJ—and the college girls—to hear. “Hey, babe?”
Cass doesn’t know whether to be flattered or appalled when JJ looks up like that nickname in Cass’s voice is familiar to him. JJ’s face quickly flushes with embarrassment, but he just clears his throat as he stumbles to his feet and pulls Desi onto his hip. “Yeah?”
Cass hefts the tray. “Come on. Ice cream’s going to melt.”
“Ice cream!” Desi cheers, throwing her arms up. JJ hastily tightens his grip to keep her upright. “Did you get mine with sprinkles, Cass?”
“Of course I did. What do you take me for?” Cass meets JJ and Desi halfway, shifts the tray onto one arm, and decisively places his other hand on the small of JJ’s back.
JJ twitches. “What are you doing?” he mumbles, keeping his eyes straight ahead as they walk.
“Selling the con,” Cass whispers back, resisting the urge to shoot a glare at the table behind them. “Apparently, you have some admirers.”
JJ’s eyebrows furrow. “Really?” he says, peeking over his shoulder.
Cass’s hackles rise. “Yes, really. You’re the one who decided to let everyone think we’re dating, Jackson. Act like it.”
JJ scoffs, settling Desi on the bench seat next to him. “I didn’t even notice them, Chin. They were probably just watching Desi. She’s adorable.”
Desi hugs his arm. “Thanks, JJ!”
No, they were definitely looking at you.Cass bites back the words. “She is indeed,” he agrees eventually, placing the tray in the middle of the table. JJ grabs his plate of samosas, Cass takes his currywurst?—
Desi goes straight for her ice cream, as is her right. JJ looks like he wants to coax her into eating lunch before dessert, but considering that her “lunch” is just poutine, he seems to decide against it. “And noteveryonethinks we’re dating,” he adds, putting one of his samosas on a napkin and sliding it to Desi. “Right?”
“Of course they do,” Cass says, popping a piece of currywurst into his mouth. “They talk about us all the time.”
JJ’s eyes widen.“What?”
Right. Without demonically enhanced senses, JJ isn’t as attuned to Redwater’s legendary gossip mill as Cass is—especially in the Courtyard and Lakeside. “The food truck crowd in particular is convinced that you work from home and I come from money, which is why we’re always here on weekdays, and they also have a betting pool for who they think is going to propose first.”
JJ squints at him. “Why do they think I work from home and you come from money?”
“Because you pay attention to prices and tip exactly twenty percent,” Cass says, “while I just throw a fifty at them and tell them to keep the change.”
JJ rolls his eyes. “No wonder they all love you.”
“Well, they love you, too,” Cass says without thinking, and he immediately snaps his mouth shut, mortified. “I mean, they—they think we’re cute. The three of us. Young couple that’s really involved in raising our daughter together. You know. Cute.”
