Normally, Obie would tease Cass just as much as they teased Esteban, but tonight, he takes pity. “I have no doubt,” he says softly, and Cass throws him a small smile as they return to their friends.
32
Ez drew a diagram. It’s probably the most Ez-like thing Chester has ever seen her do. “Okay,so,”she says diplomatically, scrutinizing the mess of lines and arrows, “if Mina is intentionally ignoring the love triangle and thus wants to end up withneithersuitor, then I suppose Javier and Viktor could just date each other.”
Roma wrinkles her nose. “I know that Javier always complains about his ex-boyfriend getting custody of their dog in the breakup, but we have no evidence that Viktor likes men. We can’t just go around making hypotheses like that without proper evidence, Ez.”
Unexpectedly, Sawyer speaks up from the neighboring table. “You’re all being ridiculous. Polyamory exists, and Mina has two hands. Problem solved.”
“She has two hands to hold both ofJavier’shands, Solomon,” JJ stresses. “Keep up.”
It’s the first time anyone from the two tables has implied that they know each other. Partly to be polite and partly to end this trainwreckof a conversation, Chester leans around JJ, sticking out a hand. “Oh, hi! I don’t think we’ve met yet. I’m Obie’s boyfriend, Kyle.”
Sawyer’s grip is just as firm as he remembers. “Sawyer. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Naomi,” Naomi adds, reaching out to shake his hand. “Sawyer’s my girlfriend. And those two scowlers over there are Micah and Gregorio.”
“We’re not scowling!” Micah protests. “That’s just the glamour, Gutierrez.”
“I’m scowling,” Gregorio says flatly, and he furrows his eyebrows at Chester. “You’re Obie’s boyfriend?”
“Yep!” Chester says, giving Gregorio his best smile. He knows from his invisible intelligence-delivering missions with Obie that Gregorio is by far the most suspicious of the Conspiracy Fam, but there’s no reason for “Kyle” to be wary around him. “We met at bowling. You should come join us at the alley sometime.”
“Uh-huh,” Gregorio says. “And you’re… human?”
“Gregorio,”Micah scolds. “You can’t just go around judging people for being human!”
“I’m notjudging,”Gregorio stresses, his considering eyes drifting back to Chester. “But I’ve known Obie for over two millennia, and I’ve never actually seen him date anyone.”
Chester tries not to let his smile waver too much. Technically, Obiestillisn’t dating anyone, but Gregorio doesn’t need to know that. “Just lucky, I guess.”
“Kyle’s special,” a voice says behind Chester, and Chester starts with surprise when Obie hugs him from behind, resting his chin on top of Chester’s head. “And Cass and Ez have done pretty well on the human front so far. Figured I could make it three for three.”
Chester tries not to melt into his arms too much. “Wow, baby. You’re so romantic.”
“Oh, please,” Obie says, pressing yetanotheraffectionate kiss to Chester’s hair. “You love it.”
Chester’s heart is ready to slam its way out of his chest. “You know I do,” he manages, proud of his voice for only sounding a little bit breathless.
Gregorio’s lips twitch. “As long as you’re happy,” he says, accepting his food from Cass and rapidly losing interest in Obie and Boyfriend Kyle as he tears into his burrito.
Obie, on the other hand, stays wrapped around Chester like he’s not planning on moving anytime soon. Chester swallows hard.You’re touchy-feely tonight,he cautiously offers through their telepathic link.
Instantly, Obie’s arms start to loosen.Is it bothering you?
No,Chester pushes back hastily, but it’s too late. Obie is already disentangling himself from Chester and strolling around to sit on the other side of the table, and Chester fights back a pang of loss. He and Obie have hugged a few times before, but those incidents were usually when one of them was having an emotional breakdown, so Chester has never really had the chance to enjoy them.
Next time, he’ll just let Obie cuddle him all night.
Much to Chester’s chagrin, the two tables quickly devolve back into their busybody conversation about Mina’s hapless suitors. Micah jumps in to defend Sawyer’s polyamory idea, Naomi argues with Ez about Viktor’s enigmatic sexuality, JJ futilely attempts to coax Obie and Chester onto Team Javier, and?—
And it’s nice. Relaxing. Enjoyable, even.
It still doesn’t explain why Obie was so insistent on getting them here by five forty-five, though. Frowning, Chester stretches his leg out under the table, pressing the side of his sneaker against Obie’s ankle.So why are we here, again?
Obie doesn’t give any sign that he heard Chester, still watching Roma argue with Sawyer about the pros and cons of polyamory as itapplies to the case of the Mina Love Triangle, but his voice wafts through Chester’s head.To hang out with our friends.
Ourfriends. Chester breathes past the warmth in his chest at the words, pushing back into the bond.Yeah, I got that part. But why tonight, and why exactly at five forty-five, and—and why is the Conspiracy Fam here?
