Lover Reborn

Across the foyer, the vestibule door swung wide and John Matthew came in. “Son of a bitch,” Qhuinn muttered. “The bastard is finally back.”

“I thought you said he was—”

“I was covering. For us both.”

“You weren’t together? Wait, you get caught without being with him—”

“It was not my choice. Trust me.”

As Qhuinn beelined for Mr. Independent, Blay was right with him, and John took one look at the pair of them and his ahh-satisfied expression got ghost sure as if someone had booted him in the ass with a nine iron.

“We need to talk,” Qhuinn hissed.

John glanced around like he was looking for a bunker to jump into. Yeah, well, tough balls for him; the foyer was essentially empty of furniture, and the dumb bitch couldn’t jump far enough to reach the dining room.

Qhuinn, I was going to call—

Qhuinn grabbed the guy by the back of the neck and shoved him face-first into the land of pool and popcorn. Just past the threshold, John pushed free and went gunning for the bar. Picking up a bottle of Jack, he ripped the thing open.

“Do you think this is a fucking joke?” Qhuinn jabbed at the tattooed tear that was under his eye. “I’m supposed to be with you every second of the night and day, asshole. I’ve been lying for you for the last forty minutes—”

“It’s true. He has.”

As Blay spoke up from behind, it was a surprise. And kind of nice.

I went to see Xhex, okay. Right now, she’s my priority.

Qhuinn threw up his hands. “Great. So when V is stabbing my pink slip into my chest, you can still feel good about yourself. Thanks.”

“John, you can’t light-head stuff like this.” Blay went around and grabbed a glass, like he was afraid their buddy was going to suck the bottle down whole. “Give me that.”

He took the booze, poured a healthy dose, and…

Drank it himself.

“What,” he muttered as he got stared at. “Here, take it back if you want.”

John took a swig and then stared into space. After a moment, he shoved the Jack in Qhuinn’s direction.

Rolling his eyes, Qhuinn muttered, “At least this is the kind of apology I’ll accept.”

As he took the bottle, it dawned on him that it had been ages since the three of them had been together. Back before their transitions, they’d spent every night after training in Blay’s old room at the guy’s parents’ house, pissing away the hours playing video games and drinking beer and talking about the future.

And now that they were finally where they’d wanted to be? Everyone was going in a different direction.

Then again, John was right. The guy was properly mated now, so of course his focus was somewhere else. And Blay was having a rockin’ good time with Saxton the Slut.

Qhuinn was the only one pining for the GODs.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered to John. “Let’s just forget it—”

“No,” Blay cut in. “This is not okay. You cut the shit, John—you let him come with you. I don’t care if you’re going to be with Xhex or not. You owe this to him.”

Qhuinn stopped breathing, focusing everything he had on the male who had been his best friend and his never-been lover… and the ever-after that was never going to happen.

Even after all the things that had gone on between them, and all the fuckups on his end, which were legendary, Blay still had his back.

“I love you,” Qhuinn blurted into the silence.

John lifted up his hands and signed, I love you, too. And I’m really fucking sorry. This thing with Xhex and I has…

Blah, blah, blah. Or, Blah, blah, blah, as the case was with the ASL.

Qhuinn wasn’t hearing a thing. As John went on and on, explaining his sitch, Qhuinn was tempted to interrupt and cop to not just what he’d said, but who he’d said it to. Except all he could think of was Blay coming in with Sax, and that f-in’ blush.

It took everything he had in him to look at John and squeeze out, “We can work it out, all right? Just let me follow you—I won’t look, I promise.”

John was signing something. Qhuinn was nodding. Then Blay started pulling away, taking a step back and then another and then a third.

More conversation. Blay talking.

And then the male turned and strode out. To get food. To go up to Saxton.

A low whistle made him shake himself and focus on John.

“Yeah. Sure.”

John frowned. You want to have a parking ticket stapled to your forehead?

“What?”

Sorry, I had a feeling you weren’t tracking. Guess I was right.

Qhuinn shrugged. “Look at it this way, I don’t feel like coldcocking you anymore.”

Oh, good. Bonus. But Blay is right. I won’t do this again.

“Thanks, man.”

Drink?

“Yeah. Good idea. Great one.” He headed around the bar. “Matter of fact, I’ll get my own bottle.”

NINETEEN

“She’s dead.”

At the sound of the male voice, Lassiter looked over his shoulder. Across his bedroom, Tohr was standing in the doorway, holding himself up by the jambs.

Lassiter put down the fleece he’d been packing. The suitcase routine wasn’t because he could take any of his shit with him, but rather, because it seemed only fair to get his stuff in order for the summoning that was coming: After he got sucked back into the In Between, the staff was going to have to ditch the clothes he’d worn and the few things he’d collected.

The Brother entered and shut them in together.

“She’s dead.” He limped over and sat on the chaise lounge. “There, I said it.”

Lassiter lowered his ass down on the bed and stared at the guy. “And you think that’s enough.”

“What the fuck do you want from me?”

He had to laugh. “Please. If I were running this show, you’d have had her back down here months ago and I’d be long fucking gone.”

Tohr laughed a little in surprise.

“Aw, come on, my man,” Lassiter muttered. “I don’t want to screw you. You’re too flat chested, for one thing—I’m a boob man. And for another, you’re a good guy. You deserve better than this.”

Now Tohr looked downright shocked.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Lassiter got up and went back to the open drawers of the dresser. Pulling out a pair of leathers, he messed them up, and then folded them again.

Futzing around with his hands was supposed to help his brain focus. Didn’t work all that well, though. Maybe he should just slam his head into the wall.

“Going somewhere?” the Brother asked after a while.

“Yeah.”

“Giving up on me?”

“I told you. I don’t make the rules here. I’m going to get pulled out, and it’s going to be sooner rather than later.”