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“It’s a Christmas Eve tradition,” Quinn said. He seemed surprised Andy could have forgotten.

Andy stared at Quinn. “It’s… Are you kidding me? It’sChristmas Eve?”

Quinn laughed. “Did you lose track of the days?”

“I guess so. This entire not-quite-a-week is a blur.”

Quinn laughed again.

By that point they had wound their way to Chestnut Street. The only house with no Christmas lights ablaze—no Christmas lights at all—was the oldest on the block: CaptainRafferty’s. Something about the unadorned, weathered face of the house saddened Andy.

Quinn parked behind the house, next to Andy’s rental, and turned off the engine, cutting off the music.

“Well… Journeys end, as they say.”

What they actually said was,Journeys end in lovers’ meeting. But Andy wasn’t about to offer that tidbit. He echoed Quinn’s, “Well…”

“Did you want to stay at my place tonight?” Quinn’s tone was casual.

“Oh. I…” Yes. He wanted to. He also thought it was probably a bad idea.

Quinn, no longer sounding casual, said, “Hell, if you like, you can stay till you’re allowed back in the shop.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want to impose.”

“Impose?” Quinn gave him a crooked smile. “You wouldn’t be imposing. I’d like you to stay.”

Andy’s heart seemed to squeeze, because he did not want to hurt Quinn. Not that he would be inflicting any lasting hurt. Quinn had already demonstrated he was of the out-of-sight-out-of-mind school of thought. Andy’s instinct was to say yes, and not just because Quinn wanted it. Andy also would have liked to spend some time with Quinn when they weren’t running for their lives or facing down sinister foes. It would be nice to explore…

But Uncle C. needed him to take care of…things.

And, truthfully, after Marcus, the last thing Andy wanted—could afford—was to get entangled in another relationship. Especially one that had once before proved so perilous to his heart.

Also—

Okay, yes, he was probably coming up with excuses.No, he amended; he was reminding himself of all the good reasonsto do the smart and sensible and, yes, safe thing. Maybe it was cowardly, but he just didn’t have it in him to have his heart broken again. Maybe when he’d had a chance to work through some of what happened over the last week. Maybe when he was feeling more like himself again. More able to view Quinn objectively, to take him for what he was without insisting Quinn feel as Andy did.

“Thanks,” he said, trying to match Quinn’s offhand manner, “but I’m going to go by the hospital and check in on Uncle C., and then I think maybe I’ll head out to Clark and Fleur’s.”

“Clark and Fleur’s?”

Quinn’s open disbelief was almost comical and pretty much summed up Andy’s feelings as well, especially given what he now suspected Fleur of. But given what he suspected Fleur of, it was crucial he speak to her as soon as possible.

“I know, but they’re family and it’s the holidays.” He shrugged.

“Sure,” Quinn said colorlessly. His gaze continued to be openly incredulous.

With good reason because honestly, in the normal course of things, Andy would have preferred to spend Christmas in a jail cell to Clark and Fleur’s. And Quinn knew it.

Neither of them moved for a long minute. The engine continued to tick over, warmth rising from beneath the hood. Melting snow dripped onto the roof of the Land Rover like a stopwatch clicking down the seconds that seemed to stretch longer and longer. A small red bird flew down from a bare tree limb and began to hop across the hood as though warming its feet.

Andy said, and he could hear the pained awkwardness in his voice, “It’s just…a lot, Quinn.”

He could feel Quinn’s gaze, though Quinn said nothing.

“I feel like my entire world’s been turned inside out. Not to mention that foryears, I thought you were dead. It was a major influence on my life. And it didn’t even happen!”

“I know. If there was one thing I could take back, change, it’s that.”