Page 99 of Take You Home

I’ll give you one hint.Obie’s voice sounds amused in Chester’s mind.It’s less about five forty-five and more about six p.m.

Automatically, Chester glances at the clock tower. Three minutes until six.That doesn’t answer any of my other questions, Smith.

A smile twitches on Obie’s lips.You’ll see.

Chester makes it a point to sigh explosively through the link before withdrawing his foot, letting his gaze wander around the Courtyard. Speaking of polyamory, Aditi from Gulab Jamun Forever is laughing with her girlfriend and boyfriend at Pavlova Forever, and Melinda from DJ Ice Cream Truck is walking over to join them with fresh crepes. Ana and Julio from Churrería are deep in conversation with Akari from Yamamoto Sushi Truck, and Anju from Samosa Spot is hanging out with her wife at Sambusa Stop, and Chelsea and Keith from Poutine Queens are devouring pad thai and cachapas at a nearby table, and‍?—

Chester’s brain short-circuits.

Wait. They shouldn’t be here.Noneof them should be here, not even the Mina Love Triangle‍—they should all be over at Lakeside, running their food trucks like they always are. Frowning, he taps his sneaker against Obie’s calf again.Why are all the food truck operators from Lakeside here? They usually don’t close early unless something big is happening.

Obie’s voice practically singsongs through Chester’s head.You’re getting warmer.

Chester doesn’t know whether he wants to punch him or kiss him.Obie‍?—

But he doesn’t have time to finish his threat, because at that moment, Cass suddenly digs a twenty out of his pocket, holding it across the table towards JJ. “Hey, can you grab us a dozen churros from Tacos Near Me? Looks like the line is finally gone.”

JJ stares at him. “You were literally just at Tacos Near Me five minutes ago, Cass. And you specifically said that youdidn’twant churros.”

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind,” Cass says. “Please?”

JJ wrinkles his nose at him before pushing himself to his feet with a sigh. “Yeah, sure. Kyle, you want to come?”

“Of course,” Chester says immediately, but before he can fully stand up, Obie’s foot connectshardwith Chester’s shin‍—hard enough, actually, that he’s surprised the binding spell doesn’t stop him.“Hey!”he protests, glaring across the table. “What wasthatfor?”

Obie raises his eyebrows innocently. “I need you for something. JJ, make it two dozen churros, okay? If Cass insists on spending all my money, the least I can do is spend all his.”

“Rude,” Cass says.

Chester scowls at Obie before easing himself back onto the bench seat, shooting JJ an apologetic look. “Um. Sorry, I guess?”

“It’s fine,” JJ says, squinting suspiciously at Obie before heading towards Tacos Near Me.

Chester barely waits until he’s out of earshot before turning his glare back on Obie’s smug smirk. “Seriously. What the hell, Obie?”

“Don’t be too angry with him.” Cass pushes himself to his feet, his eyes locked on JJ. “He’s under orders from me.”

Roma arches an eyebrow. “You ordered Obie to kick his boyfriend?”

Cass doesn’t answer. Instead, he grabs Desi from where she’s having a mostly one-sided conversation with Gregorio and stands her on top of the table. “Desi, I want you to sit right here for a few minutes, okay?” he says, and he points towards the fountain. “Keep your eyes over there. If you’re good for your aunts and uncles, I’ll let you havetwochurros.”

Desi looks delighted. “Two churros!” she cheers, plopping down in the center of the table. “I’ll be good!”

“Perfect.” Cass kisses her forehead before striding purposefully towards the fountain, intercepting JJ just as he starts walking back with his bulging bag of churros.

“Cass, I can carry it,” JJ says in exasperation, unsuccessfully trying to shoo Cass away. “I’mfine.You don’t have to hover.”

“I’m nothovering,”Cass argues, unceremoniously commandeering the churro bag and digging around in his pocket. “But I actually need you to hold something else. Something I got for you.”

Without warning, Roma’s hand latches around Chester’s forearm, her fingernails digging into his skin.“Ouch,”Chester says pointedly, shooting her a look. Why is everyone trying to maim him tonight?

But Roma doesn’t even seem to notice, staring over at JJ and Cass with wide eyes. “No way,” she breathes, a slow smile spreading across her face.

Frowning, Chester follows her gaze. JJ looks just as confused as Chester feels, but when Cass pulls out a small metallic circle attached to a short gold chain, JJ’s expression clears. He laughs. “A pocket watch? Like the one I gave you?”

“Yep,” Cass says, holding on to the chain as JJ unlatches the cover to inspect the watch face. “It reminded me of you.” For a split second, he hesitates. “And of the fact that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

And he gets down on one knee.