Page 31 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

“Okay, why are we all in the kitchen?” Aaron bursts into the room, hands on hips, head tilted to one side. “I know it’s not Matthias’s house, but my living room is plenty big enough for everyone.”

“Really? Did you not notice the crazy discussion going on in there? None of us have any interest in discussing the intricacies of tax statuses,” Tyler says. Since his boyfriend is one of the offenders in that conversation, it’s a completely fair statement.

“This is what I get for agreeing to host.” Aaron sighs and bends over the counter, putting his head down. Oliver reaches out and rubs between Aaron’s shoulder blades a few times.

“It’s not that bad. We’re having plenty of fun in here,” Oliver reassures him.

“Plus, we’re closer to the beer.” Tyler holds up his half-full bottle.

“Fine. That backyard of yours better be done soon. This is the last time I’m hosting.”

I practically snort. Last time and first time, apparently.

I think we’ve all been over here separately, but Aaron tends to limit the people who come over.

Even then, he tends to find a way to get us to host. Whether it’s for video game night or dinner, somehow, he’s never the host. It’s one of his superpowers.

“Frank was telling us about how he’s a math whiz.” Oliver prompts, restarting our conversation.

“Oh, that’s not… no.” Frank stumbles over his wo rds.

“I barely got through my calculus course.” I’m going to have a chat with him about his self-talk later.

It’s not terrible, but I’d rather hear him lifting himself up.

He works so hard and has overcome so much to get to this point that he should be proud.

“Well, if you need any help, let me know,” Aaron offers. Honestly? Aaron would probably be more helpful than I am. He’s the real math genius in this group. I’m getting by on what I remember and a few useful YouTube tutorials.

“Thanks.” Frank’s face is back to being a bright shade of red. It’s so fucking cute. “Matthias is doing a great job of tutoring me.”

“I’m sorry, did I hear that correctly? Matthias is tutoring you. In math?” Tyler sets his beer down a little too hard on the counter, a small amount shooting out to the top of the bottle. “Frank. No.”

“What?” Frank looks back and forth between Tyler and Aaron. “He’s doing a great job.”

My poor Firecracker. My friends are menaces and set on pulling him into their web.

“Are you okay?” Tyler asks. “Matthias tutored me once when I was getting through my economics course. It’s a small miracle that we’re still friends.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Okay, it was a hundred percent that bad. The last straw was when we had a full-on screaming match in the library and got kicked out. Probably just in time to avoid it becoming physical. By which I mean, Tyler was seconds away from punching me in the face.

“Not. That. Bad.” Tyler huffs. “Nathan?” he bellows. “Get in here.”

Frank turns to me and, for a second, I think maybe I’m the one who should have a safeword.

“What?” Nathan asks. Colt follows close behind him. “Why are you yelling? ”

“Matthias is tutoring Frank.” Tyler says it with the tone of a child tattling on their sibling.

“Oh my God. Frank, are you okay? Blink twice if you need us to rescue you.”Yes, yes. Everyone is so funny. “Seriously, though, is he treating you okay? He tends to get a little bossy in these situations.”

And there it is. Frank turns to me, eyes wide. I can see him searching for the right words. Trying to figure out what he’s supposed to say—or not say—in front of my friends.

“Thank you all for your concern, but I can assure you that I’ve matured over the years. I’m perfectly capable of helping my boyfriend study without it turning into an issue.” There. That should put this whole discussion to rest.

Except everyone is still staring at me. The expressions have changed from serious to amused. I run back over the last thing I said. Boyfriend. I called Frank my boyfriend. Perhaps that’s the kind of thing I should discuss with him before I go announcing it to the room?

Too late now.

Graham clears his throat and asks about people’s Christmas plans. I shoot him a thankful look. Frank cozies up to me, inserting himself against my hip. “Octopus,” he whispers.

I motion for him to follow me into the living room. The rest of the group is so enthralled in their conversation that they don’t notice us making our way to the outskirts.

“Firecracker,” I say, keeping my voice soft.

“Did you mean what you said? That I’m your boyfriend.”

“I should’ve talked it over with you first. I’m sorry.” I pull him close and kiss his forehead, needing a moment of connection between us. “We should’ve talked about labeling things when we had our exclusivity talk. Yes, I think of you as my boyfriend. And so much more.”

“I like that.” Frank rises on his toes and smashes our lips together. Normally, he lets me take over, but today, he’s the one demanding. It’s all I can do to keep up with him, to kiss him back with the same focus and passion that he’s giving me.

“Get a room. Preferably not one in my home.” When I pull away, Aaron and the whole gang are staring at us, a combination of smiles and head shaking. I’m not sorry. I’m pretty sure every one of them has hooked up somewhere on my property. Payback’s a bitch.

“Fine.” I squeeze Frank’s hand, a promise of what I plan to do to him later when we get a little privacy.

For now, I follow everyone to the sitting area, pulling my Firecracker into my lap.

It’s a space-saving measure, I tell myself.

Not that there aren’t more than enough seats.

Conversation quickly turns to the usual banter.

I alternate between participating and tuning out, content to simply be in a space full of people I care about.