Page 51 of Take You Home (Redwater Demons #3)

E z 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 with neither suitor, 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 of Javier’s hands, 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 trainwreck of 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 not judging,” 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, Obie still isn’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 yet another affectionate 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 it applies to the case of the Mina Love Triangle, but his voice wafts through Chester’s head. To hang out with our friends.

Our friends. 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?

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. None of 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 you didn’t want 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 connects hard with 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 was that for?”

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 have two churros. ”

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’m fine. You don’t have to hover.”

“I’m not hovering,” 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.