Chapter 3

Who the fuck are you?

I stare at the adorable interloper and shove my phone at him. He says his name with the stress on the first syllable, by the way, since I know you're wondering. AH-kee-lay, but drop the last syllable like you're trying to get rid of a stage ten clinger. Or like you're saying the le in Pepe Le Pew.

Akile glances at the message on my phone and steals the karaage skewer off my plate along with the mead to go with it.

I didn't want that one anyway.

"I'm your new bestie, Bestie," he replies with a little too much glee in his voice.

A very sharp dagger presses against Akile's neck, held by Fox, who stares at him with dead eyes.

Akile eyes Fox, takes a deep breath, and rolls his eyes. "Nutmeg poisoning was my idea, but that is all I'm going to cop to. I'm not the big-idea person. I'm just the person who knew nutmeg would sever the delicious redhead's bonds." He licks his lips at Bellamy.

Woah. Did that just happen?

Bellamy stares at Akile, and his voice is level and polite even as his ears turn bright red. "Who did you give your idea to?"

Gah. How did I raise a kid who gets embarrassed every time someone flirts with him? Actually, I bet this is his previous parents' doing. Yeah, I'm definitely blaming someone else for this, even though it's incredibly cute. Wait. No, if it's cute—

I'll have to think about this further. I want to take credit for all the good things, and let the blame for the bad fall where it belongs (not on me), but this could go both ways.

Fox hasn't moved the dagger, but that doesn't seem to bother Akile, who reaches under his arm to snag Fox's plate of sushi, stealing a bite off it and feeding it to himself around the dagger as he replies, "Gave it to Jamie; you killed him, remember?"

Bellamy did kill Jamie, who trades time being the representative of evil on the council that rules the supernatural world with his twin brother, Jeff. (He's more likable than Jamie.) Oh, I suppose I should mention that Jamie didn't stay dead. He had a resurrection in the wings, so he's unfortunately alive and well. I've heard that his wife, Julie, who's also a Reaper like Fox, is thinking about divorce. I don't know what she expected when she married one of the evil councilors in charge of making decisions that affect the community of supernatural species, but if it was anything other than "My man is going to do evil things while I'm married to him," she was absolutely delusional.

So you're saying that you should have been in that sand pit with Bellamy too.

Akile's expression transforms into the cutest, most hurt expression I've ever seen on a man's face. "Excuse me? I didn't poison Bellamy's bonds. How could my bestie even consider putting me in a sand pit with people who have the tendency to kill first and never ask questions later? Where's the love?"

I—I don't know what to say to that. I'm all for making new friends, but…

"What is happening right now?" Bellamy asks for me, staring in horror at Akile as actual tears well up in our guest's eyes as if he's genuinely distressed.

He's definitely faking.

I shoot that text to both of my men, and the tears drop to Akile's cheeks as their phones chime with my text.

"The least you could do is add me to your text thread," Akile sniffles, shaking his phone side to side.

Fox moves the knife away from Akile's neck and grabs the phone out of his hand, tapping at it. He unlocks it on the first try, and I'm impressed and a little bit horny until he turns his deadly gaze to Akile. "You're the thief."

Akile turns wide eyes toward Fox, blinking innocently at him. "He gave it to me!" he protests. "Handed it right to me, and he didn't insist I give it back."

Oh my gawd.

DB?

I send that to my text frenemy, and the phone in Fox's hand beeps.

I drop my jaw, staring at Akile. I've been texting this guy since he stole Dakota's phone a few weeks ago.

Actually…

I snap my jaw closed and turn to Fox, smiling at him as I think with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, "Hey look! We found him before your dads did! No possibility of getting a new step dad!"

Fox barely glances at me, but I see the utter incredulity in the glance. I kind of love having direct access to Fox's mind. And hey, look at that! I'm getting better at this whole mind to mind communication thing already!

"Who's DB?" Akile asks, taking the phone back from Fox, who lets him since Dakota has a new phone already. The dads are still paying for this line, and probably won't stop even after they meet him because they're total pushovers and Akile is super cute.

I create a new text thread, including him with Bellamy and Fox.

You are. In my phone I named your contact card DB Cooper after that guy from the 70s who hijacked that plane and got away with 200k in ransom money.

Not everyone has heard of famous criminals who were never caught.

Well, Akile basically turned himself in, so…

I change his name to Bestie in my phone because I feel like we're going to get along like socks and sandals now that we're face to face. We're as inevitable as Dad-fashion; people will see us and just accept their fate because we're happening now.

So, what are we doing after lunch?I'm excited about this new development. I don't know; it just feels right.

Akile checks my message on his phone as the waitress deposits a Dagwood Sandwich in front of him that's taller than any sandwich I"ve ever seen. His eyes widen happily and he smiles up at her. "Thank you! Tell the Captain it's perfect, as always."

The waitress gives him a sweet smile and assures him she will before she refills water glasses and leaves again.

Akile smashes the sandwich down, picks it up, and takes a huge bite. His broad smile becomes a big mouth when he opens wide; it's actually pretty impressive. My new bestie has a really big mouth, but he's clearly not going to use it to explain what the fuck is going on before he eats.

I'm not even surprised.

Fox paysfor our meal with a swipe of his hand over a reader that deducts the bill from his bank account. We have chips in our hands that give us the ability to pay without carrying cash or cards around if we don't want to. I keep a couple hundred dollars on me in a cash clip because there's no way I'm going to find myself stranded away from the technology of the supernatural community with no way to pay for a ride home or at least a phone call. I mean, I'd have to be stranded with no phone or wallet and only my cash clip, but hey, if I can worst-case-scenario it, it can happen.

Once we're outside, Akile starts walking with purpose northward. I consider my options, glance at Fox, then at Bellamy. All three of us stand together as we decide if we should follow, but then Fox turns toward the street and raises his hand. I think I would follow Akile, but I'm going to defer to Fox because he's older than me and probably wiser, you know?

A taxi breaks from traffic and comes to a stop next to us, and we all climb in together. Akile continues to walk away, but I figure if he really wants us to go with him, he'll find us again. We've got a whole month of vacation, and we're planning to hit the Museum of Supernatural History at his suggestion, so he probably knows where he can find us.

Fox tells the taxi driver to take us home, and I watch Akile as we pass him. I wave with a bright smile, catching his attention. He stares at me with his mouth wide open until I can't see him anymore.

My phone chimes.

Bestie: I'm not sure if I should wonder how my bestie could abandon me in the middle of a mission or if I should be impressed with Fox's resolve not to do anything he doesn't want to do.

Me: I think both, really. Why not?

Bestie: I suppose I could do that.

Me: *thumbs up*

I hate getting thumbs up with no follow up. It's even worse that I spelled it out because I don't send actual emojis.

Bestie: I'm not sure how you wiggled your way into bestiehood without me knowing how mean you are.

Me: *laughing to tears emoji*

"He's a bit dramatic," Bellamy comments softly with a contemplative look in his eye.

I nod and shrug. I think I deserve a dramatic bestie. I've never had a real best friend. I have Fox, but lovers is not the same as platonic friends, and I have Bellamy, but he's family more than friend, and honestly, one of the most dramatic people I know…

Pot meet kettle.

Bellamy stares at that text for a long moment before shaking his head. "I'm not dramatic."

A soft breath escapes Fox, and if we weren't in a taxi with a stranger, he would have laughed. I reach over and squeeze Fox's leg, appreciating his muscles as I do. He's so hot.

You're pure drama all the time.

I reassure Bellamy that I love him with a pat on his leg, and then I'm holding both men's legs and the taxi driver gives me a curious look in the rearview mirror.

I shake my head at him.

"We are not a threesome," Fox tells him for me.

I smile at my man and kiss his cheek. I love it when he gives me a voice, especially when it's because he can read my thoughts.

"Ah," the driver responds softly and looks forward, intimidated by the Reaper at my side.

"There's something familiar about Akile," Bellamy mutters, shaking his head.

I didn't recognize him, and I look at Fox who minutely shakes his head, and we all fall silent while Bellamy tries to work it out.

The rest of the drive passes in silence, and when the driver pulls up in front of our brownstone, Edovard is standing outside with Gregory and Hassan and they're talking to Akile, who somehow beat us here.

When I get out of the car, Edovard's telling Hassan, "He's a nice person. He's really bright and happy, and he's not going to hurt anyone. He likes us."

Akile's wearing a sappy little smile, staring at Edovard like he's the most precious pupper he's ever seen, and he is. Edovard is the best, most precious pupper to ever exist, and yes, this is the hill I will die on. I already knew Akile would fit right in with us, but the expression on his face as he looks up at Edovard cements that knowledge in me.

Gregory turns to us and glares at Fox as soon as we're all on the sidewalk. "Stop letting your boyfriend bring home strays. We don't have room for another roommate!"

I step into Gregory's personal bubble and point to the completely unoccupied bedroom window in the part of the brownstone that he, Edovard, Hassan, and Santanos occupy. They have three bedrooms and only use two of them, one for sleeping and the other as a dressing room. Then I point to the unoccupied bedroom in Fox's part of the building, and the third unit we haven't decided what to do with yet, and then I point to the whole other brownstone building that Fox is in the process of buying on the other side of our house.

We're running out of room for tables, and Fox hasn't really slowed his buying habits, so we're going to buy the brownstone next door. We're just waiting on the other party to sign the papers. There's some kind of hold up that the realtor hasn't explained to us.

Gregory scowls at me. "Why are you pointing at that building?" he demands grumpily.

Edovard reaches for him and wraps him up in his arms. It's a hug, but it also looks like Edovard decided to become Gregory's backpack, and I smile at my pupper. I reach over, patting his head and leaning over to kiss his forehead. He's a good boy.

"Stop putting your lips on my boyfriend," Gregory grumps, but there's little heat to it now that Edovard has him in hand. Gregory is a huge softie for Edovard, even though he basically hates everyone he isn't currently sleeping with.

Ok, that's not fair. Gregory loves Edovard, Hassan, and Santanos—hurk—and he hates everyone he doesn't love.

"Why are you pointing at the other building?" Bellamy asks curiously.

Fox explains as he starts walking to our front door. "We're trying to buy it. Romily thinks we're going to need the extra space in case we adopt anyone else."

I look around at the incredulous looks on Bellamy, Gregory, and Hassan's faces and shrug, then point to Akile, who is my new bestie and who I have clearly adopted.

Edovard gives me an approving nod. "I thought that he belonged to us too," he agrees, then reaches out a fist to Akile. "I'm glad you're here. "

Akile bumps his fist with a happy, joyful smile. "Thank you, Edovard. I'm really happy to be here too. I'm Akile, Romily's bestie."

Gregory snorts, turns in Edovard's arms and pushes him toward their front door. "Come on, we need to check the wards before Santanos can come home."

Edovard kisses Gregory before slipping around him to hug each of us.

"There's nothing wrong with the wards," Fox tells him at the same time that Bellamy asks, "What's wrong with the wards?"

Edovard has Bellamy in a hug when he replies, "Gregory sometimes checks things he knows are alright when Santanos makes us leave him behind. He doesn't like it when Santanos is out of sight."

Where is he?

I send that to the group text that includes everyone who lives in the brownstone after adding Akile to it.

"Like we're going to tell you," Grumpy Gregory spits, pulling at Edovard's hand once our pupper has finished giving us each a hug.

Edovard pats Gregory's butt. "They're family. It's ok to tell them that he's in a closed door meeting with Grandaddy Annette." Edovard smiles and waves at us. "Don't worry; he'll be home soon. Hassan will go get him when he's done."

Hassan is a portal maker, which means that he's likely been making portals in and out of the brownstone. That's not worrisome.

Edovard, Gregory, and Hassan disappear through their front door, and I turn to Fox, who looks like he's contemplating murder, which is one of his happy places, so he looks happy, but those are our pupper's boyfriends, so we should probably use non-violent means to make sure they're not violating the ward that protects the brownstone. I wouldn't want to hurt Edovard's pure heart by killing his boyfriends and neither would Fox.

Fox sighs, looking less happy, takes my hand, and pulls me to our front door.