Page 20 of Protecting the Nerd

YORK

“You’re here!”

As soon as he opened the door, Fir enveloped me in a warm, long hug. I clung to him, letting the warmth of his embrace and affection chase away the lingering cold the visit to my parents had left inside me.

When I finally let go, he scrutinized me. “Your parents?”

I nodded. With Fir, I never needed to say more because he knew. I stepped aside. “I’d like you to meet Quillon. My boyfriend.”

Fir’s eyes flared wide to almost comical proportions, but then they narrowed to thin slits. “No, he’s not.”

I turned to Quillon. “And that’s why we needed to tell him the truth.”

Quillon sighed.

“What truth?” Fir asked.

“I’m Quillon Minch.” Quillon shook Fir’s hand.

“Fir Everett. What the hell is going on? Why are you back in town, and who the hell is he? Actually, why don’t you come on in?”

He moved aside to let us pass. “Is Tomás home?” I asked.

“No, he’s in Brazil for a few days with Tiago. Their mom needed surgery, and they wanted to be with her.”

“Is she okay?”

“Her prospects are excellent, but it’s still surgery. I’m sure their dad appreciates their support.”

“And the boys?”

“Hanging out with my parents.”

Fir’s parents lived in town as well, and they’d been a huge help to him after his first husband, Samuel, had become sick and then passed away from cancer.

We settled in the messy living room, where the presence of Fir’s two teenage sons was visible in backpacks carelessly thrown into a corner, a forlorn sock on the floor, a pair of dirty soccer cleats, and a chess game in progress. The clutter was so wonderfully normal that it almost made me emotional.

“Who’s playing white?” I nodded at the chessboard.

“Gabe, of course.” Fir chuckled. “I haven’t beaten him in twenty games. It’s about time you played him again so he remembers what it’s like to lose.”

“Anytime. I enjoy playing chess with him. He takes the game seriously, as he should.”

“Hey, no need to explain that to me. Former captain of the chess club, remember?” Fir laughed.

He wasn’t quite as big a geek as I was, if only because he’d opted to become a family doctor like his father, but we still had plenty of hobbies in common that others would find nerdy.

Fir brought us drinks—more water for both of us—and sat in a chair. “Talk to me.”

“You can’t share this information with anyone,” Quillon said.

Fir raised his chin. I hadn’t been aware he could pull off a haughty look, but he sure as fuck managed it now. “I’m a doctor, Quillon. You don’t need to explain the concept of confidentiality.”

Quillon, properly chastened, held up his hands. “Good.”

“Remember I told you about a breakthrough in my work?” I’d never shared any details about my job, but I’d kept Fir up to date in broad terms.

“Yeah. Wait, you mentioned your boss was concerned about your safety. Does Quillon being here have anything to do with that?”

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