The Returnee

Chapter 14

"Tonight's dinner went better than my last attempt," Devon declared proudly as they walked in the front door. The smells from the kitchen were delicious, with enough hint of spice to make Lee's stomach growl.

Colin's hand clutched onto Lee's arm possessively. The happy feelings from their reunion were gone, replaced with concern over how Colin was acting. He was used to being in a polygamist relationship, but he was acting jealous over Lee having a friend. Something was off here and it unsettled Lee.

"Smells delicious," Joey beamed, kissing his husband.

Lee pulled away from Colin and headed to the bathroom, greeting Devon as he passed. Colin, thankfully, let Lee go, but his eyes burned Lee's back as he closed the door. Lee took a second to breathe and washed his hands.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

[You have a Denise]

[I have a what?] Lee frowned. Damian didn't always use references that he understood.

[A friend who isn't family]

[Is that the term?]

[Eh? Might as well be]

[Andrew is no threat to the family.]

[Maybe, maybe not]

Lee put the phone away to join dinner before he could say something he regretted. Damnit. Someone had already started gossiping about Andy. He'd place bets on Colin despite the short time. Said man's knee pressed against his as he joined them at the table. Devon proudly presented his dinner. As proudly as anyone could present Western for heaters.

It looked amazing.

"Tuck in," Devon passed over the tortillas for Lee to grab one. He ignored his phone buzzing. Colin's eyes drifted towards it.

"Is that your friend?"

"One of them," Lee said, not about to play that game. He was more interested in not overfilling his wrap than playing whatever game Colin was playing. This instinct was partly born from his family's rule of using any that overspilled in the next wrap without getting any more. His mum enjoyed Tex-Mex, and his dad enjoyed indulging her.

"Aren't you going to answer it?"

"Not the dinner table. That would be rude," Lee lifted an eyebrow.

"Quite so," Devon agreed, sprinkling his wrap with cheese. "Why are you so interested in Lee's social life?"

"Andrew is coming next week," Joey said, swiping the cheese pot from Devon before he could use it all. Devon was a cheese hog. "You better take a pic of that food to send," he added with a wink.

Devon frowned. "Why would that matter? Andrew's been verified, right?"

"What?"

"You knew we did background checks on close friends."

"Still intrusive." Lee took the permission to take a picture of the food, though. And one of Colin failing to eat one and spilling it over himself. The man had been sensible enough to use a napkin to protect his clothes. "Andy's is a good man."

"Not family," Colin muttered, attempting to clean up his plate and wipe the sauce from his fingers.

"He doesn't need to be."

"Andrew is highly recommended in his field and has nothing on his file to suggest he's a threat," Joey said, more directed at Colin than anyone else. "The fact is that he's doing regular check-ins with Lee is a good sign of him being a good support base despite him not being family."