Out of Nowhere (Balls and Brawn Bodyguard #4)

33. Chapter Thirty-three Dex

Chapter Thirty-three: Dex

D ex was in his room in the mansion, packing his things, when he looked up at a light knock on his open door.

“Hey,” Cara said, walking in with Jude, who immediately threw himself onto the bed, making himself comfortable.

“Hey, stranger.” Dex hugged her. “It’s been over a year since I’ve seen you! When did you get back? How’s your grandma?”

“I arrived late last night, and she’s doing much better, thanks,” Cara said. “Having me there helping her made a huge difference in her healing, I think.”

“I’m sure it did,” Dex said, closing the box he’d just filled and labeling it. He’d missed Cara. She’d been away on a case with Ezra before her grandmother had fallen ill and Jase, West, and Logan had arranged a leave of absence for her.

“What I want to know is, is Jude pulling my leg when he says you’re moving in with Seo-jun?” Cara sat down on the edge of Dex’s bed.

“He’s telling the truth,” Dex said, smiling. “We’re in a relationship.”

Jude lightly smacked Cara on the arm. “I told you! They’re a thing.”

“Well, you can’t blame me for doubting you. For one, I didn’t even know Dex was gay, and for another, well, I mean, I like Seo-jun, but I have trouble seeing him in a relationship with anyone.” She turned to Dex. “Although he’s definitely hot.” She grinned, pushing her ash blond hair out of her face. “Where are your glasses?”

“I got contacts,” Dex said, taking a pair of pants off a hanger in the closet and folding them before putting them in a fresh box. “It was hard doing Taekwondo with them on. I was afraid of breaking them, but I needed to see.”

Cara nodded. “Here, let me help.” She crossed the room, took a shirt off a hanger, and started to fold it. Casting a look at Jude, she said, “You could help, too, you know.”

Jude pulled a pillow over his face and grunted. “I’ll help carry the boxes down. Let me just lie here a minute. I was up studying all last night.”

By the time Seo-jun came looking for Dex an hour later, everything was packed up and ready to go.

“Thanks for your help,” Dex told Cara as Jude picked up a big box and carried it downstairs.

“No problem.” Cara watched with interest as Seo-jun greeted Dex with a kiss. “You two are hot together,” she said.

Seo-jun smiled at her. “Nice to see you back.”

“It’s nice to be back. I missed the beach and all of you guys.“ They each picked up a box and carried them downstairs and outside to put in Dex’s trunk before turning around to make the trip again. When Dex’s trunk was full, they filled Seo-jun’s.

Dex’s phone rang. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, he was surprised to see it was after three, his scheduled time to call Anna.

“I wasn’t watching the time,” he told Anna after answering. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I figured something like that had happened,” Anna said.

They chatted for a while. Anna’s pregnancy was coming along nicely. She told Dex that their mother had been there to see her.

Dex sat down on one of the chairs in front of the house. “Is that right? Well, good. Did Garfield come with her?”

“No, thank fuck. He’s so boring, and Mom acts like she has to wait on him hand and foot. Yuck. She came alone, and she took me shopping. We bought me some things and a lot of things for the baby. I think I’m going to name him Sky. What do you think?”

“That’s a cool name,” Dex said. “I guess it won’t be too long now. We’re almost into October. When’s he due?”

“December 7th. But the doctor says he’ll probably come early because of the meth. At least he seems to be a good size. Hey—maybe that’s what I should name him! Meth!”

“Don’t even think about it,” Dex threatened.

Anna started laughing. “Oh! Don’t make me laugh. I’m going to pee in my pants!”

“Well, stop laughing then. Just think positive thoughts and try not to stress,” Dex said.

Anna sighed. “I am. I enjoy the art classes, and I spend a lot of time by the pool, reading. It’s sort of like an extended vacation, and I know I owe all this to Garfield. I’m still glad he didn’t come with Mom, though. You know, she wants us there for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. You can’t get away with just one.”

“Did she mention me while she was with you?” Dex asked.

“If you mean did she tell me that you told her you’re gay, yeah. She did. She didn’t seem happy about it, but she still talked about you going to Colorado for the holidays. You have to, Dex! Don’t you want to see Sky? He’ll definitely be here for Christmas.’

“Of course I want to see him. I just hadn’t thought about it. Mom hasn’t spoken to me since I told her.”

“I’m sure you two will have things ironed out before Thanksgiving,” Anna said.

“Hopefully. But I don’t want to go visit without Seo-jun. He doesn’t have any family, and I’m not leaving him alone on the holidays.” Dex watched Seo-jun lift the last of the boxes into his trunk and shut the lid.

“Mom’s just being weird because of her society friends,” Anna said. “All it will take is for her to find out one of them is LGBTQ friendly, and she’ll change her mind. Don’t sweat it. Oh, and…I’m really sorry for how I acted in front of Seo-jun when you guys were here. I was pissed off, and I took it all out on you two. I’m embarrassed that’s his only impression of me.”

“You’ve already apologized to me for that.”

“Yeah, but not to him. I hope we can start over.”

“I apologized to him for you, and I’m sure he’ll be fine with that.”

They talked for a few minutes longer before disconnecting. Pocketing his phone, Dex walked back to where Seo-jun stood with Jude and Cara.

“Sorry, that was my sister,” Dex said. “She can only use the phone at certain times of the day.”

“That’s okay. We were just talking about having a Halloween party. What do you think?” Cara asked.

“Sounds like fun,” Dex said.

“I’ll run it by the Holy Trinity, but I’m sure they’ll be on board. I’ll organize it and get back to you guys, but be thinking about your costumes.”

Dex chuckled. “You know they hate it when you call them that. But it is kind of funny.”

“Well, it gets old saying ‘Jase, West, and Logan’ all the time. And it’s better than the Three Stooges.”

“That it is,” Dex agreed.

Cara and Jude went inside and Dex wrapped his arms around Seo-jun.

“I’m all packed up. You can’t get rid of me now,” he said.

“I am never going to want to get rid of you,” Seo-jun said seriously. “How is Anna doing?”

“She’s well. She apologized again for the way she acted when you saw her and said she hopes the two of you can start over. I know she’s being sincere, but I also know she can change on a dime. So, I guess what I’m saying is, don’t get your hopes up.”

“Don’t worry. I probably won’t even see her again any time soon,” Seo-jun said.

“Yeah, about that. I don’t know for sure, because Mom hasn’t gotten in touch with me and may write me off altogether after my announcement the other day, but it’s possible we’ll be spending the holidays in Colorado. And by we , I mean you and me.”

Seo-jun’s eyes got wide. “What?”

“Well, I mean, you’re my boyfriend, and I want you to go with me. At least for Christmas. We probably can get out of Thanksgiving and have it here like the last couple of years.”

“You want me to go to Colorado with you for Christmas?” Seo-jun asked.

“Please?” Dex tugged on Seo-jun’s sleeve. “Pretty please, will you? Like I said, Mom may not want me there this year, but if she does…will you go with me?”

Dex could see the moment he won the battle, all of Seo-jun’s uncertainty melting out of him.

“Okay.”

“Thank you, baby!” Dex threw himself into Seo-jun’s arms and kissed him. Now that he had Seo-jun’s promise to go with him, he actually looked forward to going and hoped it worked out.