Page 45 of How to Trust a Hellhound
Liam, Quinton, and I looked at each other. I wasn’t sure what to say. I took hold of Josh’s hand and turned to face him, causing him to look at me.
“Mei Ume, we aren’t a military operation.”
Josh chuckled. “Well, yeah, I mean, I kind of figured it wasn’t anything officially sanctioned. It still doesn’t change that you guys hunt down bad guys and have the blessing or permission or whatever of someone in a position of authority. Right?”
“Well, yes…” I answered. He wasn’t wrong, but… “There’s more to us than that. We aren’t like you, Quinton, Aiden, or Toby.”
Josh chuckled again. “Of course not. You guys are all in crazy good shape and probably know all sorts of things about weapons and self-defense and whatever super-humans who kill bad people know.”
“Josh,” Quinton cut in, “they’re, like, actual hellhounds.”
“Yes, I know,” Josh answered.
“No, you really don’t,” Quinton sighed.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door from Aiden. I had sensed them getting closer but didn’t know if this was their destination or if they were just walking by on their evening walk.
“Come in!” Quinton called, adding, “Good thing I texted Aiden for back-up.”
Aiden and Fluffy walked in at that moment, and Aiden called out a greeting.
Josh smiled at them both. “Hey guys!” He looked at Quinton. “We figured out rent already, and there’s no take-backs just because you have back-up now.”
“Oh good, the rent thing you texted me about is settled?” Aiden asked.
“Oh yeah, we’re on to the hellhound thing now.” Quinton gestured at Josh, rolling his eyes.
Aiden looked at Josh, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah, I know they’re some super secret organization that hunts down bad guys. It’s okay. I’m okay with it,” Josh assured Aiden.
“They’reactualhellhounds, Josh,” Quinton cut in. “Like, fire and flame and living forever and shit.”
Josh smiled, holding up his hands. “I don’t need any details on how they do things, and I sincerely hope they do all live forever. I don’t want anyone getting hurt, and I’m sure their line of work is dangerous.”
Quinton looked at Aiden, as if for help.
“They turn into fierydogs, Josh,” Aiden added.
Josh just laughed again, and Liam and I stared at each other, at a total loss.
Atlas obviously felt the need to weigh in on the conversation, though, because Fluffy was gone, and Atlas was standing in his place.
We all stared at him for a moment, waiting to see what he had to say. Only he didn’t say anything, just stared at Josh.
“Aiden,” Josh said, and I could hear him swallow. He wasn’t afraid, exactly, but he wasn’t calm either. “Aiden, why is your boyfriend naked?”
We all looked at Atlas. He was, indeed, naked. Oops.
I hoped Josh wasn’t shy about that sort of thing.
Chapter 17
Josh
Aiden’s boyfriend was naked in the living room, and no one thought that was weird. And Fluffy… Nope, not thinking about that. Nope.
Aiden’s boyfriend was naked in the living room.
