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His phone dinged.
MOM
Haha. No, the bats haven’t taken me hostage. They’re still gone. Just been busy with a few personal matters. Nothing to worry about. But do you remember where we put the information about the freezer?
He swiped across his phone. His mom answered before the first ring finished.
“What happened to the freezer?” He dragged a hand through his hair, unable to tear his eyes from that spot of sidewalk.
“It started leaking. It’s fine, I just—”
“I can come over and take a look at it.”
“No need. W—” She hesitated for a second. “It’s all cleaned up. I just remember you reorganizing some of the files, and I couldn’t remember where the appliance warranty paperwork ended up.”
He frowned. “Shoot. It’s in a couple different places because, I think, when we recarpeted your office we never moved some of those boxes back.”
“I’ll look around for it tomorrow. Nothing urgent.”
“I’ll be over in a few minutes. I have to work tomorrow, so it’s better for me to come now if you need it soon. It’s been forever since I’ve been over there.”
“Oh… yes, that makes sense. Are you good with letting yourself in?”
“Of course. Did your Bible study get moved to Tuesdays again?”
“No…” Another weird hesitation. Why was she acting so cagey? “Just meeting a friend for dinner.” She paused. “So… have you heard from your sister lately?”
He knew which sister she meant from the way she asked the question.
He felt for his car keys in his pocket. “She’s not answering my texts. I know she was staying with some friends for a while last year after—”
“How is the apartment?” Her tone shifted from hesitant into that slight mix of disapproval and concern.
“I’m making some updates actually. Should be in great shape soon.” No lies there, but also nothing to set off his mother’s financial alarm bells.
“Glad to hear it.” A muffled voice came through the line. “I have to get going for the reservation but thank you so much for offering to look for the paperwork.” Her voice had brightened so much he almost dropped the phone.
“Anytime.”
“Oh, I found an old envelope of your photos when I was looking through boxes. I’ll leave them out on the counter.”
Before Derek could say anything else, the call ended. He squeezed his keys in his fist until the edges imprinted into his palm. The call had been weird, right? There had been no other word for it. He tried to remember why he was staring so intently at the corner of the building before recollecting that he’d been about to follow Gallagher back up to his apartment and explain about the other weird conversation he’d just had.
He winced. Had Hudson been implying that Derek and Dylan were together?
Together together?
Shaking his head, he strode down toward where his car was parked.
Chapter 12
Not in a million years.
The words echoed through Dylan’s brain.
Yikes.
He knew that he wasn’t Derek’s type, but he didn’t need it thrown in his face. Hudson was practically a male model. His scrubs tested the limits of seam strength, particularly in and around the groin area. He’d waited until Dylan had left to make the comment but had one of those voices that seemed to carry. So Dylan heard it loud and clear. And fully understood the implication.