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that was a violation of trust, which made him feel guilty enough not to do it.
    Of course Matt ran Kent’s background via his connections, and assured Evan he had no priors.
    “He just turned twenty-two. Maybe he just hasn’t decided what kind of trouble to get into,” Evan muttered, fiddling with his tie for the fifth time. The mirror reflected a cranky man with more worry lines than he’d had the previous month and gray fuzz creeping into his tight buzz cut. The dress shirt and tie were mandatory according to Miranda’s last text, so of course Matt walked behind him wearing a tight black sweater and jeans.
    “Seriously?”
    “What?” Matt paused in what looked suspiciously like a model pose.
    “You look like you have a hot date.”
    “You found me out—I have plans after this with the delivery boy from Hannover’s.” The aforementioned youth had sent both Elizabeth and Katie swooning when he dropped off their Thanksgiving dinner earlier, all muscles and dimples and charm.
    Evan went back to his reflection and flipped the tie, manipulating the silver-and-blue striped material until it was a proper Winsor knot. “Classy.”
    “You look like you’re going to audit these people’s books. Was that on purpose?” Matt came up behind him, pressing their bodies together as he wrapped his arms around Evan’s middle.
    “It seemed more subtle than the shoulder holster.” Evan sighed as he leaned back in Matt’s comforting embrace. “Tell me everything is going to be fine, please.”
    “Everything is going to be fine. They’re from Connecticut. They’ll be super polite, we’ll make insubstantial small talk and fall into a turkey coma by seven. In the morning it’s french toast, bacon, and see ya later. Many people have survived meeting the boyfriend’s parents, I swear.”
    Evan smiled. “Let’s hope the boyfriend survives meeting the family.”
    “Yeah, if we’re going to be honest, I’m legitimately frightened for this boy. He has no idea what he’s in for.” Matt kissed Evan’s cheek, tightening his grip on his body. “I love you. And I’ve got your back today, okay?”
    A flare of warmth and love made Evan’s chest ache. He didn’t know how he was lucky enough to have this man as a part of his life. “The nicest part of that is it’s mostly not even meant in a dirty way.”
    Matt rubbed against Evan’s ass in a way that was entirely dirty. “I said your back—your ass is totally mine.”
    The knocking on the door set them both laughing as Elizabeth’s excited voice came through the wood.
    “They’re here!”

Chapter 7

     
    M ATT TRIED not to descend the stairs in a dead-man-walking fashion. Evan hurried down ahead of him, Elizabeth at his heels, everyone in a desperate rush to a) get this over with and b) satisfy their curiosity. Even Danny was interested—he had his headphones off, and he was leaning toward the door.
    “Hurry up! We need to see the poor sap stuck with Miranda!” Katie whispered as she grabbed his arm and pulled him down the last few steps.
    “Be nice.”
    “Ugh, nice is boring. I already feel sorry for Ken.”
    “Kent.”
    “Whatever. By next week he’ll be some other guy, and Miranda will be calling him Ken too.”
    Matt wished he had Katie’s optimism.
    Evan gave him one last look of mortal terror, then opened the front door. On the step crowded four people—the ever-imperious Miranda, a slender blond boy with wire-rim glasses, and two smiling people weighed down with bags.
    “Daddy,” Miranda said primly, stepping over the threshold.
    Katie fake shivered next to him, and Matt gave her a glare even as he stifled a smirk.
    “Happy Thanksgiving,” Evan said, kissing her on the cheek. The smile he pasted on was one part hospitality and three parts “I fucking have a gun,” and when he turned it on Kent, it was Matt’s turn to shiver.
    “Kent.” He extended his hand, and the boy shook it, his smile wavering.
    “Sir.”
    “Call me Mr.