Shopping with a five year old was draining.

He wanted everything, especially the colored boxes, no matter what was inside. He threw a huge tantrum about not getting him a box of nails, and at the moment, Drew was talking sense into him that we wouldn't buy all the pineapples available because they were pretty.

In the beginning, it was funny, but it was getting to be too much even for me.

I plucked Gus off the floor where he had thrown himself, screaming at the top of his lungs, and placed him in the cart. “If you're good, we'll get you more cookies.” That seemed to do the trick because he quieted.

Between Drew and me, shopping was efficient. We filled the cart to the brim.

While we loaded the bags in the car, Drew surprised me with asking if I would mind if we dropped by the diner.

“I bet you don't feel like cooking at this hour. We could buy a sandwich. It will do.”

“Are you sure? You saw what people frequent that place. I don't want to scare Gus.”

Drew chuckled. “I'd love to see Brian's face when Gus tells him about the place we took him to eat.”

“You can't! He'd freak.”

“Oh, please. We have a few places like the diner in DC, too. His moms take him there from time to time.”

It was then when I wondered for the first time if Lindsay was gay too. It would make sense.

Before Drew could get in the car, I stopped him, dropping my voice. “Do you know anything?”

He shook his head solemnly. “Brian will let us know whatever the outcome.”

“I hope Gus's mom is safe.”

“You mean moms.” He smirked at my confused look. “Oh, Brian didn't tell you.”

“No, but I figured. Gus dropped a momma here and there, and I should have made the connection since he called Lindsay mommy.”

“You're smart too.” He touched his heart theatrically.

The backdoor of the Caddy opened and Gus poked his head out. “Are we going to eat? I'm telling Daddy you starved me!”

Drew rolled his eyes. “Do you mind staying with him again? Having a booster chair is the last thing I want in my car.”

I laughed, joining Gus. “We'll eat soon, buddy.”

We arrived at the diner on the busy evening shift.

Debbie spotted me from the door, waving like crazy. I led Gus and Drew to the back booth where only Emmett was sitting with his back at us.

“Sunshine! I've missed you! Who are your friends?” Debbie asked, eyeing Gus curiously.

I glanced at Drew, unsure what to answer. “Drew Boyd. Nice to meet you, ma'am.”

“None of that ma'am bullshit.” She waved him off. She pointed to her name tag. “Name's Debbie.”

I scratched the back of my head. “And this is Gus. A friend's son. We're babysitting,” I explained. “Hey.” I grinned at Emmett who finally turned to acknowledge us.

“Baby!” He enveloped me in a big hug. His eyes widened as he pulled back, staring dazed at Drew. “Well, hello, handsome.”

“Stop flirting with the security,” I hissed into his ear, shooting Drew an apologetic look. To my surprise, I found Drew staring at Emmett just as fascinated as he had been when he saw him in my picture.

I decided to leave them make goo-goo eyes at each other, while I went to the other side of the booth next to Gus. “Try not to feed him too much sugar,” I told Debbie, unimpressed by the amounts of sweets on her notepad.

She tapped my nose with her pen, keeping her smile in place. “I want to hear all about this.”

“Gus is my client's son. I can't divulge his name.”

“Daddy has a super secret identity.” Gus nodded proudly.

“So burger with fries and a sundae.” Debbie pinched Gus's cheek. “What about you?” She raised an eyebrow at me.

“Turkey sandwich. No mayo.”

She turned to Drew, breaking the spell between him and Emmett. I sat next to Gus, helping him out of his jacket.

“He's a total cutie,” Emmett said dreamily.

“Thank you,” Gus answered promptly. It made us burst out laughing.

“What do you want? Like father, like son,” I joked. “So you met Drew back then?”

“Yeah. He visited my shop. God, I wish I could see him wearing that top on the dance floor at Babylon.”

“Negative.” Drew shook his head.

“How did this happen? Last I saw you, you were tired from Christmas shopping.”

“Brian dropped by to surprise me with a visit to his private home. Things got in the way...and I'm babysitting his son with Drew.”

“Can I help?” Emmett begged.

“I won't be stuck alone with Gus while you two...No.”

Drew cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked Emmett, pointing to the spot next to him.

“Be my guest.”

God. I rolled my eyes. They were disgusting without even doing anything really.

Dinner was quiet, except Emmett asking Drew various inappropriate questions, he obviously couldn't answer. They weren't subtle at all about liking each other, because even Gus leaned into me, tugging me down until his mouth was at my ear.

“Do you think Drew likes, likes your friend?”

“It seems so,” I whispered back.

Gus threw them an inconspicuous look. “They're so different. Drew is so big and powerful. Your friend is so thin and that color of his shirt is yucky.”

I laughed, glancing at Emmett's neon orange shirt. “I guess you're right, but opposites attract. Like yin and yang, and the negative and positive of magnets.”

Gus frowned, probably lost at my complex answer. “Just like you and Daddy, right?”

“M-me and d-d-aa-ddy?”

“Yup.” He nodded. “Daddy is so tall and important and loves his clean clothes. Well, you are kinda short and your clothes have paint on them.”

I knew he didn't mean it in a bad way. He was a child, for fuck's sake, but he was so right. My place wasn't anywhere near Brian. I was so different from him.

“I guess,” I answered, deciding to placate him. No need to drag that painful conversation.

By the time Gus finished his dessert, he looked ready to fall asleep. I nudged Drew under the table, showing him the nodding off child next to me. He smiled, standing.

“I'm going to pay. Get him dressed.”

I had learned my lesson at the store not to dare attempt at arguing to pay.

While I maneuvered a sleepy Gus in his jacket, pulling the hat over his head, I saw Emmett getting dressed too.

“Don't argue. You'll need me.”

“You only want to tag along because of Drew. Besides, I'm not sure if it's okay.”

“Drew said it was.”

My phone rang, and it took skill to pull it from my pocket, while holding Gus in my arms.

Private caller.

“Hi!” I couldn't wait to hear Brian with good news.

“Justin, is Gus okay?” I could tell by his voice that something was wrong.

“Yeah. I hope you don't mind, but we ate at the diner.”

“It's okay. Listen, I have to go to Madrid.”

“What?” My mouth dried.

“I don't have any news about Lindsay or Melanie. You can ask Drew all the questions you have.”

“Do you think...?”

“I hope not. Hold on.” I could hear him talking outside the phone to someone. “I'm about to take off. Is Gus awake?”

“Barely. Let me see if he is awake enough to talk to you.” I bounced the little boy in my arms. “Hey, I have daddy on the phone.”

Gus burrowed his nose into my neck, mumbling unintelligibly.

“I guess he's too sleepy. I'll let him know you love him.”

“Thanks. I'll try calling from there, but I have no idea if we're allowed to use phones. I don't even know if we'll land in Spain.”

“But what the fuck happened?”

“Do they need a reason to mass kill people? Fine. I'm hanging up, Greg! I guess I'm taking orders too.” Brian chuckled a little.

“Let me know if you're okay. And if they're okay too,” I added.

“Later.”

Before I could return his standard farewell, I was met by the dial tone.

Drew returned. “Ready? You okay?” he asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Is Gus too heavy? Want me to get him?”

I shook my head, the lump in my throat making it hard to talk.

“I think he talked to your boss on the phone,” Emmett explained.

“Oh, I see. What did Brian say?”

I bit on my lip, gulping thickly. “He's going to Madrid,” I choked out.

Drew paled. “Are they...dead?”

I shrugged, shaking my head, stifling a sob.

“What are you talking about?” Emmett watched us, scared.

“Didn't you hear about the attacks in Madrid? His mommies are there,” I whispered, nodding to Gus. “He doesn't know.”

“That's horrible.” Emmett wiped a tear from his eyes.

In the car, Emmett sat upfront with Drew, while I cuddled Gus in the backseat. All we could do was wait and pray everyone was safe.

At the manor, I took Gus to his room, changing him in his pajamas, before heading downstairs. Emmett and Drew were unpacking our grocery shopping.

“Drew, maybe you could show me where I can sleep. Ben didn't have time.”

“You could sleep in Brian's room. I bet he won't mind.”

“I don't know...”

“Let me check what rooms have clean bedding. Sally's husband, Frank, texted me earlier that he came to change the bedsheets.”

While Drew went to inspect the rooms, I put away the food on autopilot.

“It's going to be okay,” Emmett said softly, hugging me.

“You don't know that. I'm afraid to even look at the news on the Internet.”

Drew returned. “I'm afraid there are only three rooms cleaned, aside from Gus's. Brian's, ours—the security, and a guest bedroom. Emmett should have the guest bedroom. I'd give him Ben's bed, but I won't sleep and I don't want to keep him up if I'm on the phone. That leaves you with Brian's room.”

“Fine,” I said. “Where is it? I'm so tired.”

“Two doors down from Gus's room, on the left side.”

“Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Try to sleep.” I bid them goodnight, hugging Emmett and thanking him for insisting to come with us, before I headed upstairs.

I burrowed under the blanket, wishing Brian was there with us and not miles away, probably scared, searching for his friend, and solving country and world problems.

My last thoughts, before falling asleep were: Why did I have to fall for the President?