Free Boys in Blue 02 - Reasonable Doubt by Mia Watts

tell the families soon. Like tonight and move to a larger, single bed.
“Maybe I shouldn’t unpack,” he mused to himself.
“Hi, Geo.”
He looked up as Maddie, Mack’s little sister, flopped on his bed. She propped back on her elbows and eyed him with a shy smile so like her brother’s.
“Hey squirt.”
Her brow wrinkled momentarily. “I heard you were staying all weekend,” she led.
“Yep.”
“Cool. Does this mean I finally get you to the lake for a moonlight swim?”
She snatched up his boxers. When Geo reached for them, she giggled and held them away. It was calculated because in order to get them back, he’d have to lean over her prone body. He knew she still had a crush on him. He wasn’t taking the bait.
“If there’s a group going, sure.”
She tucked her bottom lip under her front teeth. “I was thinking just you and me. Totally, you know, like innocent.”
He snorted. “The last thing you are, is innocent.”
“I like cops. Sue me.”
“You’re underage.”
“My parents trust you,” she countered.
“They know I won’t inappropriately hit on their only daughter.”
She pouted. “I wouldn’t tell if you did.” She absently tugged on the elastic waistband of the boxers she held.
“No,” he said gently, but firmly.
“You like me.”
“You’re Mack’s family. Of course, I like you.”
“I think you like me more than that,” she suggested.
“I think you need to go find something else to do.”
Maddie threw his underwear at his chest. He caught it easily. “You should give me a chance.”
“Maddie,” he said on a sigh. “I’m seeing someone. Someone not a minor.” “You didn’t bring her, so it can’t be that serious,” she reasoned.
He nearly groaned as she continued to stretch out a discussion that had no happy ending with her. “No, you’re right. I didn’t bring her.” He put subtle emphasis on her , but Maddie didn’t seem to notice.
“Is it serious?” she asked after a minute.
“Yeah. We’re getting married.”
“Oh.”
Suddenly, he tugged a dark lock of her hair. “But if I were a paedophilic pervert in need of a seventeen-year old for company, I’d call you first.”
She gave him a sad smile, and stood to leave. “Geo?”
“Yeah?”
“If you and your girlfriend don’t get married by the time I turn eighteen, will you at least think about it?”
“Sure,” he relented. No way in hell was that an option. But Maddie didn’t need to know that.
“Awesome.” Maddie threw her arms around him and pressed a kiss to his lips. She giggled and dashed out the door.
By the end of this week, the Sullivans will either have me arrested for paedophilia or killed for screwing their son.
    Sullivans and Wilsons milled around on the grounds, the aroma of smoked meat perfuming the outdoors on plumes of slow moving smoke from the grill. Agent Andy Powell was talking to David Rook and Nate Giamanti. Another guy, Rook’s new partner from the seventh precinct, Liam Knight, walked over to join the threesome. Looked like the plan to introduce Andy and Liam was already underway, naturally.
    Mack stepped out onto the back patio. Geo wanted to tell their families. There was no question that would happen. Mack’s shoulders relaxed, and he found himself smiling. Yeah, this was the right thing to do, and the right time. There was no one else Mack wanted to spend his life with, so they might as well get used to the idea.
    Geo did it for him. God, did he. He loved the way Geo smelled. The way he smiled. The look in his eyes when he teased Mack. The sleepy, mussed hair and rough jaw when Geo rolled over first thing in the morning and kissed him.
    He hoped Geo would hurry up and come down. Something prompted him to look up at the bedroom window. Geo looked down at him, concern deepening the corners of his beautiful mouth. Mack motioned for him to come and noted the quick nod before Geo turned away.
This was it. It was now or never.
    He reached for his mother’s mimosa glass and lightly