CHAPTER THREE

Queer & Pleasant Danger

Biff sniffed cautiously at the beautiful man across from him. No scent of adrenaline or rage. The sumage wasn’t angry. He was simply stating facts. Perhaps getting a little frustrated with Biff’s terseness. I told Alec he should send someone else. Biff cursed himself. He’d never been great with words.

His nose wrinkled.

There was that chemical coolant smell – the scent of quintessence used and corrupted, rather than shifted. It wasn’t as bad as it could be. It had a buttery, burnt-sugar overtone, like caramel and something boozy. Spiced rum? It was almost, actually, nice. Never met a sumage that smelled good before. It reminded Biff of something. Something recent. What was it? Oh yeah, the orange flowers on my head.

“You smell of parking-lot flowers.”

“Not that again. I’d like to state for the record that the Scarlet Pimpernel was a Brit who spied on the French, not the other way around.”

Biff didn’t say anything to that. He never humored nonsense with speech.

This Mr Barker was easy on the eyes to go with the yummy smell. When did I decide it was yummy? Of course, appearance was less important to a wolf than scent, but the man in Biff liked Barker’s looks plenty too. Sumages were supposed to be thin, nerdy types. This one was nearly as tall as Biff. At least, Biff thought he might be, standing up. Muscled too, but lean with it, like a runner. Loose-limbed and rangy, almost awkward, but also not. Biff could see that gawky-elbows thing was a front – there was a predator there, underneath. Barker had thick black hair, which he kept a little long out of laziness (that was Biff’s guess), not fashion. His skin was a sweet coffee color, either from a mixed-race background or too much sun. Biff’s money was on race. This being California, maybe some Latino or Pacific Islander? Barker’s eyes had a bit of a slant to them and his nose was wide. He’d a pointed chin and cheekbones for days. Biff would bet good money he couldn’t grow a beard if he tried. Thank you, universe. Why cover over any of that hotness?

Barker was also, unfortunately, disposed to be difficult. Biff had a feeling it wasn’t in this man’s nature to make anything easy on anyone, even himself. Also, he clearly had a thing against werewolves. Unsurprising in a sumage.

Biff settled back in his chair, ready for battle. Hello, Trouble, nice to meet you. “I’m not sure where to start, pretty man.”

That seemed to take some of the bluster out of the sumage. Did he blush? Hard to tell with such tan skin. Biff was as surprised by how much he wanted to make him blush. Well, this is inconvenient.

Biff knew he was gay, had known for a while now, just hadn’t done anything about it. First there was Pam, that sad awkward broken marriage dragging on and on. Then there was his homophobic father and finally his own discomfort with himself. It took Alec to change it all. Alec to finally come out. Not as gay – everyone knew from the get-go that Alec was gay. Biff had had to fight all too many battles to keep his little brother safe because of that. No, Alec had refused to come out as Alpha. And then he had. And then he found Marvin. And then he moved to California.

And Biff, as his Beta, had followed. No choice. He wanted to follow. He always wanted to follow Alec. He’d followed and looked after and fought for his brother from the moment he was born and would do so until the day he died. That was a need that would never stop – more than a need, it was Biff’s whole purpose.

Others followed Alec too. But not so fervently. Still, the presence of his new baby pack had taken Alec from natural-born Alpha in theory to actual Alpha. And had taken Biff from closet to possibilities. In California, he could be gay, too. And Beta. And all the things he’d kept bottled up while he was waiting for his Alpha to choose change.

Hot, troublesome, sumage, Mr Barker was full of possibilities, and was back to asking him something again. No, telling him something.

“Look, wolf, just talk to me. I need to know about your pack. I gotta judge its stability, whether you’ll fit in here. This is the San Francisco Bay Area. We got weirdos coming out our ears. All types, human and shifter. We don’t take well to a pack of big dudes coming in and bullying the locals. You can’t bring your East Coast biker ideas on what constitutes normal and impose them on the West Coast.”

“You’re kicking us out because we’re from the wrong coastline?”

Barker puffed out an exasperated breath and rolled his eyes. “No. I’m saying we thrive on different. You want to stay, prove you’re different. Prove you won’t be a problem.”

Biff didn’t want to out his brother, not to the government. That wasn’t right. Plus, it wasn’t any of their business.

“You writing it down?”

The sumage assessed him out of… Jesus, did Trouble have blue eyes? Dark skin, black hair, cheekbones, and now blue eyes. The world isn’t fair.

“No. Look, there’s no spot on this form for notes, just the recommendation box here. You’re either approved or you aren’t. Just convince me and you’ll be fine. I won’t tell them why.”

“I understand you don’t already have a pack in this area.”

“You understand right, but that’s not a good reason to take one on. ‘Specially not a newly minted pack. As a rule, you guys are bad news, and that’s in an area accustomed to your kind.”

“What exactly is my kind?”

“Biker. Badass. Wolf. You know.”

“Fair enough.” Biff had to admit those parts were true. Well, Alec wasn’t really a biker, but the rest of them were. Biff was rather fond of his ride, a sweet ol’ Howley with curves like a ‘50s starlet. He’d named her Marilyn.

“Look, should we just cut this short so you guys can move on?” Barker was losing his cool.

Biff bit his lip. He hadn’t meant to push things that far with his silence. He just didn’t know what to say.

Barker, on the other hand, had no such reticence. “Werewolves don’t like it here. Too much aberration. Nothing’s predictable. No one’s gonna put up with a bunch of homophobic moon-changing asshats storming through the Castro beating up any twink wearing too much glitter.”

That was the second time he’d said something along those lines. Sensitive. Was he gay?

Well, Barker did kinda look like he wanted to eat Biff with a spoon.

Biff uncrossed his arms and flexed a little. Barker’s eyes widened. Yep, they’re blue. They also dilated slightly. Biff caught a change in the man’s scent, shifting toward the salty delicious side of caramel. Arousal. Okay, if not gay, then definitely bi. And clearly likes his men with muscles. Biff could run with that. Although damn him for lusting after a sumage. How the hell could that even happen?

But he also needed to fix these accusations. Yeah, he knew werewolves didn’t have the best reputation. There was a tendency for packs to hang out in trailer parks and crash shit. Or join the military. Rednecks. Well, red mouths, really. Damn it, I’m gonna have to actually explain some shit. In detail.

Biff took a deep breath. “Fine. Shut up and lemme speak.”

* * *

Max had to encourage his own anger to stop himself from drooling. This is ludicrous. But the werewolf was so yummy. Now that Max was looking for it, Bryan had that kind of solid, stable thing that so many Betas emitted like a drug. It was wildly attractive. All of Max’s smart-mouth words, and dumb-ass actions, would never shake Bryan’s calm.

He was still way too big for a Beta. The way he flexed, the way he sat, arms crossed. Militant posture screamed enforcer. But he didn’t vibrate with that suppressed frenetic energy that most enforcers had.

No, Bryan had to be telling the truth, he was Beta, and the whole situation upset Max’s equilibrium. Alpha size, enforcer attitude, Beta calm. If Bryan was an example of this new pack, perhaps it was weird enough to fit into a San Francisco mold.

Max sat back, crossed his own arms, and waited. He wasn’t comfortable being silent, but the man clearly needed some time.

Finally, Bryan said, “It won’t be a problem with my pack.” Offering no further information at all.

“Give me more.”

“You say that to all the boys?”

“Just the ones with big dicks.” Rather than looking shocked or offended or flying into a rage, the man across from him dipped his head, lashes lowered.

Okaaaay. Max tried to slow his breathing and keep his own dick from getting hard. Well, harder. Down, boy. So he’s gay. And shy about it. Holy shit, that’s just about the sexiest thing to happen to me in years. But was this dude interested, or just newly out and easily traumatized by flirting?

I must be hard up, thinking about a werewolf in such a way. At work. “Come on, big boy, explain.”

“The size of my cock? Let’s see, it’s about eight inches—”

Max actually sputtered. Serves me right, taste of my own medicine. He held up a hand, trying desperately not to think about Bryan’s cock and taste in the same sentence. And now I have. “About the size of your pack.”

The werewolf looked pleased with himself, having thrown Max off balance. Well, he should. I totally deserved it.

“Can we keep this off the record? It’s not my business to talk about. I didn’t clear it with my Alpha.”

Max nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“You stalling?”

“No, but if I’m to trust you, it’d help a bit.”

“Maximillian Barker. Don’t you dare laugh.”

The werewolf didn’t look inclined to. If anything, he looked kinda smug, as if he’d won a prize.

“Max’ll do.”

“All right, Max.” Bryan rolled it round in his gravelly voice as if he liked the flavor.

And here I go with thinking about his mouth again.

Bryan explained at last. “Alec, my Alpha, he’s gay.”

Max blinked. Really? Never heard of such a thing.

Bryan seemed to stumble, trying to find the right words.

Max let him sweat it.

“Not that he’s shy about it. Just that it’s pack business and no one else’s. Not even pack business, really, ‘cept that Alec’s also not your standard Alpha. Not that that’s anything to do with being gay. Leastways, I don’t think so. He’s always been a bit different.” He swallowed hard. “I’m not saying this right.”

Max frowned, genuinely trying to understand. This was getting weirder by the second.

The big man took a deep breath and tried again. “He’s my little brother, see? Smart and sweet, no violence in him.” He shook himself. “All I’m saying is that we’re abnormal too. The whole pack is. We’d fit here.”

Max narrowed his eyes. “Okay, so you got a gay Alpha. And his Beta is his brother, not his lover.”

Biff winced.

“So, he’s mated?” It was a fair question. Mated Alphas were more stable. Alphas mated to a Beta were most stable of all. That evidently wasn’t an option here. Unless they had two Betas? Naw. No pack got that lucky.

Bryan nodded. “Marvin. He’s not on the list.”

“Not a werewolf?”

“Merman. That’s why we’re asking for Sausalito. It’s good placement for a pack that needs to run but also be near the ocean.”

“Wow.” Max’s mind boggled.

“I know. But Alec always did have this thing for sushi.”

“Mermen aren’t fish.”

“Now you sound like Marvin.”

Max made a note.

“You said you weren’t writing this down.” Bryan instantly leaped into nervous defense.

“I’m not. No sexual orientation or anything like that. It’s illegal to deny permits based on that kind of thing. But I am noting that your pack has a track record of interspecies acceptance. That’s a good thing. Most packs are xenophobic as well as homophobic. Neither attitude will ride with the locals here.” Max forced himself to look back at the big man. Bryan had relaxed a bit. “So, your brother, your Alpha, is mated to a merman. How’d the rest of your pack take it?”

“Alec might not look or act like most Alphas but he is Alpha. He’s easy to follow. He leads, in his absent-minded way.”

“Absent-minded?” Max felt like he was treading water in a very choppy sea. This was, without a doubt, the oddest interview he’d ever conducted. That was leaving aside the sexual tension in the room. Between a civic mage and a shapeshifter, like that could ever happen. Then again, if a gay Alpha werewolf could mate a merman, anything was flipping possible.

Bryan, poor dude, continued trying to explain, fumbling and awkward. “He’s a marine biologist. Got a wicked sharp mind. Always writing academic papers and stuff.”

“What?” Could this get any weirder?

“I’m messing this up.” The werewolf shook his head, frustrated with himself.

Max kind of wanted to leap across the desk and cuddle the massive baby. He really didn’t like talking. That’s okay, sweetheart, once we’re done here, I’ll do all the talking. Wait a second, “sweetheart”? What the hell, Maximillian?

“You’ve a gay, interspecies-mated, academic Alpha. Got it. What about you?” Please, big guy, you know that’s what I’m really interested in. Not that it mattered for the application. There was no way Max was kicking this pack out now. They were the most interesting thing to happen to him since he started working at DURPS.

Bryan blushed. “Well, that kinda explains me. I mean the muscles.”

“Sweetheart, you never have to explain muscles to me.”

Bryan blushed harder and fiddled self-consciously with the corner of a piece of paper.

Oh my god, that is so cute.

“Look, I know I surprised you with the Beta thing, but Alec doesn’t need a normal Beta. Most Betas are talkers, organizers, but Alec is already good at that, so instead I watch his back. Fight for him. You know. He’s kinda a peace-loving guy. Not that he can’t whoop some ass if needed, just he’d rather I do it.”

“Fine.” Max felt he was losing the thread again. “So, your pack doesn’t have enforcers?”

“Sure we do. Judd and Kev. I wrote them down. Judgment Day and Kevin Mangnall. See there?” He pointed to the application form.

“Judgment Day!”

“His parents probably thought it hilarious. But he’s so big no one laughs. Not to his face, anyway.”

“Bigger than you?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy fuck.”

“Yeah.”

“They gay too?” Max pressed his luck.

“I’m thinking that’s their business.”

“You gay?” Max couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m thinking that’s my business.”

Okay, that’s good, not an outright denial.

“Would you be open to making it my business?” There goes my fucking mouth again. Oooo, that got one of those precious blushes. Ohmygod, so hot.

“You asking me out, smart-ass sumage?”

“Apparently, with your pack, weirder things have happened.”

Bryan burst out laughing. My, but that was a beautiful sound. Deep and rough and rolling, it prickled over Max’s skin and went straight for his cock.

The werewolf said, when he’d stopped laughing, “Let’s just get through this interview, okay?”

“Okay.” Well, that put me in my place. It’s probably the sumage thing. What shifter would want to spend any more time around a civic mage than he could possibly help? Especially a failure like a sumage. “So, that’s four of you. What about the other three wolves? Got yourselves an Omega?”

Bryan shook his head, looking sad. “No. And I know that doesn’t help our case. But we’re stable. I swear we are. And we’d take one in, in a heartbeat.”

So say most packs. Every pack needed a strong Alpha, and every Alpha needed a capable Beta, but Omegas brought the whole pack together. They were unity. And they were rare.

Max chuckled.

“What?” Bryan looked wary.

“Trying to imagine what kind of strange flipping Omega your lot would end up with.”

Bryan cracked a smile. It spread over his face, turning it stunning – white teeth in that facial scruff, the flash of canines from that serious mouth. Why is that so hot?

“So, the other three in your pack? Any other Alphas?” Not that a pack couldn’t contain multiple Alphas, but with the head Alpha being unique, and no Omega around, it would be difficult.

Bryan shook his head. “Just regular old wolves. Well, not regular like your prejudices tell you. They all chose to leave exactly the kind of pack you fear and move to California. So, you know…”

Max nodded, understanding it all at last. These really were Bay Area wolves. Bay Area in the same way all the other lost souls who found SF were. They were misfits. The kitsune who dated nahual, the kelpie who wanted to run a DURPS, and the gay sumage Placers with more untapped power than brains. “You’re freaks.”

Biff bristled.

“I mean that affectionately. We’re all freaks here.”

Bryan’s long lashes lowered, shy again. “Even you?”

Max wrinkled his nose. “Failed Surge.” He felt the humiliation of it like a sign over his head: here sits a man who could have been the best.

Bryan blinked at it. “You’re a Placer?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve never met one before.” He said it like he’d been thinking that a lot recently.

“Yeah. So, you see? Freak.”

Bryan didn’t seem to know what to say to that. What was there to say? Sorry, dude, you got the raw end of the mage’s deal. All the power and no ability to access it at all. Even if you could, you’d be a fucking Surge, and what shifter wants that around?

Bryan, being a man of silence, said nothing.

Max kinda loved him for it. “Shall we get back to your application?”

Bryan nodded.

“Anything else you think I should know? This one here’s called Lovejoy Barnes – that a female werewolf?”

“Not so lucky. Just another hick name. Look man, we mean to stay under the coolant. We won’t be a bother.”

Max laughed at that and then couldn’t help but push his luck. Since there was no other reason to mention coolant but that his recent use of quintessence was bothering the werewolf’s heightened sense of smell. “Poor baby, am I making your nose twitch?”

But the man wouldn’t be baited. Of course he wouldn’t, he’s a Beta.

Instead, he seemed inclined to get some of his own back. “That’s not the smell that’s bothering me.”

“No?”

“No.”

Max didn’t want to, but his big mouth. “So, what is?”

“Your dick, leaking.”

“Holy shit, you can smell that?”

“No.” Bryan sat back, smug.

Max realized he’d been neatly trapped into admitting he was hard as nails. Well, it was true. It’d been a long time since he’d been this attracted to anyone. Bryan was wearing a high-necked T-shirt, but Max laid good odds on him being a pretty hairy dude underneath. Max was in favor of chest hair, having none of his own. Truth be told, nearly everything about this man appealed, except the werewolf part. He even liked his monosyllabic answers. Made a man wonder what kind of monosyllabic noise he made when he was screwing…or getting screwed. Great, now I really am leaking.

Max shifted in his seat.

“So, sumage, we done with this interview?”

“Yep.” Now Max was monosyllabic. Cock, stay down, stop twitching. What is going on? Max normally had pretty good control. Epic control. Over his body if not his fast fucking mouth. This was not normal. Nothing about this situation was normal.

“You gonna let us stay?”

“I am.”

“You gonna ask me again?”

“What?”

The werewolf stood. All bulging and looming and sexy as sin, leaned over, and scribbled something down on a corner of the application in front of Max. Max didn’t dare look – he was fixated on the hotness suddenly so close. First time in his life he was glad his desk was small.

“If I’m gay.”

“You gay?”

“Yep.”

“Christ, you’re a really strange werewolf pack.”

“Yep.”

Then the big man sauntered out of his office. Absolutely nothing should look that good from the back side.

Max pressed the heel of his palm down on his highly unruly dick, then shifted the application around to see what the wolf had written there. A telephone number. Thank fuck. Should have that tattooed on my hand.

Max transferred the number into his cell phone so fast, he hurt his thumbs.

* * *

Biff could not believe he’d actually done that. Admitted I was gay. Out loud. To a hot stranger. Before I told my brother. Before I told my pack. And I gave my number to the hot stranger. Who’s also a goddamn sumage. Oh, but so so hot. And I accused him of being hard for me. Like I’m actually good at flirting or something insane like that.

Biff smiled, slipping astride his Howley. Max hadn’t denied being aroused. Maximillian Barker. Biff rolled the name about on his tongue. Freak like me. He grinned into his helmet, buckling it under his chin. Werewolves didn’t really need helmets (they could survive most motorcycle accidents) but California had a helmet law and it was easier, when you basically looked human, not to constantly get pulled over. Besides, Biff liked the mystery the helmet provided.

He took off, happy. That had gone way better than he had thought it would. Plus, he might have gotten a date out of it. My first date with a guy. What am I going to do if he actually calls? Man, I hope he calls. Well, if a civic mage can get over his werewolf prejudice, I can get over my mage prejudice.

Max hadn’t smelled that bad. Not bad at all.

I think I’m going to like California.

* * *

Alec was talking to Jack, the family ghost, on the phone when Biff walked in. Biff would have crept through to the kitchen to start tea, except that Alec waved at him. It wasn’t a private call and his Alpha wished him to stay. Likely to give a report on how registration went. Damn it, what exactly am I going to tell him? Alec was tolerant, but Biff didn’t want to launch into his own gayness by waxing poetical about some hot motor-mouthed sumage pushing papers at DURPS. Biff snorted at himself. Like I wax poetical about anything.

Werewolf senses meant he could hear Jack clearly from the other end of the line. Although, to be fair, Jack was strident enough for plain old human ears.

“You’re taking care of Mana’s place? She can be such a queen about it, and I should know.” Jack’s voice was remarkably firm for a non-corporeal entity.

Alec frowned. “We’re doing our best. Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“No, dear, but I gave her your number, so she’ll text. Such a sweet little thing. She came by to see me yesterday, special. They’re doing the show here in Boston for a few nights. Anyway, how are you settling? Did you register yet?” Jack was trapped in their childhood home, much to his distress. He always lamented that if he had to haunt somewhere, couldn’t it be somewhere stylish?

“I sent Biff to DURPS.”

“Oh, but darling baby boy! He’s the worst possible representative.”

Biff raised an eyebrow at Alec.

Alec shrugged at him, saying to Jack with suspicious casualness, “Yeah, why’s that?”

“Well, dear, he looks exactly how people expect a werewolf to look. All muscled and fierce. I mean it’s lovely, of course, but he’ll give the wrong impression to the locals. The locals don’t want Biff, they want you, darling.”

Biff smiled to himself. One local wants Biff. Least, I hope he does. How long will it take him to call me, I wonder? Biff fingered his phone hopefully. Don’t be a lovesick fool, man’s still at work, for goodness’ sake – you only left him thirty minutes ago.

“He’s sitting right here, you ridiculous undead queen,” said Alec, affectionately.

“Is he, darling?” Jack’s volume increased. “Hello, Biff, my gorgeous Stud Muffin, enjoying fraternizing with the natives?”

“Yep,” said Biff.

“What was that?” Jack actually sounded genuinely shocked (as opposed to his normal simulated shock).

Alec interpreted. “He said yes. And he’s smiling.”

“What?!”

“I know. Just a bit of a smile at the corners of the mouth, but his eyes are twinkling. It’s amazing. More than I’ve seen him since Pam left. I think I better find out what happened at DURPS.”

“Wait! Alec, dah—”

Alec hung up on Jack. His cell instantly started ringing again. Alec switched it to vibrate.

“How’s he do that?” wondered Biff.

“Voice dial,” said Alec. “Jack’s pretty darn resourceful, for a ghost.”

Alec leaned forward, all that charismatic focus pointed at Biff. Made Biff want lean back and show his neck. Do whatever he asked.

“So,” said his little brother, “whatcha smiling about?”

“It went well. They’re letting us stay.”

“That all?”

“All I’m gonna say.”

Alec flopped back. “Oh my god, what is it with you and lack of communication? You do know you’re my Beta, right? You’re supposed to be all about the communication.”

Biff only quirked an eyebrow at him.

Marvin came wandering in, looking fresh from a swim and impossibly beautiful, as always. Biff hadn’t really been thinking of himself as gay long enough to formulate a type, but he was pretty sure Marvin wasn’t it. Maximillian Barker, however, was. Marvin was slim, toned, and stunning, with blond hair, cheekbones for days, and webbed fingers. And a tail in salt water, of course.

Alec utterly adored him. Lit up when the man walked into the room. Like they hadn’t just spent a week together nonstop, driving across country.

“Hey there, my lover.” Alec tilted his head back and Marvin went obligingly over to kiss him. He crouched down slightly to wrap his arms around Alec from the back of the couch.

“Hey, boyfriend. How’s tricks?”

“Biff was just telling me he got us registered to stay. We’re all official now.” He refocused on his Beta. “You told them we wanted GGNRA for our run?”

Biff shrugged. He hadn’t actually said anything about the parkland but it was on the application.

“No one else has claimed it?”

“No other wolf packs in the area at all.”

“And if there are other shifters?”

“Avoid ‘em.” Biff thought about the black dog down at registration. Do barghest go on runs?

“Okay, then.” Alec seemed happy to accept Biff’s assurances.

Marvin was looking at Biff oddly.

Biff checked the state of his clothes. For a man who spent half his time naked in the ocean, Marvin had strong ideas on apparel and what each member of the pack should wear. Biff was in a clean white T-shirt, relatively clean jeans, and motorcycle boots. He’d even rubbed the scuffs out of them. Marvin couldn’t complain, could he? Wouldn’t want to disappoint his Alpha’s mate.

“Darling,” said Marvin, still staring at Biff but obviously speaking to Alec. “Does our boy here look odd to you?”

Alec played along. “In what way, sweetie?”

“I don’t know.” The merman sniffed, although he had no discernible sense of smell. Worse than humans, merfolk. “Eau de…what could that be?” He sniffed again. “Why, is that…happiness?”

“I think Biff here had a very nice time down at DURPS.”

Marvin bounced around the couch and sat next to Alec, snuggling in against him. Alec slid one long arm about him with a casual familiarity that made Biff feel equal parts delighted and lonely.

Biff went to make the tea before he had to respond to whatever pointed questions Marvin intended to throw at him next.

He brought back three cups without having to be asked. Peppermint for Alec, because he was a putz, seaweed for Marvin, because he was a fish, and pu’erh for himself. Because I’m a real man.

“So, what happened?” pressed Marvin in a singsong way.

“Did ya meet someone?” Alec sipped his tea.

Biff struggled to keep himself from blushing. Obviously, it didn’t work.

Marvin hooted. “Oh goodie, tell Auntie Marvin all about her? Pretty?”

Biff sipped his tea.

“Oh my god, why is he so annoying?” Marvin turned big blue eyes on his mate.

Alec looked philosophical. “Life gives you the Beta you need, not the Beta you want.”

Biff’s phone buzzed with a text. He pulled it out to look at it. Unknown number, 415 area code.

Unknown Sender: I’m off work at 6. Text more then.

Biff: Max?

Biff typed back. He was thrilled – Max must be sneaking a text in at work.

Max: You hand out your number to all the boys?

Biff: Just the hot mouthy ones.

Max: I got competition then.

Biff: You telling me there are more of you? Don’t think my ears could take it. Or my nose.

Max: You say the sweetest things. Way chattier this way, aren’t you, Muscles?

Biff: Yep.

Max: Oh no, here we go again.

“Oh my god! Look at his cute little face.” Biff registered Marvin’s cooing.

“He’s smiling again. I think there’s something wrong with him.” That was his brother, being all younger-brotherly.

“Biff, darling, whatcha doing? Who ya talking to?” Marvin moved to sit next to him and look at his phone.

Biff shielded the screen.

Biff: Gotta go.

He quickly turned the phone off. Even Colin didn’t know his passcode.