He should’ve known. He should’ve seen thiscoming.
Of course Cass doesn’t want JJ here long term. He’s lived alone for centuries, after all. He probably wants his house back, wants his solitude back, wants hislifeback.
Wants that spare bedroom—the one JJ was starting to think of as his own—back.
JJ can’t begrudge him for it, really. After all, Cass has been irrationally kind to JJ already. And with this amount of money, JJ will be set for life—he can buy a house, pick up some hobbies, not worry about a job.
Frankly, it’s the nicest possible way Cass could kick him out.
So why does it suddenly feel like JJ is drowning? Why does his heart feel raw and his skin feel clammy? Why?—?
“JJ—Julian,look at me,”Cass says sharply. Startled, JJ meets his eyes. “JJ, I want you to live here with me and Desi for the rest of your life, okay? I willalwayswant you here. That bedroom belongs to you, and this house is yourhouse, and—” He cuts himself off, looking away. “You’re Desi’s other dad. You’re my co-parent. That’s important to me. You’re… important to me.”
JJ’s heart flutters. He desperately hopes Cass can’t hear it. “Then I don’t understand.”
“Well…” Cass looks like he’s choosing his words with care. “I’ll always want you here, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always want to be here. Especially if Desi eventually decides to move out, or get married, or even just go away for college. If—whenthat day comes, you might not want to live here anymore. Because Desi won’t be here.”
Butyou’llstill be here.JJ swallows the words down. He’s not quite sure he’s ready to say them out loud yet, and he’s definitelynot ready to hear Cass’s reaction to them. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” Cass sits up straighter, not dropping JJ’s gaze. “I hope that never happens. I hope you always want to stay here, and—and that you always feel welcome here. But I never want you to feel trapped, okay? I never want you to feel like youcan’tleave.” He taps the laptop screen lightly. “The choice is always yours, JJ. And this can help you make that choice.”
JJ’s throat feels tight. Taking a deep breath, he focuses his eyes back on the numbers in front of him, trying to calm his roaring emotions.
Because of course that’s what Cass is doing. Of course he’s trying to take care of JJ, just like he always does.
Of course he wants to acknowledge that power imbalance between them and give JJ as much independence as he can. JJ meets Cass’s eyes. “I’m never going to use this,” he says firmly.
A smile tugs on Cass’s lips. “Of course you are. Tacos and dragon plushies, remember? Maybe even some churros con chocolate for dessert.”
Slowly, the tension in JJ’s chest starts to ease. “And maybe a college fund for Desi?” he blurts out. “It’s never too early to start saving.”
And the demon who just handed JJ four million dollars without blinking clearly doesn’t need to worry about paying for their daughter’s education, but Cass just nods seriously. “That’s a great idea. We’ll both put in equal amounts, yeah? You can look up what kind of account to start and tell me how much to contribute.” He smiles. “And that means you’ll need to buy yourself a laptop, too. A nice one. So you can do research and watch workout videos and listen to music. Anything you want.”
“And—” Inspiration strikes. “And when’s your birthday? I can get you a birthday gift now, too.”
Surprise flashes across Cass’s face. “Demons don’t usually do birthdays,” he says, looking both a little embarrassed and a little pleased, “but I think we can make an exception. I don’t know the exact day I was summoned, but I’ve always used July 4 on legal documents.”
JJ grins. “Easy way to get fireworks on your birthday.”
Cass snorts. “All part of my master plan,” he says, and he raises his eyebrows. “So we’re good?”
Tentatively, JJ smiles back. “Yeah. Yeah, we’re good. Thank you, Cass.”
Cass’s eyes are soft. “Entirely my pleasure,” he says, and abruptly, he pushes himself to his feet, grabbing his and Desi’s piles of clothes. “I’ll, um, put these away. You’ll handle yours?”
Fighting down a twinge of disappointment, JJ nods. “Yeah, I’ve got them.”
“Cool,” Cass says, and with one last smile, he disappears down the hall.
Leaving JJ alone with a small pile of clothes, a large bank account, and the nagging sensation that his relationship with Cass just shifted on its axis.
32
And then,” JJ says, spreading his arms dramatically, “the dragon defeated the evil princess and saved the realm from destruction! All the people of the kingdom loved their new dragon guardian, and they brought her lots of chocolate and gold—not because they had to, but because they wanted to.” He tweaks Desi’s nose. “And they all lived happily ever after. The end.”
Cass can’t fight back a smile. He only showed up at the end of JJ’s nightly bedtime story with Desi, too late to hear him do all the ridiculous voices but just in time for the dramatic finish. Now, seeing him perched on the edge of Desi’s bed while she snuggles against his side does things to Cass’s heart that he isn’t quite sure how to articulate.
Desi giggles. “Yay! That one was great, JJ! Can we do another?Pleasecan we do another?”
