“Kai, you deserve to be happy. To be yourself. No one gets to make you, or anyone, feel like that’s wrong. Least of all some outdated asshole claiming his last shred of power.”
His words catch me off guard, and I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I’m working on it. Being myself. It’s a process.” I look toward the bedroom door. “Actually, I should go. Talk later?”
“You’re with them now, aren’t you?” Chase asks, his tone shifting to something warming, almost teasing. Somethingbrotherly.“Julian and Sophie, I mean.”
I blink. “Julian’s here, yes.”
“Good.” There’s a smile to his voice, and it’s contagious. “He seems like a good guy. And Sophie, from what you’ve told me, sounds incredible. We’re looking forward to the bookstore opening next week.”
“She is incredible,” I tell him. “So is he.”
“Then don’t let anyone ruin that for you. There’s something special between the three of you. And if Rod or anyone else triesto get in the way, just say the word. You know any one of us will handle it.”
“I think you’ve done enough for one day,” I tease.
Chase laughs, but when he speaks again, his voice wavers. “I mean it, though. I’m proud of you. And I love you.”
I choke up. “I love you too.”
He clears his throat. “Okay, I’ll let you get back to Julian. And, Kai?”
“Yeah?”
“Be happy. That’s all any of us want.”
The call ends before I can respond, and for a moment, I just sit there, the weight of his words pressing into my chest. When I finally step out of the room, Julian’s waiting on the couch, Willy curled up in his lap.
“Everything okay?” he asks, looking up.
I nod, a small smile breaking through. “Yeah. Everything’s good.”
“Sophie’s on her way over,” Julian says, stretching.
“You hungry?” I ask, walking into the kitchen.
Julian follows me, and just as I open the fridge door, his arms wrap around my torso. “Yes, but not for food.”
I chuckle and turn around, finding Julian watching me with hooded eyes. “You’re insatiable.”
“With you?” he says, his breath caressing my face. “You’re right. I’ve never been able to get enough of you, Kai.”
His words cause my heart to stutter, and despite wanting to kiss him, I know we should probably eat something before Sophie gets here. We both worked out—and then weworked out.
“I told Sophie I don’t want anyone else but you. No more scenes. No more guests. Just us.”
My fingers twitch against him. “Are you sure? That’s a big part of her identity. And yours.”
“It was,” Julian agrees. “But we all evolve, right? We want you. She’s said it. I’ve said it. Believe us.”
Believe us.
That’s the hard part, isn’t it?
But I’m trying.Alwaystrying.
“Sophie’s been mine for a long time,” Julian admits. “But maybe she can be yours too. If you want her.”
“I do,” I tell him earnestly. “I want both of you.”
