Kai crosses his arms over his chest, searching my face. “Does Carter know you like men?”
I shake my head. “No. I’ve only ever told Hendrix and Nico. Now you. I’m gay. I’ve been gay since I can remember.”
Kai tilts his head. “Thanks for telling me. Though Carter will be pissed that you told me before him. You think he’ll judge you for being gay?”
I give him a look. “Really? He’s married to you and all y’all do is fuck. I’m sure he wouldn’t care that I liked men, too.”
Cracking a smile, Kai says, “We do more than fuck. We’re a team, me and Carter. It took some work to get there, but we are. I have his back like he has mine. We don’t have secrets.”
“That’s great for you two, but I don’t want my sexuality to be the topic of pillow talk between you. What happens in my life, unless it will fuck with the family, is my business.” My stomach clenches as I think about the blackmail I went through. But I figured it out, and it’s nothing. It’s over. I’ll fill Carter in when I tell him about me and Nico. No sooner.
Though something still doesn’t feel right about Jadon’s death and that blackmail being wrapped up. Something is missing. Something vital.
Kai’s eyes soften and he pushes his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I’ll keep it to myself. I just don’t want you fucking Nico over. I’m going to tell you what he told me about Carter. If you’re for real about him, be for real. Don’t fuck him over.”
“I don’t plan to. He makes me think. Makes me use this.” I tap the side of my head. I take a deep breath and tell him something I’ve never told anyone else. If I’m going to build this relationship with Kai, I have to start with trust. “Since Hendrix died, I’ve had no one in my corner. Carter is there, but because he has to be. No one I chose, no one that is therebecause they want to be, not because they’re paid. Nico is…he keeps my secrets. He’s earned my trust. He gets me. Why would I fuck someone like that over?”
He studies me, a smile tipping up his lips. “I never thought I’d see the day the two of us would have a conversation without a punch being thrown.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms. “Yeah, well, the night’s still young. Never know what could happen if you get on my nerves enough.”
Kai laughs in a hard burst. “You’ve been different. Nico behind that?” I nod. “I can tell. It looks good on you. Love can make you different.”
“Yeah, not love. Just…I like his company.”
Kai grunts, then his eyes flick just past my shoulder. “Did you tell Carter you would be here today?”
“No, why?”
“Then you’d better find a reason you are, quick.” He points and I turn around, seeing Gavin pull through the gate. Carter leans forward in the passenger seat, his eyes bouncing back and forth between me and Kai. He’s probably checking his husband to make sure I didn’t hit him.
“God, he’s so overprotective,” I say, though I don’t feel the usual sting of jealousy. Carter was overprotective of me when we were kids, too. Hell, even now, if someone fucked with me, Carter would be the first to have my back.
Well, now he’d probably have to beat Nico out of the way.
I grin as I think about the man in the building, the man that I want to pursue a future with.
At least I think I do. I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone and I’m sure I’ll fuck it up. But with Nico by my side, I don’t think he’ll let me.
Carter hurries out of the car, wrapping his arm around Kai possessively. “What’s up, little brother?”
“Hey, Carter,” I say with a smirk. “Don’t worry, I didn’t come here to start shit with your husband. I came to talk business.”
Carter narrows his eyes. “Business.”
“Yeah. You know my cabin? I want an addition. Kai has the best construction company in the state. It’s a small project, but I wanted an estimate.”
Kai looks relieved that I came up with a lie on the spot. “Declan just has to send me his floor plans and I can get started. I’ll contact the architects I work closely with, and we can draw something up.”
“Thanks.” I reach my hand out for him to shake and both Carter and Kai look nonplussed.
Before I can drop my hand in embarrassment, Kai takes it. He squeezes it once, giving me a signal that he’ll keep my secret.
Carter grins and drops his hand from Kai just to throw it around my shoulder. “Good to see you in a better mood, Deck. In fact, you’ve been super chill over the past few weeks. I guess sparring with Nico has helped. Got all that negative energy out.”
I snort. “Yeah, you say that because marriage calmed you down. Then again, the only person you were beating to a pulp shares your bed.”
He laughs and musses up my hair. He knows I hate that, so I push his hand away. “Whatever. I have to talk to Kai for a few, but if you’re free, we can do lunch?”
