“He's nearly twenty-four now, Cormag. If he wants to date then you have to be okay with that. And if he wants to date a guy, you can't exactly argue about it, can you?” Lachlan asked, trying to be reasonable. He couldn't keep his kid brother locked up his whole life, just because he was scared. Yes, people hadn't always treated him well or tried to understand the limitations his two conditions put on him, but Monroe wasn't one to harbour ill feelings. He was a simple guy who took everything in his stride, even if he didn't understand it.
Cormag pouted at him in that sexy way that made him want to kiss him from head to toe. He had to sit on the instinct, however, since he wanted to face this Monroe issue head on first.
“All I can say is that you have to trust Monroe,” he admitted, trying hard to soothe his concerns without diminishing them in the process. He had every right to be worried, but this wasn't for him to decide. “If he needs you, he'll tell you. If he's not interested in Tyrone, he'll deal with it. This isn't something that you can help him with. You can advise him, offer support, and be there when he needs you. But you can't interfere here, Cormag,” he apologised, because he knew that would be hard to hear.
His husband smiled and gently caressed his cheek. “Neither can you, baby.” He looked so sorry for saying it, but Lachlan understood. They both understood and needed tough love, right now, because it was the only way to be honest with each other. There were no hard feelings over that. “Konnor knows you all care about him and this is for his own good. He'll see that eventually.”
“Fine.” He grumbled his reply, pretending to be annoyed, though he knew Cormag only said it because he believed it.
“When you've finished this chapter, can you speak to my mum for me?” he asked.
“Why do I have to speak to your mum?”
Cormag smiled and dipped in to steal a gentle kiss. “She loves you. She thinks you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I agree,” he said, sounding like he was trying to butter him up.
It wasn't going to work. His mother was a lovely woman, who actually did love Lachlan, but he wasn't hearing a reason in there. “And what am I talking to her about?”
“Monroe moving out,” he explained, looking guilty.
Lachlan pondered that idea; Monroe's birthday was just a month away, so it wasn't a bad idea. But if this was Cormag's way of keeping him away from his boss or from dating, then he had another think coming. “Fine. I'll talk to your mother and convince her it's a great idea,” he agreed, with a smile.
Cormag looked relieved, until Lachlan got up from his seat and headed for the door. He stopped before opening it and turned back with his condition.
“–and I'll talk to Monroe about looking at apartments. He's old enough and earning enough to get somewhere nice, close to his work,” he admitted, feeling just a little satisfied with the shocked stare that came over his husband. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
He laughed as he opened the door and headed out into the hallway. It would do Monroe some good to have a place of his own where he would get some privacy. And if he did decide to date, he wouldn't have anyone down the hall, ready to interrupt whatever he felt like getting up to.
