He was a little annoyed at that, but it wasn’t why Lane was pounding the big ball of dough. To sidetrack the conversation for a moment, he gave Jupiter a warning look, stopping him fromsaying more. “Don’t go there unless you want me to mention that time I caught you and Rupert in the backyard to your brothers?”
Jupiter looked chastised, although his grin widened as he came and took the seat on the opposite side of the center island and put his empty glass down to pour his drink.
“You wouldn’t be mean to me,” he replied with assurance.
“Don’t bet on it,” Lane replied, chuckling at the obvious truth.
Jupiter offered the bottle when he’d filled his glass. “Wanna glass?”
“Why not, but can you add some of the cherry syrup to it?”
Jupiter set about mixing his drink, and Lane watched him closely. Of late, he’d been quieter around him. Something was troubling him, and as yet Jupiter wasn’t ready to discuss it. Lane would wait him out like he’d always done.
The timer on the oven brought his attention back to what he was doing, he wiped his hands on the cloth tucked into the apron string tied around his waist, going to the oven to retrieve the baked cookies. He slid out three trays and slid in three more.
Rearranging the cookies on the cooling trays on the counter, Jupiter, who’d sat back down, reached out and Lane batted his hand away. “They need to cool.”
“I like ‘em hot.”
“Yes, but then you’ll burn the roof of your mouth like always,” he pointed out. The sigh at the puppy dog expression was loud when he couldn’t resist Jupiter. Sliding one off the cooling racks, Lane nudged it closer to his son, who beamed at him, reaching to take a cookie immediately, then bit it without blowing on it.
Jupiter groaned, his eyelids fluttering. “So good,” he mumbled around the mouthful of sinful chocolate cookie.
It had taken over a year after Jupiter had moved in before he’d smiled at Lane the way he was now. It was a memory that was forever lodged in his heart. A precious moment that Lane neverthought he’d witness. Cookies, it turned out, had been the way into his sweet boy’s heart.
“Stop looking at me like that, Popi.” The solemn tone spoke volumes as the cookie was forgotten about.
“Like you’re gonna eat all my cookies and make yourself sick?” he deflected, seeing it was pointless but trying when his eyes pricked with tears. Jupiter did not want his past discussed, especially if anyone might overhear.
Jupiter jabbed a finger at him and shook his head. “You know what like,” he stated with a grimace, then shoved the remainder of the cookie into his mouth until his cheeks bulged.
Kari chose the perfect moment to appear, and Lane breathed a little easier at seeing no traces of the anger he’d witnessed earlier.
Jupiter glanced at Kari, a frown marring his smooth brow as he swallowed. “What’s with you? The entire house could hear you shouting for Dad. You have a personality swap with Kodi?”
“Fuck off,” Kari grumbled and took the seat next to Jupiter and reached for a cookie.
Jupiter blocked the racks and gave Kari a sweet smile. “They’re mine.”
“What? I don’t think so.” He glanced at Lane, his expression clearly saying he needed to set Jupiter right, who snorted at their antics.
It was so familiar and homely, any mad he had left that hadn’t been removed by pounding dough, fizzled out. “There’s plenty to go around.”
“Popi is mad baking, so what did you do?” The gleeful expression got an eye roll from Kari, who once more went to snatch a cookie and was successful.
“Why do you assume it’s my fault?” Kari nibbled on the cookie, hunching, his gaze on Lane, not his brother.
“’Cause you were the one who came home late, shouting. You never do that. What’s up?”
Kari glanced sideways at Jupiter, not missing the genuine concern, and Lane recognized the moment Kari gave in to his need to reassure his brother. Jupiter had always had this effect on Kari, who was the most sensitive towards Jupiter’s feelings.
Lane was grateful for it right until Kari spoke.
“Bowie’s boyfriend laid hands on him.”
Jupiter wore a look of shock as Lane thumped the dough he’d returned to. His thoughts most certainly hadn’t gone in that direction. “Good grief! How is that possible? Bowie is the sweetest soul. Is the man insane!”
Kari indicated his agreement, his wolf staring at Lane. “Yes, he is, didn’t stop the fu… ass from hurting Bowie,” he corrected. His jaw muscles bunched as he threw the cookie down on the counter.
