Kari tiredly scrolled through the conversation on the screen and debated with himself why he had mistakenly looked within the group chat for a distraction from the unfortunate situation he found himself in. He really couldn’t avoid Kodi any longer. He’d hoped that with Taylin and Hollis being all lovely-dovey with each other, he’d get some reprieve. It seemed his time was up. Talking to Dad about his feelings was one thing, but discussing them with Kodi was something else entirely.
Kari had gone home several times over the last few weeks, after making sure Bowie got home safely, hoping to cover the fact he’d essentially moved in with Bowie. More like acting like Bowie’s damn daddy and, for the life of him, Kari couldn’t seem to stop it, no matter how many times he told himself to back the heck off.
It didn’t matter how often he set ground rules for himself, he couldn’t stick to them. For example, just an hour before he’d hugged Bowie when he’d lost a file. Not just any old hug, butone where Bowie had burrowed into him, snuffling adorably, pressing his nose against Kari’s pulse to calm himself down.
Gods, I’m pathetic.
The need to behave a certain way towards Bowie was a battle he fought every day now they were living together. Bowie was the sweetest human on the planet, and being together made it impossible to pretend Kari wasn’t in over his head. He was drowning in all the feels. Did he want to have someone rescue him? Did he hell.
The first movie night, Bowie had fallen asleep on Kari, so he’d carried him to bed. He’d barely stirred as Kari had tucked him in. The next morning, Bowie didn’t seem to remember, so Kari had not mentioned it. And it had set a theme for them. They did stuff together. Laughed, played, sang, had lots of fun—it was as dang near perfect as any relationship Kari had ever had with a boy.
And that was the issue. Bowie wasn’t his boy. The need was increasing to talk about what he wanted, and it was stressing him out just how obvious he was being. Jupiter’s comment in the group chat had struck its target well. His snarky comment would bring way too much interest from Kodi. The fucker knew this.
It had been a year since his last relationship, and the split had been amicable when they’d both agreed it wasn’t going anywhere. Kari didn’t do causal, had never been after a quick fuck. It wasn’t who he was. His twin—that was what he enjoyed. They were polar opposites, with Kari being the one more sensitive to people's needs. Kodi was the twin who was quick to anger. Kari was the one who talked sense into his brother when he came up with wild ideas. If he couldn’t—most of the time—then he’d tag along to keep his brother safe. Those qualities he’d developed had crossed over into his personal relationships with no conscious decision.
Kari’s first Daddy-Boy relationship happened in college. Ian was a ‘boy’ in every sense of the word. He’d had three daddies before he’d introduced himself to Kari at a mixer event. Pretty, petite, and with eyes that could get Kari willing to try anything to please him, he had led Kari down a path that opened a world that changed his perception of what he wanted in a relationship. The relationship had lasted a year, and Kari discovered he loved the dynamic of the relationship between a Daddy-Boy because it appealed to the side of him that thrived on people needing him. It had taken some deep consideration to realize that was what it was. Initially, he’d been uncomfortable with that until he understood his needs.
Kari knew who he was and had no desire to change, so he cultivated relationships with like-minded men. He was happy with himself and had no wish to pretend. And although he’d taken a step back from finding someone, compounded by the increased workload they all had to carry, Kari acknowledged that in the last few weeks, he could not see past Bowie. When he thought of the future, he saw what he had with Bowie now, and wanted that.
Except over the years, he had made it a rule never to consider forming a relationship with someone he worked with. It would be far too complicated if it ended badly. Never once in the last eleven years had he considered breaking it.Until now.
He raked a hand through his dirty blond hair and calculated for the hundredth time how to go about explaining to Bowie what he wanted—needed.
“Why are you sittin’ starin’ at your phone like that?” Kodi demanded from his position against the doorjamb, eyes narrowed and full of temper. “You plan on ever talking to me about whatever the fuck has you hiding from me?”
Kari sighed heavily, seeing that beneath the anger was hurt at what Kodi would perceive as Kari shutting him out. “Sit.”
Kodi stomped to the chair, the door left open.
Bowie would shortly come searching for him. Kari didn’t want this conversation to be overheard, so he got up and shut the door.
Kodi looked at the closed door and then at Kari as he returned to his seat. “I want your promise that what I’m going to share, you’ll keep to yourself.”
Kodi’s brows rose. “How can I do that when I don’t know what it is that has you sneaking around,being all secretive?”
That was his twin, a bolshy bastard. “I need the promise,” Kari insisted, holding his brother's gaze so that he saw he wasn’t joking around.
“Fine. I swear.”
Kari nodded, releasing a relieved breath, because Kodi would never break his promise. “Bowie was attacked by an ex-boyfriend, who, it turns out, lives in the same building as him. He doesn’t feel safe, and I’m currently staying at his place to help him out.”
Kodi shot out of the chair, looking like he was ready to fight someone. “Have you kicked the fucker’s balls into his throat?” he questioned threateningly.
This was a side that seldom was seen by others because Kodi only revealed it to Kari and their parents. Kodi came across as a selfish man, but he wasn’t. He would always be on the side of the underdog, no matter the circumstances.
“No,”—he held up his hands when Kodi swung around to glare at him—“Dad and I are working a different angle.”
“Dad knows?”
“Yes. I needed him to get a background check on Rex Lacy, and I couldn’t risk doing it and potentially raising suspicion.”
What Dad had found left Kari’s stomach pitching horribly at the thought of what Bowie hadn’t told him about the day Rex attacked him. Little bits came out when he was relaxed at home,but he still held back. Kari believed it had a lot to do with Bowie’s insecurities, but he just couldn’t say for sure.
“What did they find?”
“The man has a history of dating men who could improve his career opportunities. The omega, Dash, who Rex has been in a long-term relationship with—”
“I thought you just said he was dating Bowie?”
