The dig about Kai living in his house struck a little too close to home. “Don’t pretend you did this for me. You did this for you.” Nolan’s voice rose to match Chris’.
“Of course, I did it for you! You’re so fucking lovesick, you can’t see clearly. What other reason could you possibly have for letting acon artistlive in your house?”
“Stop calling him that. He isn’t a con artist,” Nolan spat. “He’s a kid who made the best of the choices he had in front of him.”
“Stop infantilizing him. He’s not a kid. He’s twenty-four. Let’s not take your Daddy kink too far.” Chris snapped but threw himself into the chair across from Nolan, glowering at him with disgust. They were silent for a moment while they glared at each other across the desk. Nolan knew it was just a matter of time before Chris got started again.
“Look. Kai told me about his past himself. He didn’t have to. I’m choosing to believe that I can trust him.” He ignored Chris’s scoff of disgust. “He’s given me no reason to doubt him. He’s good, Chris.”
“It’s been a little more than two weeks, Nolan, and he’s spending more nights with you than you guys spend apart.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Nolan shoved his hand impatiently through his hair.
“You’re moving too fast.” Chris’ eyes had that stubborn glint in them, one that matched his. They rarely went up against eachother but when they did, the odds were even on who would come out on top.
“Do you really not trust my judgement?”
“How can I when these are the decisions that you make?” Chris demanded incredulously. Nolan glared. “Listen, I trust you when it comes to your business. I trust you about a million other things, but when it comes to your heart? I don’t know, man, the decisions you’ve made have been questionable. I get wanting someone of your own to care for, but this is a new low, even for you.”
“Don’t talk about him like that! No!” Nolan cut across, jumping to his feet, palms splayed on his desk, glowering across at his brother. “You don’t get to tell me what to do with my personal life. I’m with Kai. Make peace with it.”
Chris got to his feet. “No. And unless you can prove to me that Kai isn’t a threat to Katie, keep him away from her.”
Chris swept out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Nolan grabbed the pen lying on his desk and whipped it across the room, hoping to vent some of the anger and frustration from his body. The door opened again, and Myles leaned against the doorframe.
“So, that went well.”
“Don’t start,” Nolan growled. Myles came in, closing the door behind him and taking the seat that Chris had occupied.
“What did he find?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.” Myles stared at him, assessing.
“What?” Nolan barked, his temper ready to flare again.
“Maybe you should.”
“To what end, Myles? To be perpetually suspicious? To always have my guard up? That’s not the relationship I want. Besides, if I had to listen to him recite Kai’s past in that holier-than-thou voice of his, I might have hit him.” Nolan threw himself back into his chair.
Myles continued to watch him thoughtfully.
“Okay.”
“Okay? That’s it?”
“Yeah, okay. You’re right. Was I worried before? Yeah, but I’ve spent time with Kai. I know he cares about you. I don’t think that he would jeopardize that lightly.”
Nolan’s shoulders slumped, some of the tension leaving him.
“Thanks, man. Do me a favour. Can you make an appointment with Landon? The sooner, the better. Let him know that Kai’s agreed to talk to him.”
“What’s this about?” Myles looked at him curiously. “If it’s all right to ask.”
“Kai needs some information on his rights as the beneficiary of his grandmother’s estate, but she passed eight years ago. Truthfully, I’ll probably ask Kai if he wants you to run interference with Landon after tomorrow. Dealing with this is tough for him.”
“Is that what had him stressed on Saturday?”
“Yeah, I fucked up and sprung it on him. He’s doing better now or I wouldn’t try again.”
