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“Course I am, now go get your paddler.”

Kodi rolled his eyes, despite the desire to laugh. He didn’t do that until he was well down the corridor.

When he stepped in his office, Lennon was still there, pale and worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. “It’s all good, Booker isn’t going to say anything to anyone.”

Kodi’s eyes narrowed when Lennon didn’t immediately look pleased. Instead, he nodded slowly, turning away. “Is everything alright? Honest, you don’t need to worry,” Kodi assured, feeling like he was missing something.

“It’s all good. Are we having the meeting here or in Booker’s office?”

He sounded like himself, yet Kodi couldn’t help but push. “Lennon, did I do something wrong?”

Lennon turned, and the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “No, of course not.”

The iPad was clutched to his chest, a defensive mechanism he hadn’t seen in some time.

What the hell have I done?

Whatever it is, fix it, his wolf growled.

And how do you suggest I do that when Lennon isn’t talking to me.

Figure it out. I thought humans were supposed to be the intelligent species.

Kodi had no words for that, none. When Lennon’s fingers started to tap on the iPad, Kodi replied, “We’re going to Booker’s office.”

He felt the strain between them through the meeting. Booker didn’t refer to what he’d seen, but even that didn’t seem to put Lennon at ease. He didn’t lift his eyes off his iPad. Not once, Kodi had been watching. If not for Lennon asking questions, Kodi wasn’t sure he would have had anything to contribute to the meeting with how distracted he was. If Booker noticed, he didn’t let on.

When the meeting was over, Kodi couldn’t say if they’d come to any decisions. They returned to his office in silence. Once behind the door, Kodi took hold of Lennon’s arm, halting him.

“Come on, tell me what’s wrong? And don’t say nothing. You told me I’m not stupid.” He added the last part hoping it would have Lennon see he was serious.

The sigh Lennon let rip was full of distress. “You sounded so pleased.”

His voice was so quiet, Kodi had to strain to hear. “Pleased? What, because he wasn’t gonna say anything to my brothers?” he asked in confusion. Why would that upset Lennon?

“Yes. Don’t you want anyone knowing we’re dating?”

Oh shit. “I… I… fuck!”

“It’s fine.”

The stiffness was totally new, and Kodi was busy having a freak out. It gave Lennon time to spin and stalk out of the office.

Kodi gave chase, calling Lennon’s name.

In the corridor, Carol glanced up, looking at Lennon’s retreating form. He didn’t pause and waved him off.

“Is there a problem?”

Carol’s question got him pausing. “Of course there is,” he ground out, then he was running after Lennon.

He had reached the elevator and was stepping inside when Kodi pressed a hand to the door to stop it closing. “Talk to me, please.” There was a begging quality to his voice, but he didn’t notice.

“Not right now, okay? It’s after five and I’m meeting my brother in fifteen minutes. I have to go.”

There was a nagging urge to keep the door open and demand he talk, but the droop to Lennon’s shoulders and the down turned mouth were so unfamiliar, Kodi stepped back and released the door, nodding jerkily. “Tomorrow morning then, before the flight to Milan. I’ll come and pick you up.”

The second it took for Lennon to nod his agreement left a lead ball weight of anxiety in his stomach. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”