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He didn’t like the inevitability of the feeling that something had changed because of his actions. He trudged sullenly back to his office, hands shoved deep in his trouser pockets, his gaze on the carpet.

“Did you sort whatever was troubling Lennon?”

Kodi glanced up and shook his head. Carol was gathering her coat, readying to leave. “No. I’ve fucked up.”

She laid a hand on his shirt sleeve, offering him a reassuring smile. “He’ll forgive you. But you might want to get him a gift to show him you’re sorry.” She patted his arm. “It always works for me when my husband steps out of line.”

It wasn’t till he was in the office that it registered what she meant. Did she know they were together?

Does it matter?

That was the ‘phone a friend’ question, and he knew exactly who to ask. He just had to work up the courage to say aloud what he’d been stubbornly denying—he was in a relationship with Lennon.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lennon

It was impossible to keep his emotions in check around Jonny. He could read Lennon better than anyone. The second he got into his car, Jonny took one look at his face and there was the frown, telling Lennon he’d been spot on to be concerned about revealing his mixed feelings.

“Don’t ask, okay? I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jonny twisted in the driver’s seat, his lips pursing. He shook his head. “That doesn’t work for me, squirt. I can see you’re struggling not to cry. If that fucker has hurt you, I swear I’ll go in there and rip him a new asshole.”

At the shock of hearing Jonny use the heated tone and a threat of violence, an inappropriate giggle bubbled out of Lennon, his woes momentarily forgotten. “Rip him a new asshole? Where is the caring daddy I know and love?”

“It’s not a laughing matter, Lennon. I haven’t seen you this unhappy in months, possibly years. What did Kodi do?” he persisted, brows knotting together into one line.

Duly chastised, Lennon pulled the seatbelt and clipped it in place. “He didn’t do anything, and that’s what's wrong,” he confessed, the hurt right there, ready to stab at his heart.

“I’m confused, why is that what’s wrong?” Jonny scratched at his ear. “Doing nothing, surely that’s a good thing?”

“I’ll explain, but can we get going? I wanna avoid Kodi.”

Back was the frown, but the request got Jonny starting the engine and heading out of the lot. They were going to Jonny’s place for food and drinks. Jonny had suggested he pick Lennon up so he could have a drink. It had seemed like a good idea, but now the idea of drinking held no appeal.

They were on main street when Jonny broke the silence that had lapsed between them. “What happened?”

“I forgot to lock the office door and Kodi’s brother walked in on me spanking him. He panicked and gave chase. When he came back, he was so pleased that Booker wasn’t going to tell anyone about us.” It summed up the issue up neatly, only there was nothing neat about Lennon’s feelings. They were a jumble of cooked spaghetti with no way of unpicking them.

Jonny was silent as he navigated the streets leading to the quiet neighborhood he’d bought a house in several years earlier. Lennon loved the area with its cookie cutter houses, picket fences, porches with swings and sweet, little gardens that were easy to take care of. The place suited his brother.

Lennon stared at the passing houses, keeping his thoughts away from Kodi for now.

When Jonny pulled into his drive and switched off the engine, Lennon knew his time was up.

“You have feelings for him.” It was a statement and didn’t need clarifying. “Does he return them?”

Trust his brother to get right at the crux of the matter. Lennon turned his miserable gaze to Jonny. The shrug held all the despondency settling inside him. “I… don’t know.”

Jonny released his seatbelt and got out of the car, coming around the hood. He opened Lennon’s door and undid his belt, then tugged him out of the car. His strong arms wrapped around him in a giant bear hug.

His brother gave the best hugs, and Lennon nestled into his chest, sniffing and working to hold back the tears stinging his eyes. It didn’t work when Jonny stroked a hand up his back. “Let it out, squirt. Then we’ll feed you and see if we can come up with a way forward.”

Ever the practical brother.

His eyes were swollen and his nose bunged up by the time he stepped into Jonny’s house. The front of Jonny’s shirt was soaked from Lennon’s crying jag.

Ste was hovering in the doorway to the kitchen, his hands wringing together. He might have been the same height as Jonny, but that was where the similarities ended. Where Jonny was broad, Ste was willow thin. He had pale skin to go with his shock of red hair and freckles. Jonny was the same as Lennon, blessed with golden skin, and he carried an air of confidence that Ste lacked.