Chapter 7 #2
“We are having a get-to-know-you period wherein I will buy Iago a cup of coffee at a table over there.” Xander pointed. “And you nosy bastards can hang out together over here.”
“Oh, ouch. Grumpy Xander is back in force.” Mason waggled his eyebrows, his eyes glinting with good humor.
“It’s not directed at me.” Iago stood then grabbed Xander’s hand to pull him across the room. “I’ll take a coffee and maybe a pastry. You want to share?”
“I absolutely do.” His cheeks felt incredibly hot because this was more public than he had ever been with somebody he was forming something with. He didn’t know if he could call it a relationship, but he could certainly call it an attachment.
“Me too.” Iago kissed his cheek, and Abby came running over.
“Me too! Me too, Unca Xander.” She held her arms up to him, lips pursed for a kiss.
He hefted her up and swung her around. “We’ll make a place for you, my sweet girl. You get to share over here.”
She squealed, and he laughed before handing her off to Iago to kiss as well.
“‘Coffee’ for Abby,” Xander said. “Flat white for Iago. What kind of yummy?”
“Apple turnover? Cherry? They’ll both make for delicious kisses,” Iago murmured.
“Mmmm. Apple-ies.” Abby patted Iago’s cheeks.
“Perfect.” Xander winked at his… did he say lover? Was that retro? Was Iago a boyfriend yet?
It didn’t matter. He liked the guy, one way or the other. He loved Iago’s smile. He liked his sense of humor. He really liked his hot little butt. And right now he was going to go and get them coffee and turnovers to prove how much he liked the man.
Iago stroked his thigh on the way by before sitting Abby on his lap and amusing her, singing some silly little song that had hand motions and cow noises or something…
“I need cherry and apple,” he told Xavi’s assistant, pointing at the case. “And a chocolate croissant.”
“I’m on it.”
“I’m making your drinks,” Xavi called out.
“Thanks, man.”
Iago beamed at him, waving his fingers, teasing him terribly.
Xander blushed hotter. This was… cool. New, but cool.
“Do I need to give you the talk?” Colton murmured. He was suddenly standing right next to him.
“What talk? I know what sex is, man.” He stared over, wide-eyed.
“I mean, the if you hurt him I break your legs talk. I like you a lot, Xander, but Iago is special.”
Xander squinted at him. “Have we done this already?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh. I feel like maybe we have.” He winked at Colton. “Remember, you have years of Sebastian tears against you.”
“Ugh.” Colton rolled his eyes. “You got me there. You like him a lot, though, right?”
“Yeah. Of course. I mean, I’m not going to propose tomorrow, or anything, but he makes me smile.”
“Thank God for that.” Colton winked at him. “He’s a good guy, and he’s gone to bat for me a thousand times.”
“He is a good guy. I know I’m fighting against the whole grumpy bullshit that I pulled at the very beginning, but in my defense I was incredibly stressed about my house.
” Xander glanced over at Iago, who was now lifting Abby up in his arms and then lowering her back down almost to the floor before flinging her back up.
“I promise I’ll do my best not to hurt him. ”
He wasn’t entirely sure he could do that because he was kind of an asshole, but he was really going to try.
Colton clapped him on the arm. “Hey, man, that’s all I can ask, and I appreciate it. Let me get your coffee.”
“What? No you don’t have to do that.”
Colton gave him the stink eye, which Colton was incredibly good at because he was kind of a big growly alpha, way more big growly alpha than Xander was. He was more of a smooth… okay, so he was grumpy, but still.
“I bought everyone else here today a coffee. I will buy you one and get Abby’s. If Iago gets another free one in the process, that’s totally fine.”
Xavi handed the coffees over. “I know what he likes. It’s what we do, right? We’re family.”
“Exactly.” Colton winked, then carried Abby’s “coffee” to her. Steamed milk with a hint of chocolate, cooled enough for her little mouth.
“My coffee! Thank you, Unca Xavi.” She ran over to give kisses.
There had never been a more-loved baby girl.
“You are very welcome, angel. You know I got you.”
“You do! You understands me.”
“I do. I love you with my whole soul.” Xavi scooped her up, snuggled her, and suddenly, weirdly, Xander wanted to be able to do that with his own child.
He chewed his lip, looking at Iago. Was that why he’d been avoiding Iago so hard? Because he wanted things he wasn’t sure he was ready for? Was it that… not easy, but certainly simple?
Babies were expensive. They took time. Iago traveled a lot for his job — how would that work? Did he want to be connected to Iago forever?
“You look constipated,” Xavi murmured. “You need to lighten up.”
“What? I’m thinking thinky thoughts. It’s hard for me,” he teased.
“It’s no fun. Go sit with our godchild and your boyfriend. Relax.” Xavi winked at him.
“Okay.” Sure. He could do that. He was always overthinking things, so he needed to let it go for now and enjoy the day. He loved catering birthday parties.