Chapter Three #2
Diesel took Kuba’s overnight bag and gift bag stuffed with gifts while Kuba responded. “That’s definitely my fault. Dad worked a lot when I was a kid, so he wasn’t home much when I was awake. He’s still around. Dad is amazing when I see him.”
Diesel set Kuba’s things aside. “I don’t know why I thought I told you his dad was who hired me.” Diesel pondered that for a moment. “Then again, I probably didn’t since that’s probably some client privacy I just threw out the window.”
Kuba laughed as he sat on the couch. “That’s fine. It’s your mom and best friend. You’re supposed to tell her everything. That probably wouldn’t hold up in court, though.”
God, his smile. Diesel couldn’t look away. The scariest wave of longing washed over him. For not the first time, Diesel felt like he had met someone really great, and that person was a client. Wasn’t that a kick in the teeth?
His mom stood, rescuing Diesel from his wayward thoughts.
“I was about to make eggnog.” She focused on Kuba.
“Do you like spiced rum, or should I refrain from spiking your drink?” She followed up the question with a chuckle that warmed Diesel’s chest. His mom genuinely liked Kuba.
She had always been that mom who hosted all his friends, becoming everyone’s mom. Their house was the house to be.
“Bring on the alcohol.”
Diesel chuckled under his breath. He waited until they were alone to speak. “You definitely have to stay the night now. You’ve got my mom serving alcohol to a minor.” He kept the laughter heavy in his voice so Kuba would know it was a joke.
Unfortunately, Kuba immediately sobered. “Oh. I didn’t think of that. Should I decline? I’ve been on my own for so long, I forget my age sometimes.”
Diesel joined Kuba on the couch. He slapped Kuba’s knee and squeezed.
“Nah. She’d serve you anyway. I was just fucking with you.
” He immediately moved his hand away so he didn’t make Kuba uncomfortable.
Sometimes he had to remind himself that not everyone was gay.
He had stuck to his circle of allies and community for so long that he forgot.
Thankfully, Nova returned with drinks.
Kuba shot to his feet to help her. “Here. Let me get this.” He took two of the glasses and handed one to Diesel before reclaiming his seat.
Something about the move shot Diesel’s curiosity through the roof.
He knew Kuba had lost his mom, and apparently, his dad was too busy for him.
But something just scratched at the walls of his brain.
Kuba seemed to take extra care with Nova.
Did he miss his mom that much, or was this not about Diesel’s mom being a mom?
Nova was drop-dead gorgeous. A lot of younger guys loved women his mom’s age these days.
Maybe he had been looking at this from the wrong angle. He had to see what he could find.
Diesel set his drink aside and stood. “I’ll be right back. Does anyone need anything else while I’m up?”
Nova raised her hand, catching his attention before he could make a break for it. “Do you mind grabbing my meds from my bathroom?”
“Are you okay?”
Damn. There Kuba went again. He didn’t wait to see if his mom answered Kuba’s inquiry. Diesel already knew his mom dealt with debilitating migraines. He rushed to the bathroom. Diesel paused once inside. He whipped out his phone and didn’t waste time Googling the topic. Kuba Svoboda's dating life.
He waited while the search engine seemed to take forever. Diesel grabbed the prescription pills before going back to staring at his phone.
No names have been linked to MMA champion Kuba Svoboda. His dating life has been a hot topic over the years, simply due to the mystery surrounding him. One source close to Svoboda has been quoted as saying, “If Kuba cares about anything beyond his career. I’ve never seen it. That dude’s an island.”
Diesel stopped reading there. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and raced back to the living room.
Diesel half expected he would find Kuba rubbing his mom’s temples.
Instead, the pair had their heads together, looking at Nova’s phone.
The moment he reappeared, Nova blushed and put her phone away.
Diesel handed her the bottle and forced a laugh. Even to him, the chuckle sounded uncomfortable. “Why do you look so guilty? What did I just disturb?” Diesel returned to his seat on the couch.
Nova made a dismissive gesture. “I was just telling Kuba about my last hiking trip and showing him some pictures.” She took a pill and polished off her eggnog.
“Now, I’ll stop boring you two with old lady pictures and stop cramping your style.
I think I’ll go to bed before this headache decides to take me down for three days.
The last thing I want is to ruin Christmas. ”
Kuba nodded. He looked concerned. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? Is there anything I can do?”
With a bright smile, Nova waved off his offer.
“Don’t worry over me. I’ve been dealing with this for years.
I’ve gotten pretty good at catching things early.
You two have fun. I left more eggnog in the fridge.
Feel free to whatever.” Nova kissed Diesel’s cheek.
“Love you. I’ll see you two in the morning. ”
“I love you too.” Diesel had to admit he was a little worried. While his mom had dealt with migraines for as long as he could remember, she seemed a little too ready to throw in the towel for the night. “Text me if you need me. I’ll come running.”
Nova patted his shoulder and left them alone.
Diesel watched her leave before focusing on Kuba. He found Kuba’s gaze locked on him. Diesel’s breath caught in the back of his throat. The way Kuba stared at him had Diesel forgetting where they were or who he dealt with. He swore Kuba saw inside his soul.
“My mom suffered migraines too. Then she went to bed early one night due to one and never woke up. Sorry if I seem to dote on Nova. I wish I had been more concerned that night. Of course, that situation was nothing like your mom’s.
My mom had Fibromuscular Dysplasia, so it’s not the same.
But I was used to taking care of her, and I guess some habits are hard to break. ”
It broke Diesel’s heart a little that Kuba felt the need to explain himself for being a good person. Diesel felt like shit for his wayward thoughts. Kuba had done nothing to deserve Diesel’s suspicions. He had to fix things just in case.
“You don’t have to explain. You definitely don’t need to apologize for caring about someone. Now, why did you bring gifts with you? We weren’t expecting anything.”
Kuba’s mouth lifted in one corner. “You’re good peeps. I know you never would’ve invited me if there was no present for me under that tree.” He lifted one eyebrow as he made the claim, as if daring Diesel to deny it.
“Of course you have presents. Who invites someone to Christmas and doesn’t buy gifts for them?”
Kuba snorted out a laugh. “See. Who accepts an invitation and doesn’t bring gifts?”
“Lots of people,” Diesel answered with a bit too much enthusiasm.
Kuba cackled. “You’re funny.”
Diesel smiled like a fool. “Actually, no one has ever accused me of that before. Most people find me pretty bland.”
Kuba cocked his head to one side. “I call bullshit. You don’t look boring to me. I couldn’t wait to get here tonight.”
A chuckle that sounded nervous even to his ears escaped him. “Don’t try to flatter me. I know you’re here for my mom.” He added another uncomfortable laugh. Diesel wasn’t good at the attention being on him. He guarded the famous, the ones who earned the attention. Diesel was no one.
“No, I’m not.”
The seriousness in Kuba’s voice brought all Diesel’s rambling thoughts to a sudden halt.
He didn’t know how long they held each other’s stare, but it was long enough to make Diesel question his entire life.
He had to stop. Diesel knew next to nothing about Kuba.
There was no way Kuba stared at him with sexual interest. Diesel couldn’t even get that in his head.
He popped to his feet. “We need more eggnog. Do you want more eggnog? I need more eggnog.”