Chapter Eleven #2
He spotted Fletch heading his way. July smiled as big as he could and waved. Fletch’s face was set in a hard line and didn’t soften at the sight of him.
July’s heart dropped. That was not the look of a man happy to see him. Damn. There was definitely an unspoken boundary he had crossed by being there. But for fuck’s sake, it was obviously Leary and JJ’s engagement party. Had he expected July not to come?
When Fletch reached his side, he leaned down and spoke closely against July’s ear for only him to hear. “Beau would like to speak to you in his office.” He grabbed July’s upper arm in a firm grip. It didn’t hurt. The hold was more like a warning that he wouldn’t be getting away.
Well, fuck. This was much worse than boundary crossing. July hadn’t planned to die today, but he had no doubts from only Fletch’s tone. That was exactly where he was headed.
Leary couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. Everything felt a little numb and dampened by shock. The only piece of him that still functioned on full bars was his heart. He could easily explode from all the love that burst at the seams inside him.
JJ held his hand and sneaked peeks at Leary between well-wishers. Leary barely recognized any faces other than Banks’s.
Banks sidled up beside him. “I hope you two still plan to visit the club. Or do you plan to be one of those couples no one ever sees?” He laughed, letting Leary know he wasn’t serious.
Leary was, though. He had met JJ thanks to the safe space Banks had created. “Oh, we’ll still be there. Other than our home, I can’t risk my reputation anywhere else by being myself. People expect their surgeons to be adults.”
A sweet smile touched Banks' features. He was such a great guy. There were people at The PlayPen who claimed Banks was insane, and not in a good way. Leary couldn’t see it.
A cutie in little boy clothes skipped to Banks' side. He was absolutely adorable. “Hi.”
Banks took the man’s hand and pulled him closer. “This is my husband, Kyson. Kyson, Leary.”
They shook hands.
Kyson smiled. “I’ve seen you around the club. You usually stick to JJ, so we haven’t talked. We’d all love to get to know you there. You should come to one of my slumber parties. JJ is allowed to come too.”
Another boy appeared in bear pajamas. He obviously overheard Kyson. “You should definitely come. Kyson lives at the club, so we steal all the alcohol from the bar and get drunk.”
A laugh burst from Leary. He hadn’t been brave enough to introduce himself to any of the other Littles. Now he kind of wished he had tried to be braver. “That sounds like fun. Just let me know when.”
Before anyone could respond, JJ stole his attention. “Hey, baby. I’d like you to meet Beau and his husband, Kylo.”
Leary turned in the direction JJ indicated.
He found himself staring into the most terrifying eyes he had ever seen.
He fought the urge to run. The man’s stare was dark and deep-looking—like meeting the devil.
Leary could barely breathe from the power that bled from him. He was speechless in the face of death.
“Hi.” The perkiest greeting pulled Leary’s focus to the man holding Beau’s arm.
The entire feel of the room shifted. Not only did Leary find his tongue, but he also couldn’t control it. “Whoa. You’re beautiful.”
Kylo wore a princess dress made of wildly different colors. He had an orange and a bright blue bow in his hair. They were small barrettes placed perfectly on each side. He left Leary dumbfounded by how much the look suited him.
“That’s really sweet. JJ didn’t do you justice. He told me you’re adorable, but dang.” He hugged Beau’s arm. “Daddy and I have been looking forward to meeting you for a while.”
Beau cut in. “Apologies that we haven’t had time before your engagement. We’re thrilled to have you as part of the family.”
He didn’t sound evil, and when he looked at Kylo, everything about him transformed. Beau looked human—like Kylo was his humanity. That made Leary more comfortable.
“It’s okay. I’m still thrilled to meet you now. JJ always sings you two’s praises. I didn’t know we’d meet today, though. This is amazing.”
Kylo bounced in place. “Isn’t it? JJ said he wanted to do something special for you. Then everyone else heard the news and wanted to be a part of it. We’re a big happy family here. There’s always room for one more.”
“Exactly,” Beau added.
Leary’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you. That makes me so happy.”
Someone said Beau’s name, pulling his attention away. His expression turned terrifying again as he headed in that direction.
Kylo gave him a little wave as they walked away. “Bye. Congratulations.”
Leary watched him go. “Thank you.”
JJ tugged his hand and led him out a set of open French doors that led to a veranda overlooking a pool. He hadn’t realized they had gone up such a steep hill to get to the house. Part of the house had to be underground. He bet the entire place was actually super cool. Scary but awesome.
They passed a bar serving various liquors and into a private corner.
JJ took both his hands and stared into his eyes. “We’re alone. You can tell me ‘no’ now if you’d like.”
Leary’s brow furrowed in his confusion. “What? Why would I say no?” A horrible thought came over him. “Unless your proposal wasn’t really a proposal. Did I just assume that’s what happened? Did you not mean it?”
JJ shook his head. A small smile played on his lips. “You’re so cute. Of course, that was a proposal. I just worried maybe I put you on the spot and made you feel obligated to say yes.”
Leary melted. He didn’t know why he was so conditioned to expect the worst, even from the people he loved the most. It was probably due to his parents, and he likely needed to discuss that in therapy.
But right now, he needed to comfort his fiancé because he was exactly the same. His fiancé. Holy shit. He was so happy.
“Ask me again and I’ll still say yes. You can ask a million times, and I’ll say yes a million and one.
Never in my life did I know I could love someone as much as I love you.
I never even dreamed I’d find you. You’re such a miracle to me.
There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you.
I just love you so much, I can’t find big enough words to describe it. ”
JJ’s eyes filled with tears. He blinked them away as Leary watched. He sniffed and then cleared his throat. “Same.”
They kept holding each other’s stare.
Leary broke first. “You should probably kiss me now.”
JJ nodded as if the observation was the truest words he ever heard.
He touched his lips to Leary’s. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Their lips simply clung while they savored the beauty of their new beginning.
Then JJ deepened their kiss, and Leary found himself cupping JJ’s face so he couldn’t get away.
That was the gist of what the rest of their lives would look like together.
JJ would never escape him. Leary would never allow it.
This was until death. No take-sy back-seys.
Keep an eye out for the next The PlayPen, Operation Daddy.