“Are you sure I look okay?” Kai asked for the fifth time as we stood on the front porch of Cody, Isaac, and Jonah’s house.

“You look incredible. Now stop freaking out.” I gave Kai a quick kiss and pushed the doorbell.

I thought it was really sweet that Kai was worried about making a good first impression with my friends. He’d never met Layla, Isaac or Jonah, and had only met Cody briefly.

“I can’t help it. It’s what I do.” He smoothed down the front of his navy blue Henley, and I had to actively stop myself from looking behind him so I could check out his ass again. The jeans he was wearing were perfectly fitted and accentuated his bubble butt in the most delicious way. Pair that with the shirt, and he was fucking gorgeous.

“I feel underdressed.” He nodded to my button-up shirt and bit his lip.

“You’re not. This is what I wear to work every day, so it’s a habit. You’re a student. Besides, Cody and Isaac are really casual guys.”

Before he could say anything else, the door opened.

“Zander,” Cody greeted, giving me a big hug as we stepped into the house. “It’s nice to see you again, Kai.” Cody shook Kai’s hand, smiling warmly at him as he did.

“You too, Cody.”

Kai and Cody were dressed almost identically. The only difference was that Cody’s Henley was light blue and Kai’s jeans were a darker wash, and I saw Kai visibly relax as he noticed.

“Jonah and Layla are in the kitchen, and Isaac’s in the living room. You guys want a drink? We have beer, wine, soda, water...”

“Beer?” I glanced down at Kai.

“Um, yeah. Thanks.”

“Great, go ahead into the living room and I’ll grab some beers.”

“Zander.” Isaac stood as we came into the living room. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Isaac.” I shook his outstretched hand and then nodded to Kai. “This is Kai, my boyfriend.”

I saw the way Kai’s eyes widened at my declaration. It was true we hadn’t officially decided what we were, but I was done trying to pretend things were casual between us.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Isaac shook Kai’s hand. “Cody said you’re studying to be a vet?”

“I am.” Kai nodded.

Isaac motioned for us to sit, and I pulled Kai down on the loveseat with me as Isaac sat on the sofa.

“That’s really amazing. Did you always want to work with animals?”

“Ever since I was a kid. I wanted to be a zookeeper when I was really young, but I don’t like the idea of animals being on display for us, so I decided to be a vet.”

“Wow. Just cats and dogs?”

“I actually wouldn’t mind doing farm animals and wildlife as well. I like the idea of being able to help any animal that needs someone.”

“Would you want to have your own practice?”

“Definitely, but maybe do contract work on the side for wildlife relief. What about you? Zander said you’re in construction?”

“I am. My company builds housing developments.”

I listened to Isaac and Kai talk, happy they were getting along so well, but also feeling like shit because I’d never asked Kai any of that. I hadn’t known why he wanted to be a vet or if that’s all he’d dreamed of. I’d never asked him what his long-term plans were. I sucked at this boyfriend thing.

Cody came into the room with four beers and handed them out as he sat next to Isaac. Isaac gave Cody a quick kiss and draped his arm over Cody’s shoulder.

It was amazing to see Cody so happy and settled. He deserved the world, and I was so thankful he’d found not one, but two men who loved him.

“I know that voice.” Layla came into the living room as I was asking Isaac how his brother was doing. “Zander!”

“Layla.” I stood and walked into her open arms, giving her a big hug. “I’d like you to meet someone.”

Kai stood and held out his hand.

“Sorry, hun. You’re family now, and I’m a hugger.” Layla pulled Kai into a hug, her larger body cradling his, and I saw Kai smile as he hugged her back.

“I’ll never turn down a hug from family.” He grinned when she let him go and stepped back so she could look him up and down. “I’m Kai.”

“Layla. And aren’t you just perfect for Zander.”

“How do you mean?” Kai glanced at me.

“You’re the one who put that smile on his face. That makes you perfect in my books.”

Kai flushed as Layla sat down in the easy chair next to the couch, and Kai and I sat back down on the loveseat. I wasn’t one for PDA, and I knew Kai wasn’t either, but I wasn’t content to just sit next to him. I draped my arm over his shoulder, and Kai immediately leaned against me. That was better.

“How’s it going in there?” Isaac asked, nodding in the direction of the kitchen.

“He kicked me out. Didn’t appreciate my suggestion of only making enough noodles to feed half an army.”

“I heard that.” Jonah poked his head into the living room. “And if you want to get your butts to the table, we can start eating.”

As we trooped into the dining room, Jonah introduced himself to Kai before disappearing into the kitchen. Layla and Isaac helped Jonah bring out the food, and it looked and smelled amazing.

We were eating family style, and the table was soon filled with bowls of different meat and vegetable combinations smothered in sauces. There were pots of rice and noodles, and several dishes of what looked like dumplings.

As soon as everyone was seated, we dug in. The food was delicious, and while most of the dishes were mild because Cody and Isaac didn’t like spicy food, there were a few that had some heat to them.

Apparently, Kai was a big fan of spicy food and even ate the chili peppers from one of the dishes that everyone else pushed aside. Another thing I hadn’t known about him.

When we were all stuffed and a good portion of the food was gone, we moved to the living room to chat.

It was a lot of fun, and I loved how comfortable Kai was with everyone. This was really the first time I’d hung out with Cody and his men, and it had been a long time since Layla and I spent time together outside of work. It reminded me of how I’d purposely isolated myself, and how I was done thinking I had to be alone. I had friends, I had a family, and I had Kai.

By the time we headed out, it was getting late. Jonah insisted that Kai take the chili dish and some of the leftover noodles since no one in his house could handle the heat other than him, and he gave me the rest of a beef dish I’d really liked.

Kai didn’t hesitate to hug everyone goodbye, and he was smiling broadly as we climbed into my car.

“Your friends are awesome.”

“They are,” I agreed as I started the car. “They loved you.”

“I had a great time. It’s been so long since I just hung out with people, other than Levi.”

“Believe it or not, me too. I never really joined in anything even though I kept getting invited.”

“What changed?”

“I decided that I needed to put myself out there and stop forcing myself to be alone.”

“That’s really great, Zander.”

“Plus, I have a hot boyfriend to bring with me now.”

Kai blushed as I glanced at him.

“So, we’re boyfriends now?”

“Do you want to be?” I asked.

“Definitely.”

“Good. In all honesty, though, I think we have been for a while now. Neither of us took the leap to put a label on it until now.”

“I didn’t want to push you.”

“You know, sometimes I need a good push.” I paused. There was something I needed to tell Kai, but I wasn’t sure if the car was the best place.

“What’s up? You look pensive.”

“Thursday, it’s kind of an anniversary for me.”

“Oh?” Kai bit his lips as he looked at me.

“Yeah. It’ll be six years since Kaden died.”

“What do you need?” Kai asked, putting his hand on my thigh. “What can I do?”

“I’m working the night before. Evan knows that I need to keep busy, but I have the actual night off...”

“Do you want company? I can stay over Wednesday, and we can spend the day and night together.”

“What about school?”

“I can miss a day. I don’t have any tests or assignments due. As long as I go on Friday, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”

“Zander, it’s fine. I want to be there for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you want to pick me up after your shift? I know it’ll be late, but I’ll stay up after my show. We can go right to bed when we get to your place.”

“That sounds perfect.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and put my hand over his where it still rested on my thigh. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me for supporting you, Zander. It’s what boyfriends do.”

I pulled Kai’s hand off my leg so I could bring it to my lips and kiss his knuckles. “Can I thank you for being so amazing?”

“You can always thank me for that.” He laughed.

When we reached his building, I leaned over and kissed him goodbye, and it wasn’t until I was sitting back in my seat that I realized I hadn’t even thought about it before I’d done it.

Come to think of it. I hadn’t thought twice about any of the times I’d touched him today. We’d gone back to the climbing gym before our dinner, and there had been a few moments where I’d touched his back or briefly hugged him against my body. I’d even kissed his temple in a playful moment when he’d offered to catch me while I was free climbing. I’d made it back to the bottom of the wall, grabbed him and kissed the first part of him I could reach before messing up his hair.

The panic and the urge to look around was gone. I had no idea when the switch had been flipped, but I was glad. Kai deserved to be treated like my partner, and keeping him at a distance wasn’t going to protect him from harm. It would only hurt him and make him feel like I was ashamed to be with him.

“Call me on your break tomorrow?” Kai asked, smiling at me.

“For sure. Have a good show. Think of me.”

“I always do.” He winked cheekily and pushed the car door open. “Have a good night.”

“You too, babe.”

As I watched Kai head into his building, my eyes lingered on his ass.

I was glad we’d put the physical on hold to develop the emotional aspect of our relationship. I honestly didn’t think I’d be at this point if we hadn’t. Sex with Kai was awesome, but it would have overshadowed everything. It would have been my focus, and I would have been distracted from all of his other wonderful qualities. I’d fallen in lust with Kai the moment I’d seen him at the club that first night, and I was glad I’d had the chance to fall in love with him in the weeks since then.