After my usual Saturday routine of lifting weights before grabbing a vegan protein bar and a shower, I realize that I need more Kieran in my life. Seriously, this is my boring-as-fuck weekend routine. Maybe Dylan wasn’t so wrong after all when he left my ass for being “no fun.” I got the piercings in response. But if that’s the last out of character thing I’ve done, and that was ten years ago, then maybe it’s time for a change.

Tomorrow.

Today, Kieran is with his sister, and I need to get the bank deposit in and file the office paperwork that’s two months behind.

“If it isn’t my favorite gamer,” says the tall teller before I’ve even made it past the sign-in desk with the bowl of Dum-Dums.

The man before me is the reason I avoid bank deposits on weekdays.

“Hi, Arthur. I’m surprised to see you here on a Saturday. I need to make a deposit, please.”

There is absolutely nothing negative about Arthur Yuen, but he rubs me wrong anyway. I understand flirting with your customers if you’re a bartender or a barista, when it means extra tips. But he gets nothing out of flirting with me, and it has always made me uncomfortable, like I’m the butt of his joke.

“Yes, sir,” Arthur says, then takes the bag from me and starts to do his own count. “How’s business? How are the boys?”

How he is able to chit-chat and count money at the same time might be one of the world’s greatest mysteries.

“Boys?”

“Yes, those beautiful specimens that work for you and do your bidding.”

Sheesh, he makes me sound like their pimp, and now I feel like I need a shower. “Business is fine,” I say, specifically avoiding the topic of “boys.”

“Looks better than fine, based on this stack.” He glances up briefly to waggle his eyebrows at me.

“It’s fine, Arthur.”

“You know, I need some advice for my younger brother’s birthday. Maybe I could come in some time and you could help me out? What days do you work?”

I shift from foot to foot, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. “You could come in at any time. Any of the Game Over staff would be able to assist you.”

“Oh, I’m well aware of that,” he says with a smirk, and if I wasn’t so creeped out, I’d be more curious as to what he means. “But sometimes you just need a big, strong man to help you out,” he says, storing away the bills and entering things into the computer, all at the same time. If nothing else, the man can multitask.

I honestly don’t have a clue what to say at this point, so I stay silent until he hands me a receipt and the only words I have to say are, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you soon,” he calls after me.

God, I hope not.

* * *

The paperwork is slow going since my mind constantly wanders to Thursday night. Well, to be honest, it wanders to Tuesday and the chat that I haven’t brought myself to delete from my phone. Maybe I can take a screen shot first, and forever keep the memory of texting Kieran through his first time at ass play.

Jonathan has a bad habit of not respecting my phone boundaries and I don’t want him to stumble onto it. Part of me thinks it would serve Jonathan right to scar him for life with his uncle’s sexts, but there is no part of me that wants anyone to ever see Kieran’s words but me.

Am I really going to take him to the leather bar? If he had accepted my offer on Thursday, I’d be stuck with that yes. But now I’ve had time to think on it. It isn’t something I’ve ever shared with someone I know before. I’m not a dom, definitely not a daddy, and I’m not as into the kink as some guys are. But there’s something nice about the body positivity and the appreciation for being who you are. Plus, when I put on my harness, I immediately feel safe, almost like a security blanket. Weird, I know.

I need to focus because these receipts and bills aren’t going to sort and file themselves. Hours later, Craig opens the office door and finds me sitting on the floor in front of my desk, surrounded by various piles.

“Don’t come in,” I warn with a quickly thrown hand halting his step forward. “I just got everything sorted.”

Craig scoffs, then carefully steps to my desk and grabs a few items. I hold my breath, scared that all my work is about to be ruined, watching as he slowly places a stapler on top of one stack, tape holder on another, and so on until each stack is carefully weighed down.

“Now,” he says, folding his arms in front of him. “You have no excuse not to get up. Because there’s someone here to see you.”

I gingerly unfold myself and rise. It’s not as easy as it used to be, and my knees crack as I straighten them. Craig has already returned to the front, or I’m sure I’d be on the receiving end of an “old man” joke.

Two redheads hover on the opposite side of the counter from Craig, both a few inches shorter than him. At the sound of Kieran’s laughter over something Craig says, my heart stops. A lighter, airier laugh joins in. The sister.

They haven’t noticed me lingering in the doorway, so I step forward, drawing Kieran’s gaze. His already bright smile gets even more blinding, and I’m fairly certain it’s one of those situations where you can’t help but mimic the expression of the person before you. Craig will give me hell for it, but I don’t care.

“Ted,” Kieran says. “I wanted you to meet my sister, Carly.”

There’s not much difference in their height or build, and both have the adorable freckles which are cute on her but sexy as hell on Kieran. The biggest difference is their hair. Carly’s is long and swings with each step forward. “Hi,” she says and waves. “Kieran wanted me to meet his friends. I guess to prove that he has them, although personally, I think he just paid you guys off.”

Kieran grabs her shoulders and steers her around. “This was a terrible mistake.”

Carly fights the redirection, turning back to Craig and me. “See? He’s trying to take me away before his cover is blown. I knew it was a fake!” She giggles the entire time that Kieran attempts to wrestle her to the door.

“Hey, do you guys want to go out to dinner with me and Zach tonight? It won’t be crazy college fun,” Craig says almost apologetically to Carly, “but we can prove that we know and love your brother. Ted too.”

I can feel the heat in my face, even though I know how Craig meant the word love. At least that’s how I think he meant it. Because I will fire his ass.

“Yes. Dinner,” Carly says as she gasps for air now that Kieran has given up his attempt to physically extract her from the store. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. Don’t you, Kieran?”

Oh man, I can only imagine the shit that went down in their household when these two were growing up. I suddenly have a great deal of respect for their parents.

“Suzushi’s? Do you like sushi, Carly?” Craig asks.

She claps a hand to her heart. “Love it.”

“Wait,” Kieran says, turning to me, holding a straight hand out. “Do they have anything you can eat there?”

I nod and try not to melt into an even bigger puddle of goo than I already have.

“Come on, Carly,” Kieran says, backing out of the store. “Let’s go before you say something I’ll really regret.”

Craig and I laugh at that, but Kieran just shakes his head and pulls her the rest of the way out the door.

* * *

“So, is Kieran, like, your guys’ third or what?”

The second Carly’s question is out of her mouth, both Craig and Kieran spew their water across the table. Zach ducks behind his water, trying to hide his fire-engine-red face. Kieran glares at his sister, who shrugs, and I swear to god it was either an innocent question or she’s a brilliant actor.

“What? That’s common with gay guys, right?”

“I am so going to kill you when we get back home.”

The waiter brings trays of sushi for the others, and a vegetable stir-fry for me. We shift around plates and silverware to make room, but the momentary lapse in conversation doesn’t deter Carly.

“When you came out at Christmas,” she says, pointing her chopsticks in his direction in a way that makes me want to take them from her, “We all assumed it was because you got a boyfriend or something. Why else would you would suddenly tell us after all that time? But then nothing. So, I have to figure whatever relationship you’re in, you think we’re going to judge you for it. Which is why I’m going with throuple.”

“I am not their third,” Kieran says, rubbing a hand over his face. “If you must know, I’m dating Ted.”

I freeze at being called out, a bite of vegetables hovering in mid-air, and slowly falling from my chopsticks. Kieran looks as surprised as I am that the words left his mouth. Still, he claimed me, and I’ll take it.

Carly’s eyes fly to me, and her face brightens. “Daddy kink! I would have never guessed that of you.”

“Kill me now,” Kieran says, bringing up his other hand until his face is completely hidden.

“What? I did research,” Carly says, looking from face to face. “I know all the different types of gays and all the different kinks. I wanted to be able to talk to you about it. I want you to know I support you.”

I still can’t decide if she’s inappropriately yet sweetly earnest or if she’s doing it to tease Kieran, or maybe a little of both.

“We don’t do the Daddy kink thing,” I tell her. “I don’t need any more reminders of my age.”

“How old are you?” she asks, studying me more intently, the chopsticks pointing in my direction this time.

“Carly!” Kieran admonishes, his hands flying down and his eyes bugging out at her.

“What? I’d ask that of anybody you were dating, not just because he’s old.”

He squeezes his eyes shut, as if somehow not seeing it will make it all go away. I wish I could join him.

“I turn forty in November.”

Crickets. And not the kind that Zach ordered to eat.

“I think we’d all agree to turn away and be your alibi if you’re feeling particularly homicidal,” Kieran tells me after finally opening his eyes. He reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers.

“It’s okay.” I run my thumb along his fingers. Even his knuckles have freckles, and I want to kiss each one I find. “I have an older brother. I think it’s a requirement for all siblings to embarrass each other as much as humanly possible.”

“But you aren’t her sibling, so there is no excuse for her being such a brat to you,” he says with a quick glare directed at Carly before returning those warm brown eyes to me.

“If it gets you to fawn over me like this, she can be bratty to me any time.”

“Idiot,” Craig says into a cough, and Zach smacks his arm.

“What was that for?” Zach says, looking at his boyfriend like he’s lost his mind.

“Ted knows.” Craig smirks at me. “I thought it would take more than a freaking week though. Man, you are such a goner.”

Kieran looks intrigued as well, but the second I’m staring back into his eyes I forget the world around me.

“Uh huh,” I mumble, still holding Kieran’s hand in mine.

If this is my reward, I’m happy to be an idiot.