That was great. “But you have to work out an insane amount to keep up your strength, right?”
“Two to three hours a day.” He threaded our fingers together and brought my knuckles to his lips. “I struggled with depression for about six months after the accident, where I probably lost some of the mobility I had left. I’m still surprised Lucian didn’t kick me out of his house. I didn’t wanna get out of bed in the morning—and sometimes didn’t.”
“I’d be a horrible friend if I kicked you out at your lowest.” Lucian joined us and sat down on the couch with a cup of coffee. “Your anger, on the other hand, when you started fighting for your recovery—oof.” He grinned faintly and took a sip.
Daddy rubbed the back of his neck, visibly chagrined and embarrassed. “It’s possible I destroyed a few items in his home when the rage got the best of me.”
“A few.” Lucian grinned into his coffee mug.
“Daddy…did you go bananas?” I raised my brows at him.
“Completely.” He leaned in and growled playfully against my cheek. “But either he’s a masochist, or he loves me very, very much, because we still ended up buying a new house together.”
“You did?” Cameron and I both asked at the same time. Whoa, that was a shock. Or was it? Well, kind of. It would’ve made more sense if Lucian’s home had become theirs, but to buy a new one together—that was another level of actively wanting to share a life.
Lucian inclined his head. “We closed on a house in Mclean last year,” he said. “KC’s health improves significantly when he has daily access to a swimming pool, and I prefer to live on this side of the river.”
Oh, I got so excited! “I love swimming pools!”
Daddy chuckled. “It’s a small one—not to mention it’s indoors.”
“For now,” Lucian corrected. “The extension on that part of the house was in hideous shape when we bought it. It’s why we’ve been spending more time here. Our home is a construction site.”
I was confused. “So, it’s not gonna be an indoor pool, or what?”
“It’s gonna be both,” Daddy explained. “Glass walls and a glass ceiling are replacing the brick. That way, I can do my water strength training year-round but still open it up for barbecues and pool fun in the summer.”
Yay!
“I don’t mean to brag or anything,” Cameron said, “but we have a tub in our apartment.”
I snickered.
He joined us with a bunch of stuff on a tray, and it made my stomach snarl with want. My boyfriend was the fucking best! I spotted mini sandwiches, cold cuts, cheese, grapes, crackers, gross olives, soda, and water.
I dove for a soda and popped open the can.
“We can share that one,” Daddy told me. “I remember how you get when you consume too much sugar before bedtime.”
“I’m so glad you’re taking over that part,” Cameron exclaimed with a groan. “You are taking over that part, right?”
I scowled at them both and sipped some orangey, sugary goodness.
“I definitely am,” Daddy said. “We should get together one day soon to discuss what else you want me to relieve you of.” Great, he was gonna team up against me with Cameron. “I don’t want to step on any toes.”
“Please, step on all of them,” my traitor boyfriend joked. “He needs structure from a Daddy anyway, not from me.”
I gulped from my soda.
“But speaking of getting together,” Cameron said. “Any chance Noa and I could invite you two for dinner next week? More specifically, Thursday for Lucian’s birthday?”
Damn, he was planning ahead. I had to do that too. I didn’t want to get lost in my Little giddiness of having KC back in my life. I was gonna have to step up my game.
“We would love to.” Lucian squeezed Cameron’s hand before reaching for a sandwich. “Don’t forget I’m picking you up after work on Tuesday too.”
“What’re you gonna do?” I asked. I thanked Daddy when he gave me a sandwich and a handful of grapes.
“That’s classified information.” Cameron stuck out his tongue at me.
I dropped my jaw. He was keeping secrets?!
“Be nice, pet.” Lucian turned to me next. “We’re getting together to make plans for the Game. River and Reese are giving me the keys to the playroom we’ll be using then.”
Oh.
Daddy rubbed my knee a little. “I’d like to sign us up to participate.”
“Yes! Yes, let’s do that.” I nodded furiously. I really wanted to join this game thing. And win. Maybe they had prizes?
The four of us continued to chat and make loose plans while we ate, and it was clear that Cameron and Lucian had talked a lot more than…some others. Daddy and I exchanged a look every now and then because we were the silly gooses who’d opted to fuck like bunnies instead. Meanwhile, the other two had several ideas for the event, and they were already referring to things they’d talked about earlier. Like, “right, and like I mentioned before…” or “and remember when you said…”