Page 18 of Kenzie's Perfect Daddies

When Dave’s voice trailed off, Sebastian looked more closely at his friend. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles as if he hadn’t been sleeping, his dark hair seemed to have more strands of gray and was messy. Dave was usually meticulous about how he dressed because of his position but his suit shirt was rumpled and Sebastian was pretty sure this was the first time he’d seen his friend without a tie.

“What’s going on, mate?” Sebastian leaned his elbows on the desk in front of him and gave Dave his full attention.

“Charlie’s been cheating on me.” Dave rubbed his hands over his face as if he was trying to scrub away the tiredness.

“Fuck. Man, I’m sorry.”

“Ten years together and she comes to me a month ago to tell me she’s been seeing someone and she’s leaving me for her.” The small laugh Dave let out as he spoke was anything but humorous. “She even pulled the ‘it’s not you it’s me’ line out on me, like that’s gonna help. Ten years with the woman, if I wasn’t what she wanted, I should have seen it sooner, you know?”

The truth was, Sebastian could agree. Anyone who’d met Charlie knew Dave deserved better, but Dave had been sure he was in love and blind to Charlie’s lack of attention. As much as he hurt for what his friend was going through, Sebastian was hoping this would turn out to be a good thing. Dave had been suppressing a big side of himself because it wasn’t what Charlie needed or wanted. Maybe now he could find someone who would appreciate every side of him.

“Anyway, I know you’re going to that new club, and I was hoping that if I get up the nerve to apply, you’d give a reference.”

“Absolutely I will. I hope you do apply.”

Dave offered a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he said, “we’ll see.”

Beau

Beau placed the last dish in the dishwasher and slid the rack into place. He’d just pressed the start button and was beginning to consider dinner since it was his night to cook, when a knock came at the door. Sebastian had already taken Kenzie to work and was at work himself and Beau wasn’t expecting anyone.

He dried his hands on a dishtowel as he made his way to the door. Remembering his Daddy’s excessive reminders about safety, he checked the peephole and gasped as he took in the dark-haired, tan-skinned visitor. River’s Native American heritage gave them a unique and exquisite profile. They looked around the neighborhood as they waited, and Beau took a moment to gather his courage. He’d been hoping for the last week to finally get a chance to talk to River and explain, hopefully make them understand that there was no way in hell he’d ever hurt Kenzie again. Beau knew how much River cared for Kenzie and wanted to set their mind at ease.

After one final deep breath, he opened the door and greeted his guest. “River, I didn’t expect to see you.” Beau was pretty sure he knew the reason River was there but if they had another reason, he wanted to allow them the chance of bringing that up rather than assume. Assumptions had caused him to lose one ofthe loves of his life for a year and a half. He didn’t want to make that kind of mistake again.

“Hey, Beau,” River had a nervous look that unsettled Beau as they asked, “Can I come in?”

Beau stepped back and indicated for River to enter. Remembering his manners was a small miracle considering the worry suddenly clenching in his gut, but he managed to offer River a drink and when they declined, led them to a seat in the living room.

“I know you’ve just gotten Kenzie back in your life and I don’t want to put a damper on things but,” River rubbed lightly on their jeans as they spoke. They were usually a calm person, taking things in stride so the nerves from Kenzie’s friend had Beau’s protective instincts going into overdrive.

“What’s wrong?”

“What?” River looked genuinely startled by the concern in Beau’s voice which served to ease his panic slightly, but something was still bothering them, and Beau wouldn’t fully relax until he knew what was going on. “Oh, um, nothing. It’s just…” River took a deep breath and plunged into what they’d come here to say. “You weren’t there the last year and a half. You didn’t witness the slow deterioration of the light in Kenzie. She was slowly dying inside after you guys split. Now, she seems to have been revived, she shines brighter than ever, her happiness radiates from her. I saw it at lunch yesterday and I guess I just need to make sure that you're serious. That you won’t break her heart again.”

Beau breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at River as he said, “Kenzie is everything to me. To Sebastian too. I never wanted to end things with Kenzie, and I never will. Sebastian and I have always had something missing. Just like Kenzie and I always had something missing.” Beau really hoped he was explaining this right, he wanted to put River’s mind at ease. “The three of ustogether, we fit. It’s like we’ve all had missing pieces but now, when we’re together, we’re whole. Complete. Perfectly meant to be.”

River sighed as a small smile graced their plump lips. “I’ve always liked you, Beau. Even after the breakup, I couldn’t bring myself to hate you like a good friend should. But if you break my girl’s heart again…” River stood and looked Beau in the eyes with an intensity that Beau had never seen from them before, “I’ll chop you up and spread you so far and wide, no one will ever find you.”

With their mission complete, River turned and headed out the door without another word. Well, it seemed he’d been told.

Chapter Sixteen

Kenzie

“Why! Why can’t you just—” Daddy glanced over at Kenzie and obviously chose to avoid whatever he was about to say— “I know you’re beatable, I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.”

His adamant statement to the video game character made Kenzie giggle while she placed another fake diamond onto her masterpiece. She loved getting to see him in his Middle space so much. She especially loved how it had become a regular occurrence for them to play together.

She loved that Daddy wasn’t self-conscious about playing dolls or having a tea party. Heck, he even colored and painted with her. The walls were covered with their masterpieces. She’d found that she enjoyed some of his favorite things too. Daddy had ordered her several LEGO kits that were more her style so they could build together, and she had so much fun helping him build the elaborate designs he loved with dominoes.

Watching the designs tumble was her favorite part, making her giggle and clap as they toppled faster and faster and split off into multiple paths at once. Kenzie wasn’t much for video games, however, they tended to stress her out more than relax her, so, when Daddy wanted to play his video games, she’d just find something to do alone.

Kenzie had spent every day at Papi and Daddy’s house for the last two weeks, ever since the night they’d made love and changed her life. They’d taken her to and from work every workday and she’d slept between them every night. Kenzie had no desire to return to her lonely apartment, so she hadn’t protested when they’d taken her to gather several days’ worth of stuff, or when they’d done it again a week later.

She had drawers in their dressers, space in the closet, and they’d given her free rein to add any and all touches to the décor that she wanted. Not that she’d taken them up onthatparticular offer. She wasn’t quite that at home in their house yet, even if they did insist it was all of theirs now.

Kenzie felt like her world had turned into a dream come true. Things at work had even improved. She and Nicole had become friendly. Kenzie wouldn’t say they were besties yet, but they’d become much closer.

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