Page 22 of Kendrick

“Kendrick and I need to talk to you,” he said.

Clay blinked and stepped aside to let them in. Kendrick was nervous all over again, so Jonas took his hand and linked their fingers together. Of course, Clay noticed. He smiled.

“Another couple?” he asked as he closed the door.

Jonas realized they hadn’t yet told their leaders about their bond. They’d been too focused on each other, which was how things should be. “Kendrick’s my mate. We’re not bonded yet, but we’ve been dating. That’s not why we’re here, though.”

“Oh? Do I have to worry?”

“I don’t think so. We’re together, and Kendrick’s brother is coming to live with us as long as you agree.”

Clay gestured in the direction of the kitchen. Jonas dragged Kendrick forward, ignoring Clay’s snicker. He could still feel how tense Kendrick was, which was why he’d decided to take the lead. He didn’t want Kendrick to have to muddle through this when he could barely think. He was worried about his brother, and frankly, so was Jonas.

It would be easy for Kendrick and Ryan’s father to kick Ryan out since he couldn’t afford the outrageous rent the man was asking for. Jonas wondered if he was asking for so much money because he knew that Ryan couldn’t afford it. Maybe this was his way to get Ryan to leave. He could feel righteous about it because he wouldn’t be the one to kick Ryan out, but Ryan still couldn’t afford to continue living in the house where he’d grown up.

“Please tell me you’re not bringing me more trouble,” Rowan groaned when he saw them walking into the kitchen.

He was wearing jeans, like Clay, but he looked better put together. It was almost as if Clay hadn’t cared that whoever was knocking on his door would know what he and Rowan had beenup to—or maybe Rowan had time to fix his hair while Clay had been opening the door and talking to Jonas and Kendrick.

“It shouldn’t be trouble,” Kendrick quickly said. “My brother’s been kicked out of his childhood home. He has a job, but he doesn’t have a lot of money, and he can’t afford rent anywhere. I was wondering if he could move here. He could live with me, so you won’t have to give him a new place, and he can find a job.”

Kendrick was talking fast, as if he expected Rowan or Clay to stop him and tell him it wouldn’t work. Jonas squeezed his hand, trying to tell him that everything would be okay, even though he couldn’t know if that would be the case.

He wanted everything to be okay. Heneededeverything to be okay. It was in Clay and Rowan’s hands, though, and he hoped they’d do the right thing.

“Tell us about him,” Rowan said.

Kendrick didn’t know a lot about his brother, but he told Rowan everything he and Jonas knew. Apparently that was enough to satisfy their clan leader, because once Kendrick was done talking, he nodded. “I don’t see any problems with him becoming a clan member if that’s what he wants. We’ll want to talk to him when he arrives, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s welcome here.”

Kendrick slumped sideways, and Jonas was glad to be there to hold him up. He wrapped an arm around Kendrick’s waist, hugging him close.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Kendrick murmured.

“You don’t have to thank us. Just go out there and grab your brother. Bring him home.”

“Jonas and I are planning to leave as soon as possible, so we will.”

It still took them another five minutes to leave the house. As soon as they did, they had to separate. They both had to pack for a few days, since Kendrick had decided to drive. Ryan had saidhe had a car, but he couldn’t take it, and hopefully, he’d have enough bags to fill the trunk. It would be incredibly sad if his father didn’t allow him to take anything.

Jonas headed home with the promise that he’d be in front of Kendrick’s house in fifteen minutes tops. He was pretty sure Kendrick would leave without him if he wasn’t, so he had every intention of being on time, but he hadn’t counted on Caroline and Alexis.

They were both on the couch when Jonas arrived. It was good to see Alexis there, even though he didn’t live in the house anymore. There were no signs of Boyd, so he probably hadn’t come.

As much as Jonas wanted to flop onto the couch with them, he made a beeline for the stairs and climbed them two by two. Luckily he didn’t have to pack much if they were only going to be gone for two days. He put together a pair of clean jeans, a few t-shirts, and two sweaters. He packed underwear and toiletries, and by the time he was done, Alexis was at his door.

“What are you doing?” he asked, staring at the bag on Jonas’s bed.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing.”

“I can see that, but why are you packing? Are things going badly with Kendrick?”

Of course that was where Alexis’s thoughts went. “Things are going great between us, so don’t worry about that. We’re going to pick up Kendrick’s brother and bring him here. And yes, we talked to Clay and Rowan, and they’re okay with it.”

“Look at you, all responsible. You’ve grown so much,” Alexis said as he dried away imaginary tears from his cheeks.

Jonas threw a pair of socks at his head. Alexis ducked, and they sailed over his head. Jonas didn’t waste time picking them up. He had plenty of socks, anyway. “He needs help,” he explained.

“Then it’s good that you’re going to help him.”

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