Page 10 of Kennedy

Seymour glared. “Who is it?”

This was it. Lewis knew that Seymour didn’t care about authority figures or anything like that. Technically, Jimmy was his superior since he worked at the facility, although not with the trainees. Seymour wouldn’t give a fuck that it was Kennedy, not in a professional way, but he might have a problem with Kennedy personally.

Lewis hoped that wouldn’t be the case, and he really needed to stop obsessing over what-ifs. Seymour wouldn’t care who Lewis was with as long as he was happy, and Lewis was pretty sure that Kennedy would make him happy.

That was how things usually worked, anyway.

“Your trainer, Kennedy.”

He waited for his brother’s reaction. Maybe Seymour wouldn’t like the fact that Lewis’s mate was his trainer. There was little Lewis could do about that, but he didn’t want them to fight over something like this.

Seymour grinned. “Kennedy, huh? I can’t say I expected it, but I guess it fits. He’s a nice guy. He’ll treat you right.”

Lewis slumped back in his chair. “That’s it?”

“What else do you want me to say? I like Kennedy, and I think he’ll make you happy. You’re his mate, so there’s little else I can do or say.”

“So you’re really okay with me dating him?”

“Is that what you’ve been doing? Dating him?”

Lewis’s cheeks flushed, and he looked away. “Not yet. When I saw him, I panicked, and I haven’t seen him again since then.”

“What is there to panic about?” Seymour asked. “He’s your mate. I know it doesn’t solve every problem, but it does help. I’m really happy you found your mate, Lewis. I’ve wanted that for you since I met Jimmy.”

Lewis reached over the table to squeeze his brother’s hand. He didn’t tell him about their parents and how they still had hope that Lewis would follow their family tradition and focus his life on his mate. It wasn’t Seymour’s cross to bear.

Lewis had never understood why his parents did that, but now that he’d met Kennedy, he did, in part. Ever since he’d seen Kennedy at the party, he couldn’t stop thinking about him. He wanted to find him, spend all of his time with him, and forget about the flower shop. He knew he’d regret it once he was more settled in their relationship, but for now, every fiber of his being wanted to go to the facility, find Kennedy, and be with him.

Seymour’s smile widened as he noticed something behind Lewis. Lewis was almost too afraid to turn and look, but he’d rather know why his brother looked like the cat that ate the canary than be surprised, so he did.

He turned in his seat, saw Kennedy, and quickly turned back around. “You knew he was going to be here?” he asked his brother.

“I didn’t. I was planning on meeting Hawthorne here after lunch, though. Maybe they’re here together.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Seymour’s expression turned more serious. “Talk to him. I promise he’s a good person.”

Lewis didn’t doubt that. He just wasn’t sure it would be enough to keep himself from panicking.

* * * *

WHEN KENNEDY NOTICEDSeymour and Lewis sitting by the window, he realized how excited he was. It didn’t make a lot of sense. Sure, he was curious about Lewis, but there was no explanation he could think of for why he felt like he would die if he didn’t go to the man rightnow.

Except for one, but Kennedy still didn’t know for sure, and he didn’t want to overwhelm Lewis. As a Nix, he’d have known right away if he and Kennedy were mates. If that was what happened, it was clear that Lewis had panicked from the way he’d run away. He’d been actively avoiding Kennedy the other day, moving around the room so they wouldn’t talk and leaving before Kennedy could get to him. Kennedy didn’t want him to feel cornered. He understood how odd the situation was considering what he did for a living and what he was teaching Lewis’s brother.

That didn’t mean he would stay away from his mate if that was what was wrong.

“You look ready to jump him,” Hawthorne muttered as he guided Kennedy toward the counter.

“I feel ready to jump him.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Nothing for sure.”

Hawthorne ordered coffee for both of them and arched a brow. “What about the not sure?”

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