Page 14 of Kennedy

He slid into the seat next to Seymour, who turned toward him, his mouth already open. Kennedy wasn’t sure what Seymour had been about to say, but he snapped his mouth shut when he saw Kennedy. “I don’t think I have to ask why you’re here,” he said.

“Your brother.”

Seymour nodded. “That’s what I thought. What has he done? Pushed you away because he felt he didn’t deserve you? Has he been hiding in the shop and avoiding you?”

Kennedy frowned. “Is that something he would do?”

Seymour and Jimmy exchanged a glance. Seymour sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, and Kennedy readied himself for whatever was coming. It didn’t look like it would be good.

“Our parents have always had strong opinions on mates and what our family is supposed to do when we meet ours.”

Kennedy nodded. “I know. Lewis told me about the tradition of dumping everything to focus on your mate. I think it’s ridiculous.”

“I was hoping that would be your opinion, so I’m glad to hear that. Lewis and I feel the same way. It was only hypothetical until I met Jimmy, and then I had to make my decision. I stood up to our parents and told them I wouldn’t be quitting my job and that I had Jimmy’s support.”

“Lewis has mine. I don’t expect him to give up the shop.”

“What I’m trying to say is that it was fairly easy for me to tell our parents to fuck off. I love them, and I don’t want to lose them, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my happiness to keep them in my life. I’m not so sure the same can be said for Lewis. He’s not like me. I’m not saying he’s not strong, but he’s gentle and sweet. He doesn’t want to hurt people, and he tends to sacrifice a lot to ensure he doesn’t. I’m not saying he’s going to give in and agree to follow our family tradition because that’s what our parents want, but it doesn’t mean it’s not tearing him up inside.”

“And here I was, about to ask you how I should go about wooing him. This isn’t what I expected from this conversation.”

Seymour’s eyes widened. “Shit, sorry. Is that really why you’re here?”

“It is. I know he’s different from you, but that’s why I like him so much. I don’t need him to be harder or to tell your parents to fuck off. I can do that for him if he needs me to.”

Seymour grinned. “Maybe we could yell at them together.”

“Or maybe you could give Kennedy what he wants,” Jimmy pointed out. “You want to woo him?”

“Yeah. I know we’re mates, but it doesn’t mean he’s not important, and I had the feeling that he tends to prioritize other people.”

“He does,” Seymour said with a nod. “Especially me, if I’m honest.”

“You’re his twin brother. I wouldn’t have expected anything different.”

“That’s going to change now, and it’s a good thing. I have Jimmy, and Lewis has you.” Seymour leaned closer. “He deserves to be wooed. Did you have anything in mind?”

“Not really. It’s why I’m here.”

“Well, he loves romance. He reads a lot of romance novels, and he has a flower shop. Maybe you should read one of his books to get ideas.”

“I don’t have time to read.”

“Your loss because some of those books are great. I guess you could go with a classic and take him out for dinner.”

Kennedy had thought about that, but it didn’t feel like enough. “You said he likes books?”

“Yeah. Give him a book, and he’ll love you forever. You know, there’s someone else you should probably ask about all of this. I know my brother well, but he also has a best friend.”

“He mentioned Danny.”

“What are you waiting for, then? Go find Danny and ask him what he thinks you should do. I’m sure he’ll be delighted.”

Kennedy didn’t want to push his way into Lewis’s life. Lewis hadn’t introduced him and Danny yet, and maybe there was a reason for that.

Or maybe they were just all busy, and Kennedy needed to stop allowing fear of losing his mate to drive him and his actions. “I’ll do that.”

Seymour nodded. “Good. I expect to see my brother smile every day from now on.”

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