Page 27 of Away in a Tentacle Lair
Leo
Iknock on the front door of the Briareus Manor. I'm expecting Kai to answer the door, or maybe a cousin; instead, it's an older man in a penguin suit.
It's not a literal black-and-white bird suit, but one of those formal suits you rent only for weddings and funerals.
Not a fucking Christmas dinner.
I'm feeling underdressed, and I've not entered the house yet.
“Hello. I'm Leo Rowland; I'm here for Christmas dinner with Kai Briareus?”
Yes, I posed that as a question, expecting the answer to benot in those clothes,but the man steps aside to allow me to enter.
“The young master is in the drawing room., sir.”
I'm beginning to think this man isn't part of the family.
“Mr Leo Rowland,” the man introduces me to the room, and I'm sure this man is the butler.
“Leo,” Kai calls, rising from one of many chairs in the large room. “Glad you came.”
He walks over to me, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt, which still looks smarter than I do.
“I'm sorry I didn't dress up. This is the best I have brought for Christmas alone in a hotel room.”
“We don't care how you're dressed, honey, only that you're not alone.” A woman starts across to me, and at her pace, she'll arrive before Kai. I brace myself for a kiss on each cheek. “I'm Sophie, Kai's aunt.”
“Don't let her play down her role in raising this brat,” a man pipes up. They all look similar, with the same hair and eyes as Kai but lacking his spirit.
“Dad,” Kai groans.
“He was never a brat, Rogan. Just a difficult child.”
“Let me show you around before they get out the photo album.”
Printed photos feel outdated, but they seem the right thing to have in this large old house. My mind conjures up albums of black-and-white pictures from as far back as photography existed, and then I start imaging the type of photos they’d have for a motherless water baby.
“I can imagine getting you in clothes was challenging.”
“Damn it, who told you?” Kai groans, trying to push me out of the door.
“Kai, I like this man already,” Rogan yells behind him.
“Sorry about them. None of them would leave me alone after I told them I was bringing someone to dinner.”
“Token gay in a large family, hey?”
“Uh, something like that.” Kai shrugs. “I'm the youngest, so they want to finish the set before focusing on the grandkids. Not that I'm planning on having kids.” Kai blushes again. It's a beautiful shade against his tanned skin. “I'll shut up now.”
“No, don't. I like it.”
“You're the first guy I've brought home.”
I guess my lonely Christmas prospects bumped up themeet-the-parentsscenario.
“I'm very grateful for your company.”
“Is that it?” Kai frowns. Our eternal walk down endless corridors stops as Kai turns to face me.
