Page 97 of Trained Royal
Kieren closed his eyes, his body sinking into the sofa. “I knew it,” he whispered.
Patrick swallowed, not knowing what Kieren would want to do with the new information.
Kieren opened his eyes again, staring directly at Patrick, and smiled. “Thank you.”
“What are you going to do?”
Kieren smiled. “Nothing.”
Patrick jerked. “Nothing?”
“I don’t need to do anything. I certainly don’t want to jeopardise their jobs. All I wanted to know was the truth, and I have it. Thanks to you.”
Patrick scrunched his face. “Freddie, really. I just asked him.”
“I wouldn’t have thought to ask him, though. Thank you.”
Kieren pulled Patrick into his arms and squeezed him, burrowing his face into Patrick’s neck. Patrick kept a tight hold, feeling the emotions working their way through Kieren’s body. He might be glad of the truth, but he was sure the man would be dealing with the knowledge for many weeks to come. Kieren pulled back.
“I’m going to set a day to speak with Timothy again after Christmas. I want to forgive and not forget but set aside the anger and sadness I feel whenever I think of them. I need to remember the good times, which include taking planes.” Kieren stared at him. “Will you help me?”
“With everything you need,” Patrick promised.
Patrick held him again, then cupped his face. “Let’s go celebrate with your friend. What better way to remember them?”
Kieren blinked, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Let’s go.”
When they arrived at the location, with Jade and Nina in tow as well as a couple of extra guards for that day only who were already at the party, pretending to be part of the venue security, Patrick threaded his fingers through Kieren’s trying not to let on how nervous he was. He’d only spoken to Zane that one time, and he was worried the man wouldn’t like him.
“Kieren!”
Kieren let go of Patrick when a tall, muscular guy threw his arms around him and lifted him clear off the ground.
“Put me down, you jackass. I’m injured,” Kieren said.
It took him a minute, but he did. The man gripped Kieren’s biceps and held him at arm’s length. “Well, you ain’t changed a bit, have you?”
“Neither have you, Zane.” Kieren shook his head. “Congrats.”
“Thank you. I’ll take you to meet Viv in a moment.” His eyes flicked over Kieren’s shoulder to Patrick. “I believe you have someone to introduce first.”
Kieren chuckled and reached for Patrick’s hand. “Patrick, meet Zane. Zane, be nice. This is Patrick.”
“Nice to put a face to a name,” Patrick said.
Zane clasped his hand, shaking with no extra strength, even though Patrick had expected it. “Nice to meet the man who has stolen Kieren’s heart.”
Patrick and Kieren flushed, then laughed. “Shut up,” Kieren said. “Take us to Viv. I haven’t seen her in far too long.”
Zane clapped him on the shoulder, making him wince, and led the way.
“Kieren! I’m glad you could make it!”
A woman with big brown curls that barely came up to Kieren’s shoulders hugged his boyfriend, and Patrick admitted he was a little jealous.
“Hey, Viv. Why did you agree to marry this lug?” Kieren thumbed at Zane. “You can do so much better.”
“I know, but he can’t, and I can’t make him unhappy because it makes me unhappy. It’s a lose-lose situation.” She seemed earnest. Patrick had to take another look at them all, but then they burst out laughing, and Patrick shook his head.
