Page 76 of Learning to Run

“You’re right. You have a wonderful family that’s supportedyour relationship with your Daddy and has done their best over the years tosupport you personally.” Bates was the best at handling Brady and didn’t evensmile when Brady huffed.

So, Bates had managed to very sweetly put Brady in his place,wherever that was…but did we have any idea what Brady wanted to begin with?

“What do you need help with?” Cash seemed to think that wasthe safest part to respond to and I couldn’t decide if he was a genius or verynaïve.

Brady looked over at Jude who was shaking his head. “But,Daddy…”

“You even said it wasn’t polite, Bambi.” Jude’s answer wasjust as cryptic as everything else had been and was not satisfying my curiosityin the least.

Leaning over toward Bates, I tried to whisper but I wasn’tsure it worked. “What do we do?”

Jude and Cash both rolled their eyes, which was kind of cuteactually, but Bates shrugged. “Ask him what he really wants to talk about isthe only answer I think.”

“It’s going to be weird.” I had to make sure Bates knewthat.

“I know, but it might be fun.” He was an eternal optimist.“Might as well ask and see what happens.”

Cash had his it’s not a good idea expression on, buthe didn’t tell us to stop.

“Alright, but you do it. I’m nervous.” And Doms were forhandling stressful stuff.

“The internet said this is my job, huh?” Bates laughedquietly and kissed my head as I nodded. “Alright, pup.”

Hmm, did he think this was about my pup side?

Bates had been really careful not to say anything aboutbeing our Dom or that part of our relationship at all. It’d been like we werejust three boring people who happened to have fallen into a relationship.

“Thank you, Sir.” Well, if he thought it was kink-related, Itold myself I should make sure Brady knew I was okay talking about it.

I just hoped he’d aim it at me, not Cash.

“Good boy.” Kissing my cheek, Bates ran his hand over myback as I straightened.

Everyone at the table was looking at us, but they were allwearing different expressions. It was kind of fun. Cash was skeptical andbrooding. Jude was looking at us like we were insane for indulging Brady, andBrady was excited that he was getting his way.

“What did you want to talk about, Brady?” Bates didn’t drawit out or tease Brady, so I thought that meant he wanted to get it over with.

Or he wanted to fuck with Jude.

It could’ve gone either way, honestly.

“I would like to discuss Cash’s role in your relationship.”Brady sat up very primly and just kept going as my and Cash’s eyes got wide. “Iunderstand Gareth is a pup and that’s why he needs two partners. He’s veryexcitable and pups take a lot of work. I know that even if I’ve never seen hispup side.”

Brady waited like I was supposed to say something, but hewas right, he hadn’t seen my pup side, so I just nodded.

Bates was trying not to smile, though, so I knew he’d foundsomething manipulative Brady had said cute. “I can understand your logic.”

When that was all Bates said, Brady sighed and Jude was nowtrying not to smile.

They were all so weird.

“I’m missing bits of the rest of the logic, though.” Bradylooked like he couldn’t have that and just kept going. “Why does Cash need twoboyfriends? Why do you?”

Oh, he’d given Bates a way in.

Bates smiled wider, ready and willing to throw himself infront of the Brady train to save our Cash. “I fell in love with them and I lovethe way they see the world and how close they are together. They just neededsomeone to step in and show them they were more than roommates. We wouldn’twork if it were just any two of us.”

Nodding, Brady looked like he approved of the response, butit took him a few seconds to realize he hadn’t gotten the answer he’d reallywanted. Jude knew it too because he sighed and started to fuss at Brady.“Bambi—”

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