K I E R O N

Chapter |7| Younger Brother

K I E R O N ' S P. O. V

Jacob sits on the couch, Ripley in his arms, cradling him with the kind of paternal love that I haven't seen before.

Most of the men I work with have kids, people I consider friends occasionally, and none of them act the way Jacob does.

None of them would bat an eyeliner if their kid ended up with minor cut. None would rush to home just tuck him in at the end of the night.

In fact, most of them say I'm lucky for not having the burden of a child to contend with.

Even Aaron parents in a different way. I guess he has Kiara for support, and more kids so that love if evenly divided between them all.

Jacob has no-one to rely on. He isn't following any rule book, but leading with his heart, acting as both mother and father to this beautiful boy that has already captured my heart.

When Ripley clung onto me, I felt something chip away at the iciness that surrounds my burrowed heart.

An offering of hope that came in the form of a three year old.

I don't know why I acted so fast, or how, but I just knew Ripley was important to Jacob, thus important to me, but now, I think I care for Ripley simply because of who he is.

That scares me most of all. Attachment.

Because this illusory dream is the extension of a one night stand.

Still we are trapped within that bubble, free from the outside world that would threaten to break us, but is our relationship even real if it's just us.

If we continue to ignore the basic factors that could break us?

There's a sharp knock on the door, and I scowl heading to open it. I know that wasn't Emery which only means that...

"Brother," Kai, slings one arm around me. The other clutches the one crutch he uses to hobble around. I soften a little, remembering the night I got that call, thinking I had lost another little brother.

Thankfully, he had gotten to the hospital on time. However it didn't change the fact he was still a massive pain my ass.

"What the..." I stop myself cursing, knowing Ripley is just behind us. Instead I turn to Emery, someone I happen to consider a close friend and a sister.

She winces, "Sorry, he used the I nearly died excuse and I couldn't resist him."

"It's fine," I brush it off for her, not him. My scowl lets him in on that.

Kai pats me on the back, and I note Emery's medical bag slung over his shoulder as he hobbles in. "Jacob this is my brother, Kai, and his girlfriend, Emery."

"Nice to meet you," He smiled but his apprehension shows. I glance to Emery, pleading with her to help me.

"Hey...Ripley right?" She gently approaches the small boy who tries to burrow himself into Jacob's chest.

"She's a Doctor bud. She can help the cut get better."

"So it won't hurt?" The pain in his voice is like tiny splinters jamming into my heart.

"Not when I fix it up," Kai passes her the black bag and she pulls out an array of children's players. Each one decorated with a different animal. "You can choose with ever you want and it'll protect the cut it can get better."

Ripley frowns, shuffling through the assortment. I take a chance and kneel besides him. "Look," I find the familiar purple one that has a dog printed on.

His face lights up, grasping it tightly in his hand. Emery nods for me to continue whilst she cleans the wound. "You know Ripley, I have no idea what sound a dog makes?"

I fight to laugh at his look of utter dismay at the proclamation. "Is it Baa?"

A small giggle leaves his mouth, "No!"

"Really? Then what about Neigh?"

His laughs grow louder, echoing against the walls. We're all fighting smiles, even Emery as she starts to glue the wound together.

"I thought it was Moo!" Kai chimes in.

Ripley starts to shake his head a little, forcing Jacob to hold it still. He starts to become distraught to I change tactics.

"Please Ripley can you help us? I need to know what sound a dog makes."

"Woof!" He barks out. "Woof! Woof!"

"Oh wow, that's it. Ripley are you sure you're not a dog? That sounds just like the one I have at home."

"You have a doggy?" His eyes are wide, filled with excitement and curiosity. I don't feel great about lying to a three year old so instead I tell the truth.

"Actually, my niece does and sometimes when she comes to stay, so does her dog. It's really big and loud,"

"And smelly." Kai adds. He hates dogs, especially the new Labrador that Tessa just bought Aurelia.

I would mention the fact Kiara has tigers but I don't think Jacob would be too impressed that fact right now.

"You're smelly," Ripley shouts in response, laughing at Kai's look of shock.

Emery grabs the dog plaster and gently pressed it over the wound. "Smart kid, he is right babe you could use a shower or two."

He flashes her that smile I know all too well. "Only if you join me darling." Emery flamed red, whilst Jacob turns to distract Ripley, his lips tugging up.

I shut down anymore crude comments with a single look and gesture to the door. Instead, Kai makes himself at home, resting both arms along the length of the couch.

"So Jacob, I haven't heard much about you."

Fucking great. I rise onto the couch next to him, squeezing his hand tight.

I don't know why Kai has suddenly taken it upon himself to be my interrogator, to take the position of dad.

Jacob shifts Ripley onto my lap, surprising all of us, as the sleepy boy settle into my chest. I look to him, "I trust you," He murmurs, smiling that calm complacent smile that he settle on Kai.

"What do you want to know?"

Emery sidles next to Kai, mouthing I'm so sorry to us both. "How exactly do you know my brother?"

I haven't told anyone about Jacob yet, making Kiara a vague excuse but she didn't press further about it.

"We met at a bar a few months ago,"

"So...you're dating?"

I'm about to answer when Jacob interjects, "Yes. I really like your brother and hopefully our relationship continues to be this smooth."

"Relationship?" Kai turns to me, hurt flaring in his eyes. "You didn't tell me you were in a committed relationship."

"It's still new, everything about this is new and I wasn't ready yet."

"But he said a few months,"

Fuck. Alas the truth must come out eventually.

I quickly glance down at Ripley, snoring away into my shirt. "We slept together a few months ago. Then we bumped into each other recently and decided to try again. A real relationship with commitment and all that other s**t. I'm trying to be happy here Kai,"

"Hey I know that, and I didn't mean to...fuck I did this wrong didn't I?"

Emery presses a kiss into his neck. "Yes, but it's okay because he loves you even when you f**k up. And so do I."

Kai gives her that favoured look reserved only for her. Turning my head to the side, I realise Jacob is giving me that same look. Light eyes searing with the kind of intense emotion that only ever be acquainted with love.

"I wouldn't have expected anything less." Jacob says, breaking our gaze. "You love your brother, you're protective of him naturally so let me ask you something, am I good enough for your big brother?"

I want to interject, to tell Jacob the a million reasons why he is the perfect soul to match mine.

Kai takes charge instead, and for once I pledge all my faith into my little brother. "From what I know, you're a dependable man. You're kind and caring and you have strength almost equal to my brother's. I like that you're straight forward and that you resemble something of a fun guy because honestly my brother needs that in his life."

"Well thanks, now how about we turn this into a double date since you're here."

"I'll order Chinese." Emery states, already dialling the number.

Jacob turns to me and gently peels Ripley off my chest. "I'll put him in my bed."

The absent cold lingers without the both of them with me, clinging to the heat of my body. I instinctively clutch his shirt. Jacob stills, a small smile of knowing spreading across his face.

He cups my rough jaw with his free hand, ducking down to kiss me. I breathe into the kiss, the rich scent of wine clinging to our tongues as we let them dance.

"I'll be right back." The reassurance settles my nerves, and I settle back on the couch, smiling.

Kai leans forward, "I f*****g love him bro."

Me too.

***

"I'm stuffed. I can't even think about food right now or I'll explode."

"Same." I groan, trying not to be too loud since Ripley is snoring away on the other side of Jacob.

It's nearing one in the morning now, yet sleep is nowhere close to luring me in. Kai and Emery just left after ordering about fifty spring rolls that we all somehow managed to finish.

Now, I lay content across Jacob's king size bed, arm wrapped him, both our heads leant back against the board.

"Tell me something." He murmurs, the ripe midnight sky illuminated by the hung moon.

"Okay this is something you don't know about me, not many do because it's something I like to keep private." He just smiles as though to say carry on, whereas I'm freaking out that he'll think I'm a loser or something.

Stupid thought because Jacob is the least judgemental person I have ever met, but still it's hard to keep those insecurities from creeping in.

"I want to open a flower shop one day. Nothing fancy, just a simple business where someone can get a bouquet of tulips for a regular price. It's always just been a pipe dream but now it's something I'm looking into really doing, and I want an bee hive too. I took a few courses in bee keeping back in college and fell in love with it. My mom has a hive I tend to but I want be able to teach others the craft of it all."

Jacob is silent for a steady minute then, "f**k, I knew you were interesting Kieron Romano but I had no idea that I was dating a certified nature lover. That sounds amazing and hey, I could help you look for rental places too."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I know a ton of stores for sale that could work. Maybe Ripley and I could be your first students?"

"I thought you would think I was..."

"What?" I shake my head but he urges me on.

"I don't know...weird or something. I've had a few comments before when people find out I'm gay and interested in botany they can be..."

"Cruel. Yeah, try surrounding yourself with the kids at school who think football is everything and then coming out as bisexual. You think your friends would understand and then they just don't, and to realise you're alone in this world."

"Hey," I grab his hand, holding it tight. "You're not alone anymore. You have me, not matter what happens I'll always be here."

"Thank you," He murmurs, before a wide spread grin stretched along his face. "By the way, I like your brother."

I snort. "Everyone likes Kai. He's infectious in that way."

Jacob nudges my shoulder. "Hey people like you too. You're very likeable."

"You're my boyfriend you have to say that."

The word lingers between us, frosty as hell.

"I'm sorry about that, it just came out. I should have asked you first."

"Is that you want?"

"Do you?" f**k. He volleyed it back to me.

Be a f*****g man and own your damn feelings for once Kieron.

"Yeah, I do. I want to hold your hand, call you stupid pet names we'll both secretly laugh at,

I want to spend every evening like this, the three of us."

"It was Ripley that really sold me huh?" I laugh, cupping his face.

"Ripley comes with you, you're a package deal and I want you both in my life. We're going at a f*****g hundred miles an hour, yet I've never been more certain in my entire life."

"It's weird right?" He breathes out. "This feeling, this connection it shouldn't be this easy."

"Maybe because it's so right, it is easy? Maybe easy is what we both deserve now?"

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A/N: Thoughts on Ripley being cute? Inspo is Moffat and Farrow's son from the Like US series by the Ritchie sisters ( my fav authors) ?