Chapter Nine

Dane

Why? How? The entire back seat of the borrowed truck was filled with bags and he hadn’t even checked half the things off his Christmas shopping list. Most of what he had bought hadn’t been on the list to begin with.

He glanced from the back seat to Maverick at his side.

Dane had borrowed Remi’s truck for his shopping adventure. Since his back seat had been modified to hold Maverick, Dane had needed the space. It appeared he hadn’t thought this completely through.

“Maybe you should sit in the front?” Dane asked his partner.

Maverick looked from the bags in his spot then back at Dane. Like Dane was supposed to figure this out.

“Never had this problem before I started liking people,” he mumbled under his breath. Eric and Remi were good with tickets to a football or hockey game. Dane hadn’t ever bought presents for anyone else.

He just knew that Eric was going to give him hell about this. This would be Dane covered in makeup all over again. And Dane couldn’t even blame this on anyone else. It had been his bright idea to go to the fucking mall ten days before Christmas. He must have lost his mind.

His cell rang, pulling him from his dilemma. Dane slammed the back door closed before pulling his phone from his back pocket.

“Hey.” He answered Jesse Lambert’s call.

“Dane. Thank God you answered!”

He immediately went on alert. They had put feelers out, searching for Ezra’s parents, but nothing had come from it. It hadn’t appeared that the older couple had stayed in town long. “What’s wrong?”

Jesse growled. “I can’t figure out the etiquette on buying lace for someone.”

Dane pulled the phone away from his ear. Double checked that his screen said Jesse Lambert. Then put his cell back to his ear and asked, “What?”

“I don’t want to embarrass him but he would look amazing in his peach lace—”

“Are you fucking with me?” Dane demanded. Leaning against the side of the truck, he patted his thigh for Maverick. His canine partner rested along his leg as Dane tried to get his heart to slow down.

The quick surge of adrenaline had him off balance. What was Jesse even saying?

“It’s perfect. The shade would look so good against his darker tone. I haven’t seen him wear this color though. He usually dresses in blacks and dark blues. But he needs this. Well, he needs a lot. How did I end up with two baskets full of silk and lace. I can’t buy this! What was I thinking? I need to get out of here.”

The Christmas craziness didn’t appear to have captured only Dane. That made him feel a little better. But now he needed to talk Jesse off the cliff, it appeared.

“Where are you?” Dane asked.

“At the mall. That little boutique store that carries men’s sexy garments. I didn’t mean to come inside. I had a very safe and nice gift picked out. But this peach color. It’s perfect for him.”

How was this his life? Dane knocked his head back against the truck window. He was going to have rescue a billionaire, wasn't he? Didn’t Jesse have people that could shop for him?

“Five minutes. Don’t move,” Dane ordered.

“What? How?”

He hung up, cutting off Jesse’s questions. Dane did not want to go back to the madhouse that the mall was in the middle of December, but Jesse had started to sound very panicked. A good friend would hurry to help.

Dane remembered fondly when he didn’t have any friends. No one used to call him about something like this.

He pushed from the truck and gave the hand motion to stay by his side.

They strolled back out of the parking garage before making their way down the walk to the entrance of the mall. Of course, they grabbed attention with Dane in his jeans and leather jacket and Maverick in his brown working vest. Brandon was at work or Dane would have left the canine with his boy.

Thanks to the working dog, do not pet sign on the vest they didn’t get bothered.

It took a good ten minutes to get through the crowd and find the store that Jesse had mentioned. He strolled through the open door while glancing around. He spotted Jesse in the corner looking more disheveled than Dane had ever seen him.

Jesse saw Dane walking toward him and threw his hands up in the air. “You hung up on me! People don’t hang up on me.”

Dane snorted. “Then you called the wrong person to save you.”

“Eric didn’t answer,” Jesse complained.

He laughed. Eric would have been a much better choice to call. “He and Ezra took Annabelle to the aquarium. There’s a special penguin show today.”

“Oh.” Jesse's shoulders slumped. “I’m in real trouble here.”

Dane looked at the two baskets filled to the rim. “You want to buy lace for a boy? Someone you’re dating?”

“No.” Jesse looked away. “An…employee.”

Dane snorted. “Dude, you can’t buy an employee lace undies or any other sexy gifts.” That was a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

“We’re sort of friends,” Jesse snapped back.

“Friendly enough to buy him lace? Silk? Underwear?”

“No,” Jesse admitted. He studied Dane for a long moment. “You can buy it for him.”

There wasn’t a soul in the world that Dane could imagine himself buying something lacy for. Well, he would for Brandon if that was something his boy was into. Wait. “Who exactly do you want to buy this for?” He picked up the peach lace bodysuit on top of the pile.

It really was a gorgeous color.

And it was large. Two times the size that Brandon would need.

Dane didn’t even know stores carried that size in pretty clothes.

“You buy it,” Jesse demanded.

“No.” Dane laid the pretty piece down. “Neither of us are buying that.”

“But—”

Dane hooked his arm through Jesse’s before towing him out of the store.

“But—”

He didn’t stop. No good could from this and Dane couldn’t believe that he had to be the voice of reason. Where was Remi when Dane needed him?

There was a little coffee shop tucked in the corner of the mall that wasn’t too crowded. Dane found them a small table and pushed Jesse into one of the seats.

“Hey, guys,” the waitress said as she approached. “What will you have?”

“Black coffee,” Dane replied.

“Same, please,” Jesse managed. He was still scowling.

“A bowl of water for your dog?”

“Yes, please.” Dane waited until the young lady walked away before leaning forward.

“You can’t buy Lake that outfit,” he said sternly. “It is inappropriate and he would be embarrassed.”

“It’s so pretty though,” Jesse whined.

“Yes, and he would look gorgeous in it,” Dane said. “That’s not the point.”

“He’ll barely talk to me. I try to get his attention but he’s always busy or if he’s on his break, he’s surrounded by other people.”

“And you think giving him that gift will change that? Lake would be mortified opening that at work.”

Jesse rolled his eyes. How did he remind Dane of Brandon at that moment? “I wasn’t going to give it to him at work. I was going to give it to him at the Christmas dinner Brandon invited us over for.”

“Christmas dinner.” This was the first that Dane was hearing about this. Not that he was surprised. Since the Christmas lights incident, Brandon had been sharing more about his past. The loneliness. How he’d always wanted to host large holiday events.

Sharing his own past had opened more doors and brought him and Brandon even closer. Not something Dane had even thought possible.

But communication. That really was the key to a good relationship.

“He called this morning. That was when I realized that I needed to pick something up for all the boys.” Jesse frowned. “It got out of hand.”

It was a good thing that Dane had already shopped for the boys. At least he didn’t have to go back into any stores. He needed to concentrate on Jesse and whatever the hell the other man had been thinking. Jesse was normally very calm and collected. “Lake wouldn’t want to open a gift like that, even in front of us,” Dane told Jesse.

“But you’re his friends.”

“And you know how shy and reserved he is. That’s the kind of present that a Daddy should give his boy.”

“I know.” Jesse’s sigh held all his frustration.

The waitress returned with two mugs of black coffee and a bowl for Maverick. Dane took his time sipping the strong brew. This might be the best part of the entire shopping experience. Good coffee. He’d have to bring Brandon by.

Jesse didn’t drink his coffee but instead played with the handle of his mug.

“Can I give you some advice?” Dane asked.

“Didn’t really think that was your thing.”

“It’s not,” Dane agreed. “But I’ve been in your shoes.”

Jesse lifted his gaze.

“Money is not going to matter to Lake. He’s not that type of boy. You could buy him a dozen pretty outfits and it won’t change a thing.”

“But he likes pretty things and I enjoy seeing him dressed up,” Jesse argued.

“Have you ever spent any time around him away from the club? Where you’re not his boss?”

“I’m not really his boss though. I own the club, but I don’t have anything to do with how it runs on a day-to-day basis.”

“You’re his boss,” Dane said. “There are no two ways about it. That’s something that the two of you can overcome though.”

“You think so?” Jesse asked.

“If you’re willing,” Dane said. “But let me tell you, man, you’ll have to work for it.”

“I’ve worked for everything that has ever meant anything to me. I’m not afraid of hard work. I made my money by putting my heart and soul into what I wanted.”

“But are you willing to do that now?” Dane could see that Jesse still wasn’t getting it. Jesse might have had to fight for what he had but the money was there now and maybe he’d forgotten how the other side lived.

“I—”

“Think before you answer,” Dane said quietly. Gently. He liked Jesse. Dane also cared about Lake and didn’t want to see the boy hurt. The two of them. Yeah, that could be a recipe for disaster. It might also be amazing to watch. If anyone deserved to be spoiled by a billionaire, it was that sweet boy. They were far from that point though.

“I don’t think I understand.”

“That’s a start.” Dane drained his coffee. It really was that good and he needed the kick of caffeine. “You haven’t spent time with Lake away from the club even though you’ve been invited the house for the little parties.”

Jesse opened his mouth. Dane could see the argument on the tip of his tongue and held up a hand.

“I get it. Things came up at work,” Dane said.

“I had planned to go,” Jesse said, but he was nodding.

“And Christmas?” Dane questioned. “What are the chances that you’ll cancel last minute? Honestly?”

Jesse winced.

“If Lake wore that pretty little peach number, would you expect him to not complain when you cancel dates last minute? Or would you have him be the only little without a Daddy at one of the parties because you didn’t show again?”

Jesse dropped his eyes.

“That’s what you need to think about before you buy anything for Lake like that outfit.”

“I get it,” Jesse replied softly.

“Now I have another question for you,” Dane said. These were the questions that finally pushed Dane out of his comfort zone.

“Alright,” Jesse agreed.

“How will you feel the first time that you see Lake with a Daddy that isn’t you?” Dane questioned.

Jesse’s head snapped up.

“That question hurts, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

Dane nodded. He pressed on. “How will you feel when Lake turns to someone else for comfort? If he’s sick, or scared, or hurt. Because it will happen. He is too good of a man. Too special of a little to stay single forever.”

“Damn, man.” Jesse rubbed a hand over his chest. “You don’t pull punches, do you?”

“Someone close to me asked me these questions not long ago. I had to face some hard truths about my life.”

“And you chose your boy,” Jesse said knowingly.

Dane smiled. “It turned out there was never any choice.”

“Fuck,” Jesse murmured.

“Are you going to drink that or play with the cup?” Dane asked, eyeing Jesse’s coffee.Jesse laughed before pushing the mug away. “I don’t even like coffee. It’s just habit now.”

Dane gratefully stole the drink and downed it. Even cold, the coffee was good.

“Asshole,” Jesse teased as he laughed. “Thanks for answering your phone.”

He shrugged. “We Daddies have to stick together.”

* * * * *

Brandon

His feet hurt and Brandon was looking forward to the soothing bubble bath that Dane promised him when Brandon finally got home. Late shift was his favorite. Busy enough that he didn’t have too much time to think about his past but not crazy with patients and their demands.

Must be a full moon or something because his night had been pure chaos.

Brandon kept his eyes down in the hope that no one would try to catch his attention and he could make a clean exit.

He avoided other nurses rushing to someplace else, doctors barking orders, and patients milling around. Brandon finally reached the door when he heard a voice he recognized. He snapped his head up, trying to find the speaker.

“I hate leaving you here alone. Are you sure that your ride is on the way?”

“I’m fine. My ride will be here in less than five minutes. Go! I know how busy it was on the floor.”

“Dom. I’m worried.”

“And I said I’m fine!” Dom’s voice rose.

“Hey, Dom.” Brandon stepped up beside the wheelchair that Dom sat in. He placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder before smiling at the nurse hovering close. “Ready to get home?”

The nurse gasped. “You really did have a ride!” She turned her bright smile toward Brandon. “I thought he was waiting on an Uber again. That just isn’t safe.”

“I got him,” Brandon told the woman.

“Great!” She bent and kissed Dom on the cheek. “See you next time.”

“Yeah. Bye,” Dom mumbled as he stared down at his hands.

Brandon waited until the young nurse had hurried away. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited. Gaze glued to the top of Dom’s bent head.

“I’m fine,” Dom said.

Brandon didn't reply. He just waited.

“We don’t have to make a big deal about this,” Dom said.

Brandon crouched down in front of him.

“It's not like I’m not used to treatments.”

Brandon nearly lost his composure. He hadn’t known that Dom was sick. Sure, Dom had never appeared to be the healthiest person, but Brandon tried to mind his own business. He’d hoped that Dom would come to him if he needed help.

Dom’s phone was open in his lap. Brandon slipped the little device from his cold fingers. The Uber app was on the screen.

Brandon canceled the ride request.

“Hey!”

Brandon locked the phone screen before giving the cell back. “Now I’m your ride. I can wait here all night.” It was cold though.

Dom shook his head. “I—”

“Do not say that you are fine. No one gets wheeled out of the hospital that is fine. Should I call Ezra? He would probably know what’s going on, right? There’s no way you’d keep this from your best friend.”

“You wouldn’t!” Dom demanded.

“Wouldn’t I?” Brandon waved his own phone in Dom’s face. “I don’t have many friends. I don’t plan on losing one of the few that I do have. Besides, do you want to ruin Christmas for Annabelle? That little girl loves you.”

“Low blow, dude,” Dom accused.

It had been. But it was really cold. Brandon wanted to be in his nice warm car. Even better would be the bath that had been promised. “Tick tock.” He shook his phone.

“I have chronic kidney disease,” Dom confessed quickly.

Looking down, Brandon spotted the bruises from constant needle pricks where his dialysis fistula would be. “Dialysis?”

“Three times a week for five hours at a time,” Dom told him.

Brandon knew only the basics of kidney disease. “You do treatment here?”

“Yeah, normally I come earlier, but I had car trouble and was late.”

“So that left you without a vehicle.”

“It’s fine. I have the weekend off. I’ll have my car fixed before my next treatment Monday.”

He had to think back on all the time that he spent around Dom. Brandon hadn’t noticed anything off, but Dom did limit the amount of fluid he took in and what he ate.

“You should have told me so I could provide appropriate food and watched your fluid intake.”

Dom snorted. “I’ve been doing this on my own for over a year.”

“That doesn’t mean that your friends won’t want to help.”

Dom opened his mouth. To argue, no doubt.

“It’s okay to accept the help from people who care about you,” Brandon said. “Especially if one of those people works in the medical field.”

“I know.” Dom threaded his cold fingers with Brandon’s. “It’s hard. My parents gave up on me after I came out as gay. If they knew I was sick now, they’d say it was punishment for my sinful ways.”

“Fuck them,” Brandon stated fiercely.

Dom laughed. “What would your Daddy say if he heard you talking like that?”

Brandon didn’t even have to think about his response. “He would agree. Then he’d go beat your father up.”

“He probably would.” The naughty grin that Brandon associated with Dom was there for a brief moment.

“Good. I’m glad we got that out of the way.” He rose and walked behind the wheelchair. “Let’s go home.”

“Finally,” Dom sighed. “I’m tired.”

“I bet.” Brandon had once heard that one hour of dialysis had the same effect on the body as running up ten flights of stairs at full speed. It was hard on the patients and that was not considering what other medical issues they might have.

He pushed the wheelchair down the sidewalk toward the employee parking garage.

Dom would eventually figure out that Brandon had no intention of taking him home. Well, Brandon was taking Dom home…just to Brandon’s home. Where there were plenty of people to look after his friend until Brandon figured out how to handle this situation.

They were friends and Brandon couldn’t have Dom making himself sicker by trying to accomplish everything on his own.

Once he was close enough, Brandon hit the remote start to get the vehicle warmed up for them.

It didn’t take long to get Dom settled in the passenger side of Brandon’s vehicle. He pushed the wheelchair off to the side. Someone would grab it or Brandon would take it back inside the next time he was on shift.

He stopped at the back of his car and shot off a quick text.

Bringing Dom home with me. I’ll explain later. Can you make sure that the guest room is ready for him?

Brandon double checked the text sent to Dane before he pocketed his cell.

Climbing into his chair, Brandon was relieved the interior was warming quickly with the heater blew full blast. Thank God for remote start. Vegas wasn’t the coldest of cities and Brandon knew he would never make it somewhere the temps dropped to the negatives.

Dom sat with his eyes closed as Brandon backed out of his parking space. He wished he had a blanket or something to offer his friend. Even from across the seats he could see Dom shiver.

Where was his jacket?

The boy really needed a Daddy, whether Dom admitted it or not. He claimed to not want that kind of burden but Brandon suspected that Dom saw himself as the burden.

Well, that was going to stop immediately.

There was power in numbers.

If Dom didn’t want to listen to him, then Brandon would call in Dane, Ezra, Eric, and Lake. Between all of them there would be a schedule set to get Dom to and from treatments.

Brandon had an entire bedroom that was sitting empty since he’d sneakily moved all of Dane’s stuff into his room the morning after their first time together. Dane had never questioned it or even made a comment. He would simply ask where whatever he needed was or where Brandon wanted him to put something.

So Brandon could totally be sneaky. Totally.

Relief filled him when Dom began to snore.

Or maybe not.

He might need to call in reinforcements. Brandon didn’t want Dom mad at him. Dom could be scary at times. Not Daddy scary. Just…he had a bit of a sharp tongue. Yes, he’d let the Daddies help. Power in numbers after all.