Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Griffin Lawson

T he bar where we usually met up wasn't too far from the steakhouse, so I parked in my reserved spot and walked to the bar a few blocks away.

Our kink community was tiny but still pretty active, and the members were passionate. Far as I knew, there was a munch twice a month and at least one event, whether it was a play party at someone's house or we rented a space.

The cobblestone streets were lined with old-fashioned lights and small trees that were shifting in color. Green was morphing into orange and brown.

"Griffin!"

I looked over my shoulder, only to spot Madigan and his boy crossing the street.

I smiled. "Hey."

"Hey, yourself. It's been a minute, man." Madigan reached me, and I shook his hand firmly. He gave my arm a squeeze too. "Good to have you home, rock star. I read an interview about you the other day."

I chuckled. "The shit we do for good press."

He smirked and grabbed his boy's hand again. Both of them were familiar with that kind of promo. Madigan was a tattoo artist, semi-known for working with celebrities, and Abel, his husband and Little, was a hockey player for the Canucks.

"You lookin' forward to tonight, pet?" I asked.

Abel smiled widely. "Yes, Sir. We're gonna plan a Primal Pursuit event."

Shit, really? Looked like I'd returned home just in time.

"Do we have a date set?" I wondered.

"Next Saturday," Madigan confirmed.

Good. I'd make sure I wasn't working that night. It'd been my one stipulation anyway. Adam knew I preferred to have my weekends off. I'd come far enough in my career to be selective.

"Well, I'm game." I gestured for them to enter the bar first, and I followed.

The Corner had been our little community's hangout for years, and I much preferred it over the club we sometimes went to in Seattle. This was a regular bar with Irish influences. Twelfth it felt fucking great. To the point where I almost questioned heading to Europe in the first place.

After the handshakes and hugs, I threw an arm around Greg's shoulders. He hadn't said a word to me yet, and I had a feeling I knew why.

"You remember me, don't you, boy?"

He smiled politely, a bit uncomfortable. I would be too, in a suit like that.

Ryan laughed. "'Course he does—because he sure as shit ain't shy. Are you, baby?" He smooched Greg's cheek.

"It's hard to forget that bullwhip," Greg replied stiffly. "Hello, Sir."

Angel snickered, all gleeful and sadistic, and crept closer to Ryan. "Can you and Mister Griffin beat him tonight, Daddy?"

"I'm sure that can be arranged, princess," Ryan answered.

Yeah, sign me up. We'd find a place.

"Can everybody take a seat?" Madigan hollered. "Justin, go sit with your Owner."

"Yes, Sir." Justin scurried back to Jameson, and I found an available seat in their booth.

"Where's the rest of the family today?" I asked.

"Alex wanted a night in, so the girls decided to stay behind too," Jameson replied. He exchanged a brief glance with Justin. "I don't think we'll be very late either."

Justin shook his head. "Not considering y'all keep knocking up the girls."

I lifted my brows.

Jameson rumbled a laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Congratulations?" I half asked.

He smiled and nodded once. "Thanks."

"Don't you already have one?" I was fairly sure, but we didn't see much of each other outside kink, and their dynamic was still somewhat new. I must've missed a lot this last year.

Jameson nodded again. "Yeah, Alex and Lola didn't waste any time."

"But now it's both Lola and Harper," Justin said, smirking. "The Grady genes take no prisoners."

Jameson shook his head in amusement but said nothing.

Children were a blessing, but I wasn't gonna go down that road. I was a happy uncle. One who refused to change diapers and put up with screaming through the night.

"Thank fuck! I thought you weren't gonna show!" I heard Abel exclaim.

"Sorry I'm late!"

Fuck no.

I went rigid at the sound of that voice.

It can't be.

Madigan smiled. "Have a seat, pet. Glad you could make it."

"Thank you, Sir." That motherfucking kid hurried past this booth and sat down next to Abel.

I swallowed hard, unable to stop staring at him. Why the fuck was he here? My chest suddenly felt tight, and my ears started ringing.

Yeah, okay, this was why I'd left. Fuck me sideways, I couldn't believe I was reacting so strongly to seeing Tracy again. He'd annoyed me for a goddamn year at work before I'd told Adam I needed a break. But that was where Tracy belonged—at work . Not fucking here.

He hadn't seen me yet, despite how close he was. He'd sat down with his back to me, so my immediate thought now was, should I split? If I ducked out right now, chances were he'd never know. He'd see me at the restaurant.

He'd cut his hair, I noticed. It was a shade or two darker than my own, but his used to be shaggier. Now, maybe a couple inches long.

Madigan started talking to everyone, and Dave, another Top, joined him. A server came to take our orders as well, and music was playing, but I couldn't for the life of me decipher the lyrics or anything said. On autopilot, I ordered a beer when the server looked at me expectantly.

God-fucking-dammit. This wasn't gonna work. I couldn't run any longer, and I couldn't fool myself. Anger rose to the surface, and I scrubbed a hand over my face.

He'd been more than a small reason I'd left. He'd been the catalyst to my ultimately calling shit off with Charlie. It hadn't been working anyway; we were too different, and…I'd had that cocky little punk running around the restaurant, proving what a great chef he was, gushing about his nephews, proclaiming his love for hunting and being out on the water… Loving the small-town life in Camassia Cove. His blue eyes lit up when he talked about sustainability, living off the land, and cooking according to the season.

Was he kinky too?

"…and it's been a while since we hosted a Primal Pursuit, so here we are," Dave was saying.

I swallowed dryly.

So here we are…