17. Justin

17Justin

The kids saton the floor playing with their toys as we relaxed after another crazy day. I had just looked up to see Theo crashing a car into Sara’s tower of blocks, knocking them down. “Hey, Teo. Don do dhat!” Sara yelled. She looked over to me, her eyes wide in horror. “Did eww see dhat, Unca Jussin?”

I snickered. “Theo, move the car away from your sister’s blocks, please.” I looked over to Kairo to find him chuckling at them.

“I know what you’re thinking. He’s only eighteen months old and probably has no idea what’s happening. But at least I can show Sara I tried,” I whispered.

“A father’s job is never done.” Kairo took a sip of his coffee, and I grinned. Truer words have never been spoken.

I looked back to the kids, and they had resumed playing happily, forgetting that Sara was on the verge of tears only seconds ago. I took a sip of my coffee and smiled. This was my life. Kairo, the kids, and I had spent the evening in, enjoying life as what felt like our family. When I glanced over to Kairo, he watched the kids, just as if he was their own father. It made me hopeful that my mate would be satisfied being a parent to Theo and Sara.

“So, how were the interviews?” Kairo asked, breaking into my thoughts. “You finished them up today, right?”

And who wouldn’t be happy to have a mate that actually listened to them when they talked. I thought maybe all mates found reasons to ignore what the other was saying. This was a sweet change in my eyes. I took a sip of my coffee and nodded.

“Yeah, I finally found someone. She happened to be the last one that I interviewed.” I laughed. “But considering all the applicants, I have to say that I’m just happy to have one out of the bunch. She’ll start Monday and is super enthusiastic about being hired. I pretty much hired her on the spot.”

Kairo grinned. “When you know, you know.” He winked, causing me to blush, and I looked away from him and over to the kids. That phrase seemed to be something he said a lot. I got the feeling he meant more by that than just my predicament interviewing bakers for the store. “I’m glad to hear it worked out, though. Tell me about her.”

“Well, she’s twenty-three, fresh out of culinary school with a minor in baking, and the most perfect candidate if I’ve ever seen one.” I stopped talking when Kairo stared down at his phone. He typed something, then pocketed it.

“Sorry, go on.” He looked up and focused his attention back on me.

“Something wrong?” I asked, taking another sip of my coffee.

“Nothings wrong. Alex just texted to see if I wanted to come out to the club tonight. I told him I was busy, so carry on.”

I frowned. “If you want to go, don’t stay home on my account. The kids and I will be fine. Besides, I’ll be putting them to bed soon. Maybe we’ll wind down with a movie or something. You can go. I really don’t want to keep you from hanging with your friends.”

Kairo tilted his head. “I’ve had a good time tonight. Have you ever thought that maybe I don’t want to leave you? I’m good with sticking around here. I promise I am. No worries!”

“But, Kairo,” I argued. I appreciated him saying that, but I also knew that Kairo didn’t spend nearly enough time with his friends. I wasn’t about to be the one that kept that from happening, whether Kairo understood that or not. “We’ll have other times we can spend together.”

Kairo snickered. “Sounds like you’re trying to get rid of me.”

“What? No! I’m just trying to be reasonable. I don’t want to keep you away from your bestie. That’s all. No ulterior motives here, I swear.”

“Then come with me. That’d be the perfect solution if you would come out with me. That way, you get to know Alex better.” He stood up from the couch. “It’s literally the perfect solution.”

I laughed incredulously at his suggestion. “Define perfect. Have you forgotten that I have two kids here that can’t just be left alone?” I stood up and looked over at Theo and Sara playing on the floor. As if he were helping me prove my point, Theo yawned, and I nodded. “See, Theo is exhausted. I’m going to have to get him to bed.” I shrugged. “I would love to go, don’t get me wrong, but there’s no way I can find a babysitter at this hour.”

“Granted!” Kairo said.

I frowned as a knock sounded at the door. I tilted my head and stared at Kairo. “What do you mean, and who could that possibly be?”

Kairo shrugged. “Perhaps it’s the babysitter that we need?”

I snickered and walked to the front door. Kairo was full of jokes, but as much as I wanted to get out of the house with him, I knew that it was impossible. I opened the door to find Ashley standing on our doorstep. “Ashley? What are you doing here?”

She held up four bags that were in her hands. “Tonight has been a nightmare,” she started. “May I come in?”

I stepped back, and she stepped into the foyer. “Hey, Ashley!” Kairo said, just entering the foyer. I looked over my shoulder to see a grin as wide as the sunset stretched across his handsome face. “What are you doing here?”

“She was just about to explain that to me,” I said, turning back to her.

“The electricity has been out in our neighborhood all evening. I didn’t have anywhere to turn but was hoping I could leave my meat in your freezer. Hopefully, it will be back on tomorrow, and this nightmare will be behind us, but I really don’t want all this meat to go to waste. Please.”

“Of course!” Kairo immediately jumped in. “In fact, why don’t you stay here tonight?”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “I would hate to be an inconvenience to you both.” She darted her glance from Kairo, then back to me. I gave a weak smile, still confused by the fact that she was there in front of us. It was a prayer that had quickly been answered.

“It’s no inconvenience,” Kairo argued.

“None at all,” I jumped in. “In fact, one could say that you’re some kind of answered prayer. Kairo and I kind of wanted to head out on the town tonight at the last minute, but the kids are still awake, and we didn’t have a babysitter.” He tilted his head. “Just for a few hours, really. I just wanted enough time to meet Kairo’s best friend. If you wouldn’t mind, that is.”

“I will definitely take you up on that offer. It’s hot and sticky at my place. So this works out perfectly. Thank you both.” She hurried into the living room, and we could hear her talking to the kids.

Kairo smirked. “Problem solved.”

I frowned, still confused how it suddenly just happened, but trying not to let that ruin the night.

* * *

“So,are we going to discuss the elephant in the car?” I asked on the way to the club.

Kairo looked around the car. “Where’s there an elephant? I would love to see that.” He burst out laughing, and even in the dark of night, I could see his face lit up in humor.

I shook my head. “We wanted a babysitter, and then poof…Ashley appears. Coincidence? I don’t know that I believe in coincidences. It seems like perfect timing, but I’m just not sure how that happened yet.”

Kairo chuckled. “Okay, well, I guess you would have found out about me sooner or later. So, I suppose now is as good of a time as any. The truth is, I have the ability to grant wishes. That means if someone has a desire or wish, then voila, consider it done.” He chuckled. “Believe me, sometimes it can be more of an issue than a relief.”

“Oh wow! Let me see if I understand. So, with your power, you knocked the electricity off in an entire neighborhood, putting a block in total lockdown?”

Kairo glanced over to me, and his face was ashen.

“No, I wouldn’t go that far. Let’s try this again. With my power, I can grant wishes, but I have nothing to do with how that wish is granted.” He scrunched up his face and turned back to watch the road. “Let’s just say that I can get things to happen, but how it happens is a whole different story. I promise you that I never said that I needed Ashley’s neighborhood to lose power. Besides, I wouldn’t say that. That’d be evil.” He chuckled at me.“Do you understand what I’m saying, though?”

I nodded, having some idea of what Kairo meant, but I still couldn’t believe that this had all played out in this manner. “I’m just grateful it worked out. I’m happy to be able to meet Alex since he means so much to you.”

Within a few short minutes, we had arrived at the club they frequented. Kairo pulled the car into a parking space that sat away from the other vehicles and turned the car off. He took the keys in hand and looked over to me with a smile on his face.

“Let’s go!” We got out of the car, and immediately Kairo walked around and took my hand. With his palm latched onto mine, I felt safe and secure and knew this night was destined to be great. When we entered the club, it was packed wall-to-wall with people. “Alex said he’d meet me over by the alcove,” Kairo yelled over the loud music.

We walked hand in hand to where Kairo pointed to find a man leaning against the wall. Sensing we were there, he turned his gaze on us. His eyes darkened as a scowl washed across his face. “Oh…you brought someone with you,” he snapped.

Taken aback by his rude behavior, I looked to see Kairo’s eyes were wide in shock. “Is that a problem for you?”

“Would have been nice if you had told me that you weren’t coming alone. I wanted to talk to you. Have some alone time, but not with your new shadow standing here gawking at me.”

Wow, I never knew one could make the word shadow sound so much like an insult.

I opened my mouth to argue my case, but Kairo squeezed my hand in his to stall me. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of what you see here,” Kairo began, chuckling. But his laugh came out in a nervous chortle. “Alex, this is Justin. My mate.”

Alex scoffed and looked away from us with a sneer on his face.

“Yeah, I figured as much,” he said, then turned and glared directly at me.

“You stay on your side of the room, and I’ll stay on mine.”

Alex turned and grabbed a glass from a table, downing the alcohol. I stood there, not sure if I should leave or stay put. I had looked forward to meeting Alex, but now I was shell-shocked and unsure it was a good idea afterall.