Harmony twisted from the older man at the door to Jessie when she heard her approach. “Uh, Jess, this guy says he needs to talk to Kai?”
Harmony stepped back from the door when Jessie stepped up to it. “Mason? What are you doing here?” She glanced down the hallway at where Kai was still obliviously sleeping, then turned back to his reluctant father.
Mason swallowed uneasily as he rubbed his hands together in the frigid outdoor air. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, especially this early in the morning, but I was wondering…is Kai here?” His tropical eyes had a pleading quality to them that Jessie found confusing. Kai had never thought the man liked him, but he seemed…worried.
Jessie shrugged. “Yeah, he’s sleeping.” She tilted her head to indicate where he was. Mason briefly closed his eyes, relief visibly washing through him. Even more confused now, Jessie blurted out, “How did you find…him?”
Mason’s eyes opened and he looked past Jessie, to the point where his long lost child was. “It took a bit of investigating.” His eyes returned to hers. “I spoke with his mother earlier this morning.” Grimacing, he shrugged. “I explained to her that Kai had found out the truth a few days ago, and I hadn’t seen or heard from him since. Once she got past her panic attack, she mentioned his grandmother.”
Jessie felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Did you talk to Grams?”
Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Right…you’re the cousin. Well technically you’re not, but you do share the same woman Kai has always believed was his grandmother.” Jessie could only nod; she really didn’t want to go into the family dynamics with this man. He shrugged. “I needed to find him, to make sure he was…okay. I called her, she mentioned you, so I figured Kai was hiding here.”
Jessie ran her fingers down her face. Great, her grandmother knew Kai was aware of the truth. Kai’s mother also knew. Jessie knew they couldn’t hide in their newfound utopia forever, but she’d hoped to at least ride out the week. Sighing, she stepped aside and welcomed him in.
Harmony gave Jessie a swift hug and wished her well before popping out the door for work. Jessie had Mason sit on the couch and told him she’d wake up Kai. If he was at all curious about their relationship, he didn’t show it. He only seemed to be concerned and uneasy. As he sat with his hands over his knees, his feet ceaselessly bouncing up and down, it was clear that he was completely out of his comfort zone. But he was here anyway, here to speak to Kai…his son…and that said a lot about the man.
Leaving him alone and nervous on her couch, Jessie ran into April as she emerged from her bedroom. Yawning and rubbing her eyes, she pointed down the hallway. “Someone here?” she asked.
Jessie nodded and whispered, “Kai’s dad.”
April’s eyes widened. “Oh…” She moved to sneak a peek at him, but Jessie grabbed her elbow. “He’s nervous. Don’t spy on him, okay?”
She frowned and then sighed. “Yeah, all right. I have to get ready for work anyway.” She sighed again as she disappeared into her room, and Jessie could have sworn she murmured something about missing all the good drama.
Shaking her head at her friend, Jessie opened her bedroom door. Kai stirred and twisted his head to peek up at her. Stretching, he murmured, “Good morning.” He yawned right after he said it, the satisfied smile he’d had on his face the last few days still firmly in place. Softly closing the door behind her, Jessie wished she didn’t have to say what she was about to say; it would certainly remove that beautiful smile. Seeing the reluctance on her face, Kai cautiously asked, “What’s wrong?”
As he sat up on the bed, she sat down. Jessie could see the goose bumps on his arms and she rubbed his skin, warming him where she could. Still smiling, he patiently waited for her to answer.
Sighing, she nodded her head at the door. “Your dad is here.”
Kai’s expression twisted to confusion. “My dad is here from…” His sentence trailed off as his eyes blazed with understanding. “Mason? Mason is here?”
Jessie nodded as Kai flung back the covers and stood up. Her eyes drifted down his bare body before she reprimanded herself and made her gaze stay focused on his face; now wasn’t the time. Kai seemed shocked as he looked for clothes. Understandable, Jessie was a little shocked that Mason was here too. Stepping into his underwear, Kai asked, “Did he say what he wanted?” He found some jeans and pulled them on while Jessie shook her head.
“No, just that he wants to see you.” She lowered her voice. “I think he was worried about you.”
Kai paused in putting on his shirt. “Worried?” He finished slipping the material on and smoothed it over his fabulous frame. “Why would he be worried about…me?”