Page 29 of Love Unlimited

Zhong startled for a moment, and then gave him a warm smile. Hey! I thought you’d be sleeping for hours. Isn’t it summer break?

Ha! I only sleep late when I stay up reading. Last night I conked out.

Zhong laughed, clearly knowing what had made Landon so tired, since he and Dustin hadn’t been at all subtle about heading up to bed early.

Zhong’s laugh turned midway into a yawn. I could have happily slept for a few more hours. He indicated Ash’s lunchbox with a what-can-you-do shrug. There was a smaller metal container beside it, with owls dressed as pirates on the lid. Exactly the type of weird thing Ash would love and Zhong would buy for them.

Landon’s heart felt a little melty. Ash is so lucky to have you.

Zhong looked surprised. Maybe even dubious. You think so?

Landon blinked in surprise. Ash always described Zhong as a natural Daddy, and every time Landon saw the two of them together, it seemed like he just eased into the role. But maybe he was less confident than he let on. Between Zhong being asexual and not dating before, it would make sense for him to worry.

Absolutely, Landon rushed to reassure him. Ash talks about those lunches all the time. They might have fallen in love with you for those lunches.

Zhong positively beamed, his coal black eyes scrunched and shining. Thanks. It helps to hear that. I don’t really know what I’m doing here, you know?

Seriously? I always feel like you two are so in tune.

Cool. Um, thank you. Zhong looked down at the lunchbox, then back up, like he wanted to say something.

Landon waited. He had something to ask, too, but whatever Zhong was thinking about seemed more important.

I was wondering… Zhong looked down at the lunchbox again, so clearly something else about Ash. Would it make you uncomfortable if Ash and I did a puppy play scene here at the house?

Of course not. I mean, that would be adorable, actually. Landon could just imagine Ash bouncing around the yard in a puppy mask, chasing a ball with their tail wagging and curls bobbing on their head. And what a perfect yard for it. Maybe Zhong would even let him join in and toss the ball to the cutest puppy ever.

OK. I told Ash it would be fine with Dustin, but I… didn’t want to overstep. Since it’s kind of your house too, now.

Landon released a sharp laugh, the sound barely perceptible through the bones of his jaw.

Was that funny? Zhong looked worried again.

It’s only funny because I came downstairs to ask you something, too.

Yeah?

I wanted to see how you felt about putting a vegetable garden in the back. I thought you’d like it, but… I didn’t want to intrude on your territory.

Zhong laughed. So are we trading ownership of the backyard?

More like sharing.

Yeah? Is that OK? Sharing, I mean. Zhong looked even more worried about this than he had about Ash. Landon hadn’t expected to see him like that. It seemed unlikely that the backyard was the actual issue. But maybe the whole house was.

Or more likely, he was worried about sharing Dustin.

Strangely, it had never worried Landon. Dustin just had been so matter-of-fact about it the first time he brought it up. Landon knew that Dustin could love him, and love Zhong, without ever having to compete for the same type of attention. It probably also helped Landon to see how besotted Zhong was with Ash

Landon had plenty of his own insecurities, but the affection between the two Daddies wasn’t part of it. If anything, Landon genuinely enjoyed having Zhong and Ash around. There was an exciting energy that ran between the four of them, and had given him the confidence to ask about doing something more with Ash.

Landon didn’t want Zhong feeling nervous. I’m good at sharing, he informed Zhong flirtatiously, lightening the tension. He ran the bottom edge of one straight hand back and forth over the top edge of the other to sign sharing, but gave it an expression that made it look dirty.

Zhong cracked up. I bet you are.

Landon didn’t flirt as much with Zhong as he did with Ash, but Zhong was always good-natured about it. It was fun when it was obviously a joke. I have big plans for that backyard now, Landon added, turning up the innuendo. Wanna pick out some tomato plants with me?

The sign for tomato was a touch of a finger to the lips, then brushed by the other fisted hand, but he made it look like he wanted to do naughty things to the plump fruit. Maybe get some berries? The sign for berries was a naturally wicked one, one index finger extended and the fingertips of the other hand forming a little ring around the tip. Landon didn’t even need to try to make that one look sexual.