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“Sometimes I forget that you don’t always see the nose in front of you.” With that, he left, closing the door, and Kodi could hear his chuckles despite the wood.

He stared at the closed door for a second, trying to figure out what the hell Silas meant.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he shouted at the door, not expecting a reply, but too mad to hold it back.

His phone rang, and he reached for it, keeping his curses in, and the rest of his day continued in much the same vein. He didn’t get a minute to catch his breath or have an opportunity to talk to Lennon in his office when they had no further meetings that required Lennon’s presence. Just his luck when Lennon somehow managed to evade him twice more when he’d gone looking for him. It was galling to have to admit at the end of the day that he had royally fucked up.

Lennon’s absence said as much because since they had started their agreement, he had made a point of checking in with Kodi to see if he needed to help him focus. How was he supposed to fix what he’d done if Lennon didn’t let him?

Starving and in a foul mood, he stomped into the house at seven o’clock in no fit state for company. He had barely gotten over the threshold when Popi appeared all smiles, his timing as impeccable as ever.

The smile noticeably dimmed when Popi caught sight of Kodi’s expression. “My boy needs a hug,” he declared and, notwithstanding their size difference, Popi seemed to scoop him up in his arms and give him a warm scented, crushing hug that had the ability to make the world seem less crazy to Kodi.

He was careful not to clout Popi with his laptop bag when he returned the hug and buried his face in Popi’s neck, inhaling the scent of baking and flowers that always seemed to cling to his skin.

“Thanks, Popi,” he sighed, leaning on him.

Popi didn’t let go, and they stood like that for what felt like a minute until the dull throbbing in Kodi’s temples eased off.

When Kodi straightened, Popi ran a hand over his scruff and gave him a searching look.

“I bet you haven’t eaten today.” Kodi saw the second Popi noticed his wince at reading him accurately. He’d skipped lunch, hunting for Lennon. “I’ve made a pot of homemade soup, and there’s a fresh baked loaf with your name on it.”

Kodi didn’t protest. It was pointless when Popi didn’t let go of him, guiding him into the empty kitchen. He left him at the counter and bustled around the homely space that Kodi had missed when he’d moved out. Getting a bowl, cutlery and the bread that smelled divine, Popi pointed to the seats at the counter. “Sit, and you can tell me what’s put that scowl on your face.”

Kodi’s stomach woke up and took notice, gurgling noisily at the smells when he contemplated if he could make an excuse. He did not want to talk about Lennon when he might be tempted to talk about everything. Popi had a way of making him spill his secrets without even trying. This was a secret he did not want to share.

Seated, his jacket slung over the seat next to him, his laptop bag tucked under the counter at his feet, he inhaled the steam coming from the ham and pea soup.

Making food his focus, he picked up his spoon. “Smells great.” He put his spoon into the green soup and glanced up. “Where is everyone else? Have they eaten?”

He savored the first mouthful, groaning at the salty ham flavor that did not overpower the sweetness of the peas Popi would have gotten from the vegetable patch that Bessie had planted about a decade ago. “I missed this when I moved out.”

Popi grabbed a bottle of his favorite Vaughn white wine and two glasses. He poured them both a glass before taking a seat opposite. His expression warned Kodi they were about to have ‘the talk’ about what was wrong.

“Have you been talking about organizing weddings with Taylin and Silas?” he asked, grasping for a topic to derail any conversation about himself.

The kitchen door swung open and Booker strode in, then came to a halt. Scratching his bare chest, wearing only a raggedy pair of sweats, he glanced between them, then at the bowl of soup in front of Kodi. “You never said you had made soup?”

Kodi found his sense of humor returning at how put out Booker was. “Popi knows it’s my favorite.” He jabbed his spoon at the thick slice of crusty, buttered bread. “And I got the good bread to go with it.” He smacked his lips together, humming in pleasure.

Booker, quick as a flash, snatched up the top slice of bread and took a massive bite and groaned around the mouthful. “It’s mine now.”

“Hey,” Kodi snarled, tugging the remaining plated bread into the circle of his arms, protecting it.

“Hay is for horses,” Booker laughed. “And you snooze, you lose.” He danced around behind Kodi, who anticipated the large mitt that appeared over his shoulder to snatch another slice of bread.

He knocked the hand away. “Tell him to let me be, Popi.”

Popi was giggling, watching their antics. “How old are you, Kodi?”

“What was it you said to me the other day about not being too old to be put over your knee?” Kodi stated with a little more indignation than he would have liked when it came across as childish. “Not that you ever did, but if you can threaten me with it, how can I be too old for you to defend me against the food stealer?”

“Food stealer?” Booker choked on the slice of bread he’d shoved into his mouth to avoid having to give it back.

Kodi grinned, baring his teeth. “Serves you right.”

“Children,” Popi reprimanded, but it missed the mark when he chuckled behind his glass of wine, like that would hide it.