Page 36 of The Vampire's Receptionist
“I know how to have fun,” Dorian disagreed with a frown. He didn’t seem the least bit upset about Harlem’s rejection, only the slight on his personality. Kian leaned forward eagerly, soaking in every word as they bickered with each other.
“Fun for you is a night with your puzzles. I want to go dancing, meet new people! Just because you’re older than dirt doesn’t mean you need to act like it.”
Kian cracked up at that, nearly dumping his mostly full plate on the floor, he was laughing so hard.
“You’re such a brat,” Dorian said with a scowl.
“You love me anyway,” Harlem countered with a cheeky grin. “And Kian seems to like me. I’m just that awesome.”
Wiping tears away, Kian nodded. “Dorian’s right. You’re a brat. I feel like someone needs to warn your boyfriend.”
Harlem sniffed dramatically. “Who says he doesn’t already know? It’s not like I pretend to be someone I’m not.”
While Dorian seemed to accept this, Kian couldn’t help poking a little fun. “If he knows already, then you shouldn’t havea problem with him coming here to meet Dorian. Call him. I want to meet him, too.”
The way Harlem’s eyes widened made Kian crack up again. He looked nervous, which made Kian think Harlem was still in the stage of the relationship where he was on his best behavior. He didn’t want either of them to meet the man and spill the beans on what he was truly like.
In a desperate move to get attention off of him, Harlem narrowed his eyes on Kian. “What about you? Do you have a significant other?”
Kain just grinned. “Nope.”
“Seriously? No one who should know you’re laid up in bed?”
He pursed his lips, giving Harlem a smug look. Granted, he probably should have told his parents when he got hurt, or maybe Morana, but he preferred to keep his business to himself. He didn’t need to worry them over nothing. He was fine.
“Nope. No one. I guess I haven’t found someone willing to put up with me yet.”
Harlem huffed, crossing his arms. “I don’t believe you. You’re too cute to be single. You’re lying to keep the focus on me.”
Chuckling, Kian shook his head. To spare Harlem, he turned his focus to his food, taking a big bite. So far, everything Dorian had made him was delicious. He was going to miss being pampered like this once the doctor figured out what was wrong with him.
His gaze flicked to the vampire automatically, only to find Dorian watching him. He got caught in those penetrating dark brown eyes, and he felt his cheeks flush under the attention. Now that he knew Dorian was single, it was even harder to hide his attraction. This situation was awkward enough. He didn’t need to add sex into the mix.
Harlem’s phone rang before he could keep pestering Kian about imaginary relationships. He pulled it out of his pocket andsqueaked, nearly launching himself off the couch as he hurried to answer.
“I’ll be right back!”
He hustled out of the room without a backward glance, leaving Kian and Dorian alone. Tension dialed up, and Kian wanted to squirm under the scrutiny. He forced a laugh, trying to appear unaffected.
“How much do you want to bet that was his boyfriend? You should follow him and find out.”
Dorian finally looked away, glancing towards the doorway that Harlem had run out of. He didn’t look the least bit interested in following his friend.
“If the man ends up being someone important, I’m sure Harlem will introduce us. I don’t need to rush him.” Those dark brown eyes swung back his way again. “Is what he said true?”
Kian frowned, studying him. “What part?”
“The part where you said no one needs to know you’ve been hurt.”
That almost sounded like Dorian was asking if he was really single. His laugh was a little awkward as he waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not worrying my parents over something so small. And since I’m technically still under contract, the only boss I need to inform about my leave of absence is you. I’m good.”
Dorian pressed his lips together, and his eyes tightened ever so slightly. He didn’t seem happy about Kian’s answer, though Kian wasn’t sure why. Did he want him to have a boyfriend? Or did he not like that Kian was leaving his parents out of the loop? He’d have to get over it either way. Kian’s parents had enough drama to deal with between their two families. He didn’t need to add to their stress by telling them every time he got hurt. And he wasn’t interested in dating. It always ended poorly, so why bother anymore?
He was okay with how things were. He didn't answer to anyone other than himself. He didn’t need anyone else.
Dorian didn’t like the way Kian spoke about himself. Like he was fine with having no one at his bedside. It slipped Dorian’s mind to ask if there was someone he should call since all his friends had been there from the beginning. Kian had no one. And it bothered him a great deal. He deserved to have someone supporting him. He shouldn’t have to recover all alone.
His chest filled with an overwhelming determination to be that someone. Kian needed to be cared for. No matter how this turned out, Dorian wanted the man to know he had someone to call, should he need it.
