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Not that I’m really entertaining this whole fake idea. Am I?

Theo

“ F elix!” Adrian hisses, kicking his brother under the table.

The two siblings have practically been playing footsie all night.

Adrian doesn’t seem to know that because my leg is pressed against his, I can feel whenever the brothers kick one another.

Quite honestly, the whole thing is sweet and kind of adorable.

“Oh, come on! This is perfect.” Felix leans forward and ignores his brother, making eye contact with me.

I can’t believe I didn’t see the resemblance between the two of them, but now that they’re both in front of me, I can see that they both have a sassy, mischievous side to them.

He glances back at his brother. “Think about it, Aid. You need someone to help you clean up your image, so you don’t look like the player—”

“I’m not a player. You, of all people, know I haven’t been sleeping around. And I won’t date anyone unless they have the potential to be my Da—” Adrian stops talking, eyes wide. He snaps his head toward me.

I’m leaning forward, almost desperate to hear him finish that sentence.

“I won’t date anyone unless they have the potential to be my boyfriend.”

“Jeez, Aid. I know that. I was going to say that you need someone to help you clean your image, so you don’t look like the player the media has made you out to be.”

Is it crazy that I’m happy to hear all the rumors I’ve heard about Adrian over the last few years aren’t true? I shake my head, pushing those thoughts away and focusing on what the two brothers are talking about. “And how would dating me help?”

“Fake dating,” Felix corrects.

Right. It wouldn’t be real. But damn, what if it could be? Not that I’m really entertaining this whole fake idea.

“You could…” Felix trails off when Adrian places a hand over his brother’s forearm.

“I got this, Fe.” Adrian faces me. “Not only would it help me look like I’m in a committed relationship with one person, but it would also give me an excuse not to be seen at so many parties.”

I shake my head again. “And why do you need an excuse to not be seen at these parties? Just don’t go.”

“It’s not that easy. Most of the hockey team lives at Delfy House with me. I don’t have my own place, and everyone will just knock on my door all night if I don’t show up.”

A sense of unease settles in my stomach. I’ve heard that Delfy House has gotten even crazier throughout the years, but this year has been out of control. If Adrian is living there, I doubt he’s getting much sleep during the weekends.

Felix is giving me this pleading look while Adrian just seems tired and defeated.

I want to wrap Adrian up in my arms and tell him I’ll help, but the fake bit is what’s stopping me.

I like Adrian. A lot. And if it’s fake, does that mean it can’t be real?

Does this mean he’ll hook up with others in the privacy of his room, but go out with me in public?

Because I don’t think I can handle that.

If I’m around this boy as often as I hope to be, I will want to cherish him. I’ll want to take care of him and make him mine. I’ll want to spoil him so much that everyone around us will know I’ve put a claim on his heart.

Then, of course, there’s the fact I haven’t come out to the public.

I want to be out of the closet, so that isn’t a big issue anymore.

I don’t care who knows, but at the very least, I’ll have to tell my mother.

Mom is in quite a few circles, and there’s no way she wouldn’t hear about her son dating one of the local celebrities.

Brynn, California, is a college town, and they worship the hockey team.

“I’ll have to think about it,” I finally reply.

Adrian’s shoulders sag. “Forget about it. It was a dumb idea.”

Without thinking, I tip his chin up to meet his pretty blue-gray eyes. I’m at an awkward angle, sitting so close to him in the booth, but I need him to look me in the eye. “I said I’ll think about it.” I don’t mean to use my Daddy voice, but I totally do.

I’m vaguely aware of the loud gasp that comes from Felix as he stares at us.

Adrian’s pupils darken, and his lips part. We stay like that for a moment before he finally swallows and nods. “Okay,” he says in a shaky voice before giving me a shy smile. “I need to go to the restroom. Mind if I get by?”

I study him for a moment, hoping I didn’t cross some invisible line or make him feel uncomfortable. Dropping my hand from his chin, I slide out of the booth and stand. When Adrian gets out of the booth, his fingers purposely trace over my hand, causing my heart to skip.

“I’ll be right back,” he says. “You two don’t go anywhere.”

As soon as Adrian is out of sight, Felix snaps his fingers. “Oh my gosh! Now I know why you look so familiar! You’re the new Daddy I saw at Clutch.”

My eyes widen with shock. Adrian’s little brother goes to the local kink club?

I search my memory, trying to place Felix at the club.

For some reason, my brain is screaming little , but I still can’t remember actually seeing him there.

That’s when something else dawns on me. If Felix is in the kink community, does that mean Adrian is too?

Or at the very least, would he be open to it?

A little flicker of hope ignites in my chest.

“You are! You’re the Daddy that all the littles are chatting about. The one who sits on the side looking for the right boy to play with. I’ve seen the way you look at my brother, you know. Does this mean you might’ve found your boy?”

My heart beats triple time in my chest, and that little flicker of hope burns into a desperate need. “Are you saying that Adrian might be a little or a boy?”

Felix hesitates. “Would it matter if he were one or the other? Or neither?”

My respect for Felix grows even more. He’s trying to protect his older brother by not outing him.

I decide to lay my cards on the table and be as honest as possible.

“It’s true. I’m a Daddy, but my last relationship didn’t end well.

The boy I fell in love with hurt me deeply, so I’m nervous about fully putting myself out there again.

It’s another reason why I’m hesitant to want to do this whole fake thing with Adrian.

I want to find my forever boy. Whether he’s a little, middle, puppy, or some other kind of submissive, it doesn’t matter.

As long as my boy understands that I’m a caregiver through and through. ”

Felix nods eagerly. Just then, his phone vibrates on the table.

He glances down at it and hits ignore. “That’s my Daddy.

He’s here to pick me up. Talk to my brother, Theo.

The two of you have amazing chemistry. Call me a hopeless romantic, but maybe a fake relationship is exactly what you need.

The two of you could test the waters. See how the two of you would be if this thing were real, because I think it has the potential to be real if you want it to be. ” He beams at me.

That hopeful, desperate inferno blazes even brighter right when I spot Adrian walking toward us. I definitely have a lot to think about. “Thank you, Felix,” I whisper.

“What’s going on here?” Adrian asks with a large grin as he reaches the booth. “Why do you two look so happy?”

My eyes bounce to Felix.

“Jared’s here. So, I thought I’d leave you two,” Felix replies.

Adrian glances behind me, and his smile falls, replaced with a frown. “Will you be okay, Fe?”

Peering over my shoulder, I notice someone walking toward us. I immediately recognize the man from Clutch, and wish I didn’t. If this is Felix’s Daddy, I’ve definitely seen the man chat with other littles. The guy seems like a player and reminds me of the possessive Daddy my ex replaced me with.

“I’ll be fine. Promise.”

Felix and I climb out of the booth at the same time, and I leave a few twenties with the bill.

Adrian scoops Fe into a protective hug. “Call if you need anything. Any time. You can also stay in my room with me if you need to. I can sleep on the floor. I promise I don’t mind.”

Suddenly, I feel like I’m witnessing something I shouldn’t. I want to give the two siblings privacy, but I don’t like the look on Jared’s face as his gaze bounces between Adrian and me. My Daddy instincts are telling me to stay. To protect what’s mine.

Wait, mine?

Felix pulls away from the hug with a bright smile. “Don’t forget what I promised you earlier, Aid. I’m fine. Nothing’s happened. Okay?”

“Okay,” Adrian grumbles.

“Plus, I left Delfy House because it’s too loud and crazy. You should, too. And stop trying to protect me, big brother. You’ve done so much for me growing up. I’m an adult now. I got this.”

Adrian pulls Felix into another quick hug, determination on his face. “I might not be very good at it, Fe. But I promise I’ll always be here for you.”

I swear, if my heart didn’t melt at this moment, I’d be made of stone. Something about the fierce loyalty Adrian has for Felix makes me fall for him just a little. Adrian has clearly been through more than I realized, and the Daddy inside of me wants to reach out to help him.

The brothers say goodbye, and Felix gives me a meaningful look. Jared approaches but doesn’t say anything. He offers me a small smile and a nod, which eases my thoughts just a little.

Suddenly, Adrian leans against me, pressing his arm against mine. I’m tempted to lace my fingers with his, something I’ve never done in public before.

As soon as Jared and Felix are out the door, Adrian pulls away. “Sorry about that. I wanted Jared to think we were together, and to know that he doesn’t have anything to worry about when it comes to you and Fe.”

“What do you mean?”

“Felix and Jared got into a fight when Jared found out he was meeting me at the bar. He didn’t believe Felix. And I didn’t want the asshole to think that Felix was meeting you instead, even though I’m standing right here.”

I nod, glad it isn’t just me who thinks Jared seems like an asshole.