Page 36 of Unexpected Prejudice

Jessie’s eyes bugged out, and he gasped. “Just fine?”

Grunting, Diesel got up and grabbed his plate and other empty dishes and went over to the sink.

The sound of running water echoed in the kitchen as Diesel started to clean the dishes.

“Did you use a condom?”

Almost dropping the plate he was washing, Diesel turned to look at him. “Why would you even ask that?” he rasped, closing the tap.

Jessie shrugged. “Dunno. I was curious.”

Diesel didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jeans and stuck one between his lips. At least this time, he waited until he was outside to light up.

“Where’s Diesel?” Chief asked as he returned to the table to find only the two of us.

“He’s out smoking.” Jessie smiled and popped a chip into his mouth.

“Those cigs are bad for him,” Chief mumbled under his breath while sitting back down.

“Oh, Chief?” Jessie blinked his big, green eyes at him.

“What is it, Jess?”

“Have you ever had a threesome?”

Suddenly, I had the strong urge to go outside and join Diesel for a smoke.

After learning over dinner that Miles’s uncle was Aloïs Dufort, Chief, Jessie, and I decided to watch a marathon of his movies. It was getting late when Kai, Chief’s boyfriend, joined us—not that they were technically boyfriends, but I’d given up on finding titles for their relationship.

Jessie and I sat on the carpet with our dogs snuggled beside us while Chief and Kai took the sectional-type sofa. Aloïs had just done a stunt on a motorcycle when kissing sounds came from behind us, followed by Chief’s low voice telling Kai to knock it off.

“C’mon, Ashy,” Kai whispered in his hoarse voice. “I missed you today.”

Chief didn’t answer but grunted, which I found amusing. Kai and Jessie shared the same trait: the inability to whisper. Their voices could be heard miles away whenever they tried to, and I’m sure Chief also knew it.

It took Kai five more minutes of sneaking kisses before Chief gave in to him. “We’re going to bed,” he announced, getting up from the couch.

“We sure are,” Kai teased, jumping right after Chief, who turned to give him an annoyed look. “C’mon, stop looking at me like you want to kill me.”

“The thought has crossed my mind,” Chief grumbled under his breath when Kai wrapped a beefy arm around him.

“Oh, honey! Don’t threaten me in front of the children,” Kai teased while leaning closer to him. “Besides, I’d much rather you keep all that passion for bed.”

Chief’s cheeks flushed red despite his eyes rolling, and he nudged Kai away from him.

“Good night, kids,” he said in a hoarse voice before they left the living room.

Once they were gone, Pacha got up from beside us and followed them into Chief’s room.

Pacha was the love of Chief’s life. He’d adopted him twelve years ago, and they hadn’t been separated since. He’d even taught him how to stand on his surfboard while he surfed.

As Jessie leaned his head against me, I thought maybe it was time I told him about the text I got from my mom. The few words she wrote to me sat heavily on my chest during dinner, making it difficult to eat, so now my stomach was making noises.

“You hungry?” Jessie asked.

“A bit.”

He quickly got up, ran toward the kitchen, and returned with loads of snacks. We opened an onion chips bag and started to eat, with Puma and Pooh giving us their best puppy eyes, obviously trying to steal some crumbs.