Risk analysis reveals economical dangers to Holt Enterprises!
Here's our predictions for this year's US Open champion!
"You're Zay, right? Camille's friend?"
Zay looked up from the screen that listed when Pandi's clients were coming in throughout the day and recognized the young man standing next to the front desk. "Yes, and you're Sario, right? Darius' little brother?"
Sario smiled at the first question, but his smile faded at the second one. "Yes."
Zay mentally scolded himself and made a note to not bring up Sario's brother again. "I never got a chance to thank you."
Sario raised an eyebrow. "Thank me? For what?"
"For giving me my brother back."
Another, more genuine, smile came to Sario's face. "That was more Luca than me, but you're welcome." After a pause, Sario asked tentatively, "Are you both, you know, getting along?"
Zay laughed at the hesitancy in Sario's question. "Yeah, we're getting along. It's kinda like getting to know a new person because he's not the same brother that I remember, but he's still my brother. I love him, and I'll do just about anything for him. He's finally gotten around to teasing me again, so we're on good terms."
Sario nodded, looking relieved. "That's good. I'm glad it's working out for you." He shifted in his seat and glanced toward the back of the office. He was probably nervous about being separated from his husband for so long.
Zay did not blame Sario for that. If he had a husband, he would not want to be apart from him for any longer than necessary either. "They should be done in a few minutes."
Sario turned his head quickly toward Zay, body tense in surprise. Then he relaxed. "Oh, okay. I just worry, you know. Luca's strong, and he can take care of himself, but I don't want him to have to. I want to make sure he's safe and comfortable and loved, and I feel like I might have pressured him into this, so I really hope he doesn't hate me for it."
Zay smiled reassuringly, which felt odd to do. He was much better at flirting and weaving away than he was at being a solid comfort for someone. "I don't think he'll hate you. And sometimes people need a little push to get them the help they need. Everyone needs a little therapy, and I'm guessing Luca more so than others."
Sario nodded. "He's been through hell, and he'll admit to it, but…I don't know. I guess he thinks he deserved it or something? I'm not entirely sure. But he gets so sad sometimes, and I want that to stop. I don't want him to be sad or in pain. He deserves the best life I can give him."
Zay felt peace settle into his soul the way it did when he saw Noah and Camille together or when Camille talked about something Noah had done for him with sparkling eyes. There was something about the evident love that reassured Zay that his dreams of also finding someone like that for himself were not impossible. He wanted someone to look out for his safety like Sario did for Luca and someone to care deeply about his comfort like Noah did for Camille. It was possible. He knew it was. He just had to find the man who was willing to work with his genderfluidity and was not turned off by him being a virgin. And the only problem was that man did not seem to exist.
"That's really sweet," Zay told Sario, hoping it wasn't too obvious that he had gotten lost in his own head for a second.
Sario nodded, and they sat in the quiet for a few minutes. The moment Luca appeared, Sario jumped up with the cutest smile on his face and held out his hand in invitation.
Luca walked straight past the hand and collapsed onto Sario in a pseudo-hug. He was clearly tired and was likely in a comfort-seeking mode.
Sario, thankfully, instantly understood, wrapped his arms around his husband, and walked Luca out of the office with a mouthed goodbye to Zay and Pandi.
"They're a sweet couple," Zay said without thinking.
Pandi smiled. "Yes, they are." Then his expression suddenly sobered. "I hope they stay that way."
Zay turned his chair to better face Pandi. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Pandi looked at him. "It's often stressful for new couples like them to deal with trauma along with a new member of their family."
Zay felt his heart launch toward his ribs as he realized what Pandi meant. "Luca's pregnant?"
Pandi nodded, his dark eyes shining with worry. "I don't think he wants it getting out beyond his closest circle, so don't tell anyone. He never directly said anything about it, but it's a little hard for him to hide."
"Imma murder Camille if he didn't tell me," Zay muttered, clicking into the next client's file to review it before they came in.
"Don't murder your friend," Pandi advised in a voice that held a small hint of laughter. "I'm sure he has plenty of secrets that he has to keep from you and I'm certain you have the same. Don't get bent out of shape because of a supposed slight."
Zay sighed. "Why are you always right?"
"I'm a therapist," Pandi replied with a straight face.
They both burst out laughing after a moment. When they finally managed to calm themselves, Pandi added, "I'm not always right. I mean, my own life's a mess. I guess I'm just good at covering it up so I can help other people with their problems."
Zay sat back in the chair, wondering what Pandi meant by saying his life was a mess. "What's wrong?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I mean, what are the problems you're covering up?"
Pandi flinched like Zay had threatened him with a raised fist. "I guess you don't follow celebrity news," he said quietly, his eyes and tone both begging Zay to let the issue drop.
Zay did not let it drop. "Celebrity news? Are you secretly a really famous actor?"
"No, but my wife was."
Zay blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
Pandi was pale and it looked like he was starting to sweat. It was obvious he really hated talking about this. "My wife. Ex-wife now. She divorced me quite publicly about a week ago. The entire internet is still freaking out about it, especially since a lot of people didn't know I existed."
Zay tried to recall any tidbits of news regarding actors he had heard within the past week, but a divorce did not come to mind. "I'm sorry," he said, the only thing he really could say.
"Don't be." Pandi ran a hand over his face, already looking a little better. "She's a bitch."
Zay slapped a hand over his mouth, but a snicker still escaped. "I didn't think you had a single swear word in you," he teased.
Pandi smiled faintly. "I don't swear at people. It's rude. And I'm usually a really nice person." He waved his hand to dismiss the subject. "Anyways, don't be sorry. She admitted to the world that she got bored of me, so I'm not sorry about it at all."
Zay raised an eyebrow. "How long were you married for?"
Pandi swallowed hard. "Eight years."
"Damn. You've got to at least be a little sorry."
Pandi shrugged, but Zay could see how much that careless motion cost him. "I used her for her money, and she used me as an escape. There wasn't any love between us, not really." He cut himself off, straightening as the next client came in and greeting them with a smile that perfectly hid all the pain Zay now knew lay beneath his unrippled surface.