Omega In The Office - Aria Grace Page 0,29

by them.”

Leon and I exchange worried glances.

“That’s not going to happen this time,” Candor lays a hand on each of our shoulders. “Because, when I met you two, I finally understood what they were talking about all this time. I used to resent the way they judged all my relationships by this impossible standard. I guess it’s part of why I moved in the first place. I still think it was kind of a shitty thing to do to your kid, but I’m actually grateful for it now. Because the idea of having a fated mate was always in the back of my mind. Somewhere out there was the mate I was fated for. I just never expected to have two instead of one.”

“I trust you,” Leon says before stretching up to kiss Candor’s cheek. “I’m nervous as hell, and I’m probably not going to sleep for an entire week before, but...I trust you, Candor.”

I shake my head slowly. “I’m still worried. I don’t want what we’ve got to be ruined. If we tell them about the three of us...about Lucius and I...what’s going to happen? A triad is one thing...”

“Even if they don’t approve, they’re not going to turn us in,” Candor says with a nod. “That is one thing I can guarantee. While I’m sure they’re going to love you guys, even if they don’t, the most they’ll do is try to talk me out of being with you.”

I still have so many reservations, but both Candor and Leon seem to be on board with this. I could dig in my heels, resist, and protest. But I won’t.

I need to give them the same trust that they’ve given me. “Okay then,” I force a confident smile, “I trust you too.”

12

Candor

The pale light of early morning streams through the living room window as I slowly creep down the hallway. People don’t think a guy in a wheelchair can be stealthy, but they’re wrong. I’ve gotten pretty good at sneaking out of the bedroom before Lucius and Leon are awake in the morning.

I’ve always been an early bird.

Back before my accident, I was the guy who would go for a jog before breakfast every day. Even though I can’t run, I still like to get outside and fill my lungs with crisp morning air before my first cup of coffee. It’s just now my arms are getting a workout instead of my legs.

It has taken some time for me to change my perspective on things.

For the first year after the accident, I couldn’t accept the idea of living in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I focused so intently on my recovery, pushing myself to the limit and beyond, to try to get back my full mobility. But no matter how hard I pushed, no matter what I tried, I couldn’t get my legs to obey me.

Since then, I’ve gotten used to the idea that my body won’t ever work in exactly the same way. It’s hard because the world isn’t built for someone like me, and everything takes extra work.

There are more steps involved in just about every aspect of my life.

And some things are just impossible, like reaching the top shelf at the grocery store. But I’ve learned that I can do almost everything everyone else can. It’s taken time, of course. Things like this don’t come easy, and I’ve had to retrain myself to think about problems differently.

And, of course, I’m using an entirely different set of muscles to move around now.

But once I overcame the growing pains, I adapted. Life in a wheelchair isn’t as bad as I feared it would be. Especially now that I’ve got Lucius and Leon with me.

I move through the living room and dining room on silent wheels. My water bottle should be in the refrigerator, nice and chilly, just the way I like it.

Something catches my eye as I pass the dining table. A sheet of paper is on one of the chairs. It must’ve gotten missed when Lucius was cleaning up the bookkeeping stuff last night. Glass Bay Apartments is the business Lucius and Leon started together and have been pretty determined in their desire to not bother me with the particulars.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little left out, but I don’t really have much to contribute. What do I actually know about property management?

But there is a niggling feeling I get sometimes.

Lucius and Leon have such an amazing relationship that’s built