That smiling face, accented with a shiny eyebrow barrel piercing and a messy head of light brown hair, greeted her, making her less self-conscious. Kieran didn't waste time with hello, just set the pizza box on the outdoor bench and opened up his arms, which she tumbled into in a rush.

"It'll be okay," he murmured and stroked her back, diminishing her anguish.

She laid her head against his chest, letting his heartbeat calm her. It was likely because she was an emotional wreck, but she sensed she could live in these arms.

"I'm sorry." She hiccuped. "Every single time you've seen me, I've been a mess, either crying or drunk."

"You're an entertaining drunk. And you can't help this. If you've invested your whole heart into someone, moments like this are going to rip it out of your chest." As he squeezed her, the pressure made her shudder very soothingly. "I've hit these lows before and had people to help me through it, although I could have used hugs like this. Jake's not so into physical contact."

"I'd be happy to repay the favour, though I wouldn't wish anything like this on you."

"I haven't had feelings that strong in years, so I'm safe. The only thing Brinny risks bruising is my ego and patience."

"That sounds nice."

"It has its perks and disadvantages."

Kieran didn't rush to pull away, waiting until she started to, then stepped back.

"This will sound way too personal, but knowing you'd be there after my relationship crashed and burned got me through that conversation."

He smiled and studied her face. "It still looks like it hurt a hell of a lot."

"A lot less than it could have."

"Happy to help." He reached for the box on the bench. "You still want this? It has all the cheese, mushrooms and pepperoni you'll need."

"Yes, please." When she opened the box, double the amount of regular toppings stared at her. Cleo sniffed the air and fixed her gaze on the food, so Naomi shut the lid. "Did you want to come in?"

As he glanced at his truck, she regretted her question. Dealing with her emotional train wreck for one evening was probably enough for him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to assume. You don't have to stay."

"Jake's in the truck. It seemed weird going to Tavern alone in case you changed your mind."

It warmed her heart that he'd driven to Tavern for her in case she needed him. "He can come in too. I can't eat all this pizza."

"He's not a pizza guy, but if you don't mind having guests, I'd be happy to come in." His warm eyes connected with hers. Only he would connect happiness with handling her misery. 

"Sure, I can warn Jake I'm a wreck. Give you a chance to visit with Cleo in case I scare him off."

Kieran grinned down at the dog. "I can't turn that down, and you won't scare him. I have him well-trained to handle emotionally unstable people."

She tapped her finger on the pizza box. "You have me torn between being offended and curious."

"It's not meant to be insulting. You have a valid reason to feel like the ground's been torn from under your feet. And you don't seem unstable." The tenderness in his gaze convinced her he understood.

She scurried into the kitchen and put the pizza on a higher counter Cleo wouldn't reach. She returned to steal another hug from Kieran. His touch shielded her from her miserable day.

"You're getting me hooked on these hugs," he whispered, further from her ear than he had been last time.

"Me too."

Greg's earlier embrace paled in comparison, and Kieran's touch made her want to curl up there for days. But she was extra clingy because of the day's events. Cleo whimpered, sick of being ignored, so Naomi left the two to catch up while she headed out to Kieran's truck with renewed confidence.

In the passenger seat, Jake's gaze focused on his device, his dark eyebrows knit together. He and Kieran shared a few features, short auburn hair a few shades lighter and redder than hers, a wide forehead, and long fingers refusing to rest. But where Jake's stiff jaw was sharp and clean-shaven, a beard sheltered Kieran's features. Kieran's round face and body contrasted with his brother's more defined features and near-athletic physique.

She knocked at the window, causing Jake to jump and his eyes to widen at her presence. After he unlocked the truck, she opened the door.

He smiled half-heartedly at her. "How are you doing?"

"Full disclosure, I'm a mess, and I may steal your brother, so wanna come inside? I heard you're not into pizza, but Shivanna made a delicious fruit salad that might be up your alley."

"Sure." Jake undid his seatbelt. "Kieran already filled me in on your situation. Sorry to hear your friend couldn't accept you. But you're better off."

She shut the door and waited for him to walk around the truck. "Logically, I know that, but my heart won't listen."

He stood near Naomi at a distance you'd keep from a new neighbour. "For a life-sustaining organ, it's always blamed for motivating the worst choices."

He was right, but it didn't diminish her heartache.

"You don't have pet allergies, do you?"

"Cats."

"No reaction to dogs?"

Jake chuckled to himself. "That explains where Kieran is."

"He mentioned you two wanted one when you were younger."

"Did he? I was seven and wanted to orbit my older brother like Deimos does Mars."

"That's cute."

Jake's expression hardened. "It's naïve."

Unsure how to react, she ambled toward the door, hoping he'd follow. They reached Kieran, who was putting Cleo in heaven by rubbing behind her ears. Jake seemed to brighten in his brother's presence, which left her wondering what his weird reaction was all about. He didn't seem to blame Kieran for whatever it was.

"Ready to get this pizza party started?" Kieran shot Naomi an infectious grin.

"Sure. Jake, are you hungry?"

"I ate at home." His smartwatch buzzed. "But a glass of water would be great."

Kieran mouthed 'hydration reminder' to Naomi, and his broad shoulders shook with a laugh.

"Of course. Is tap water okay?"

"Yes. Thank you." He scanned the room, eyes landing on the built-in mini bookcase and arched shelving unit attached to the nearby wall with a wooden beam. "Your home is very..."

"Retro-tastic?" Naomi suggested.

"I suppose so."

"I love it and was thinking of getting some burnt orange flower-power pillows for the living room and putting up matching wallpaper," Kieran said.

If looks could kill, Jake's would have his brother in a shallow grave, especially given the smirk the bearded man kept on his face. "A record player would be acceptable."

While chuckling, Naomi left to get Jake's water and set the table. She grabbed the fruit salad and bowls in case Jake wanted a snack. "Want a drink, Kieran?"

He joined her in the kitchen as did Jake. "Your finest tap water, please."

"We've got better non-alcoholic stuff than that."

Kieran flashed her a smile. "I'm here for the company, not the beverages."

"You picked the wrong day for that," she muttered, a wave of sadness returning to her shore.

"He's a naïve asshole," Kieran said.

Naomi sighed as she filled up the water glass. If only it were so simple. "His needs differ from mine. No amount of feelings or dating will change that." Despite Greg's willingness to try, it wouldn't work. "We're not compatible."

She turned off the tap and set the second glass on the table.

"I like your outlook. It'll serve you well," Jake said.

"It'd be better if I believed it. I feel like a villain for something I can't control."

Kieran brought the pizza to the table and held out his arms to offer her another hug, which she reciprocated. How could this man she hardly knew be so much more accepting than the one who said she was his end-game? One who claimed to care about her more than anyone else on this planet until her feelings about sex were clear. His gaze had said everything. 'You're the problem in what could have been a perfect relationship'. This time, her tears flowed as Kieran stroked her back.

"You're amazing, and you'll be okay," he whispered into her hair. It took at least five repetitions before those words affected her trembling body. His comforting cedar and citrus scent enveloped her.

"Of everyone out there, Greg understood me, or I thought he did."

"How did the conversation go?"

She sniffled a few times. "He didn't want to accept it was real, and once he did, it was clear it was a problem for him."

"I stand by my asshole comment. You deserve much better." Kieran drew her into his shoulder, and she welcomed the closeness.

As she pulled away and wiped her face, Jake's gaze was on her, but he looked away as their eyes met.

He cleared his throat. "People are quick to reject those different from what the dominant culture considers normal. Don't let their bias devalue you."

"Who knew you had an empathetic side?" Kieran teased his brother.

Jake regarded him with a blank stare and furrowed brows. "I understand how relationships suffer when one person expects actions or emotions the other can't reciprocate, not out of malice but out of their nature."

Kieran raised his pierced eyebrow. "What relationships have you had?"

"Friendships are a form of relationship too."

Naomi nodded and smiled at the olive branch Jake was extending at the expense of possibly outing himself to his brother. If Jake's friendships wouldn't withstand romantic feelings, he must be aromantic and potentially asexual too. But why would he hide it from Kieran?

Because telling Greg went so well...

Naomi had told her sister because they shared a fair bit before she got busy with her family, but Naomi had mentioned nothing to her parents who wouldn't get it, nor did it matter if they knew. Judging by tonight, perhaps Jake had told Kieran, especially after saying he wasn't a pizza guy, but Kieran also seemed like the type who would bring up Jake's sexual orientation.

She met Jake's gaze for a moment. "Never easy to lose friends."

Kieran nudged her shoulder. "Well, you've gained at least one, potentially two new ones. I won't replace your childhood crush, but I've got free time and think you're pretty cool."

"We could always use another player for game nights."

"Game night, you say?" She was learning Jake's interests, but he was into electronics.

Kieran sat on the chair facing the patio doors, and she and Jake followed suit. "Like intense board games. As much as you'd improve those nights, I won't try to rope you into them."

Naomi opened up the pizza box and tossed a piece on her plate. "I'd much rather try going to one of those over a playoffs party unless you plan on crashing it again."

She and Kieran shared a smile as their moment in the kitchen came to mind.

Jake sipped his water. "We play Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Risk if you enjoy strategic games."

"I'm always up for something new." Naomi turned to Kieran. "It was nice to see you that night. It's silly I spent that time mending my doomed relationship."

"The bright side to tonight is that you're free of that responsibility, and don't worry, I overcharged him after seeing him act like a dick to you."

Naomi finished a bite of rich cheesy goodness."You hit him where it hurt. He's the cheapest person I know."

Kieran grabbed his slices. "Fitting he expects the world but won't sacrifice anything himself."

Greg had a generous side, not financially, but he helped Naomi often but probably because he liked her. How would their relationship change after today? They had most of a softball season together, and Naomi was too invested in their team's progress to give it up.

As if he read her mind, Kieran said, "You'll be alright. Chatting with us is a good sign, and there'll be plenty more."

"So what's next?" Jake asked.

She took another savoury bite. "Pizza and ice cream?" She let the salt, cheese, and a slight spice of pepperoni linger on her tongue.

"Kieran mentioned that you—ow." Jake turned to his brother. "That was unnecessary."

"Not everyone is that goal-oriented, Jake." Kieran looked at Naomi. "We need wallow time to be mad at the world."

The oily food coated her throat. "I'm not sure if it's mad so much as numb and destroyed."

Kieran set his large hand on top of hers and squeezed it. With a sigh, she returned the gesture. He understood the sting of rejection and longing for something out of reach. The transition from near certainty to impossibility in the blink of an eye killed her. If she'd been honest with Greg after the bar, this rejection wouldn't be so crushing, but she'd kept finding excuses to enjoy what was never hers, only prolonging the inevitable.

Jake looked at Naomi. "He's disappointing, not you."

She gave him a gentle smile and sat up straighter. "Thank you."

Kieran and Jake's presence imbued her with more confidence. She didn't have many real-life connections with other asexual people, and even if Jake wouldn't understand her desire for a romantic relationship, he'd understand her discomfort and the uncontrollability of her attraction. Kieran was a walking bundle of support and reassurance regardless of her asexuality. Without him, she'd be a wreck.