When Kieran arrived home, Austin and Jake were still gaming in the office. They focused on their monitors during a battle with what Kieran could only describe as a tree monster with branchy shoulder blades. Once they won, Austin logged out and turned toward the door.

"Hey, how was the date?" he called out.

Kieran smiled and stood in the doorway. "It went well. She seemed to have a good time."

Jake whirled around in his chair with a serious expression. "You listened to everything I told you, right?"

Kieran and Austin shared a look and a laugh. "I tried, but keep in mind you bring your experience to your advice, and Naomi has her own comfort level that's different from yours."

Jake frowned. "What exactly does that mean?"

"That she likes surprise hugs and affectionate head kisses." Kieran smiled at the memory of her blissful sigh.

"Does she, or did you assume she does?"

"She told me. Verbal consent." Kieran threw Jake's earlier words back at him.

Jake crossed his arms, the hard muscles reminding Kieran how different their physiques were. "Just because she says it once doesn't mean it's okay all the time."

"I can read body language, and it's clear when she's uncomfortable." She'd chew on her lip, avoid eye contact, or fiddle with her clothes or purse.

"How'd she like the restaurant and the movie?" Thank goodness Austin had more normal questions.

"She loved the food. I don't think she understood much of the movie, although she seemed to enjoy being together. She told me I'm in charge of planning our next dates. Plural."

Austin smiled. "That's a good sign."

"Now I have to decide if we go to a restaurant, or for drinks, or to a movie."

"Hard to talk during a movie, and you just watched one," Austin said.

"A hike?" Kieran suggested.

"She is athletic," Jake said. "I read that there are canoe rentals at the Forks."

Austin frowned. "I'd stay clear of the rivers if you want something relaxed and more date-friendly. Fort Whyte has calm made-man lakes. They're at the southeast end of the city."

That wasn't a terrible idea, although urban canoeing was a touch boring compared to the lakes in the Canadian Shield region. But a road trip for a second date seemed too intense. He still had time to decide. Jake's fingers typed away on his phone, which was odd since Austin was here and Jake wasn't social enough to text other people without a good reason.

"Who are you messaging?" Kieran asked.

"Naomi."

"What?" Austin and Kieran chorused.

"Why?" Kieran stepped closer until he was in his younger brother's space, but it didn't phase him.

"To confirm your impression of the date and hers match. It should give you peace of mind."

Kieran sighed, regretting not warning Naomi against giving Jake her number. "She told me she had a good time and couldn't wait to go out again. What else must she do to prove herself?"

Jake looked at his phone and smiled. "She said it was a great night, and you were a perfect gentleman. Although our current generation's failures may skew her standards."

Even Austin was shaking his head.

"No more messaging her. Let her enjoy her night." Kieran reached into his pocket.

"Why are you taking your phone out?" Jake asked the moment the device emerged.

"To apologize about you." Kieran stepped away to get some privacy.

Kieran: So sorry about Jake. I swear he's acting alone, and I've asked him to stop.

Naomi: XD It's okay. It's sweet.

Kieran: Enjoy the rest of your night.

What did he add? 'I'll miss you' seemed clingy, 'I'll be thinking about you' sounded stalkery, and 'Can't wait till our next date' implied desperate.

He settled on a GIF of two pandas hugging.

Naomi: You too. And how did you know I already miss your hugs?

Screw it. If she was going sappy, he would too. He'd lost his filter when they were together.

Kieran: Because I miss them too and you more.

Naomi: I'm free Sunday afternoon :)

She attached a photo of a dog with heart-shaped eyes. Her excitement to date him, of all people, still bewildered him, but it matched his anticipation.

Kieran: Me too. It's a date?

Naomi: <3

Kieran: <3

"So much for letting her enjoy her night," Jake chided.

Kieran stuck out his tongue like they were kids again. "You started it. And if she minded, she wouldn't have just asked me on a second date." He danced out, leaving Jake shaking his head as Austin chuckled at them both.

***

On Sunday, Kieran stopped by Naomi's place to pick her up for their date. She invited him in before apologizing for running late and disappearing, so Kieran visited with Cleo. He scratched the ecstatic dog's stomach as she thrashed about on the floor, groaning and moaning. Someone chuckled above him, and when he looked up, Shivanna stood with her dark hair pulled into a bun atop her head.

"Are you trying to win over all the members of our household?" she teased.

"I'm not opposed to the idea."

Shivanna adjusted the geometric-patterned shirt she'd shortened by tying both ends at her waist, leaving some of her stomach exposed. "I am partial to pizza and chocolate."

"Aren't we all?"

She grinned. "It's odd. I feel like I know you despite only meeting you once. You are one of Naomi's favourite topics."

"She speaks highly of you."

"You've been great for her. After everything that happened with Greg, I was worried. But here she is dating again, happy, and you sound very nice."

Kieran got up from his kneeling position beside Cleo, much to the dog's dismay. "I'm glad to hear it. Sounds like dating hasn't been easy for her, which is hard to believe because Naomi is... Naomi." He beamed, picturing her on their previous date. Her cheek muscles must have burned from all that smiling, and her adoration after his hugs. He'd never tire of that sight.

"She always picks allosexual guys, and it doesn't work out for her." Shivanna looked behind her toward the hallway and lowered her voice. "If you ever think it won't last, don't wait to tell her. It seems kind to work through it, but it's much harder on her if you know you can't do it."

"I can't even imagine that."

Shivanna tucked her hands in the pockets of her white jean shorts. "Naomi is charming and sweet, and I love her to pieces. But she has always been and will always be asexual. It might be a spectrum, but she's on it."

"I live with the most stubborn ace and aromantic brother you could imagine. I understand its permanence. He will not shut up about it. We're talking daily TED Talks, in length, not the enjoyableness factor."

Shivanna chuckled and played with her glass necklace. "Good. I hope it works out between you two. But I'm also a realist who has seen her get hurt too many times by people misunderstanding her. So, keep her heart safe."

"I will, especially since I've witnessed the pain."

"I guess you have, Pizza Boy. Thank you for that, by the way."

He nodded. "I'll always be here when she needs me." He needed a subject change to get Shivanna on his side. He didn't want to be considered a guy who couldn't accept her. A painting of a beautiful smiling woman with a halo and a wing of bright-coloured feathers caught his eye. "Naomi said you're an art teacher. Is that your stuff here and out front?"

Shivanna nodded. "I wanted the space to feel like our own. It's been too busy to add on to the outdoor decor, but I have plans. I plan to do more woodcarving."

Kieran smiled as it brought up a memory of Katy's dad where he'd taught him to whittle driftwood on the porch overlooking the Atlantic. He'd made her a whale, and she'd displayed it on her bookshelf despite its many flaws. The first of many, he'd told her, yet time had robbed them of others. After everything, Katy's mom had given it to him, back when they believed in the sincerity of his pain and didn't see him as a villain.

"It is a relaxing hobby," he said.

"You should stop by once I get my supplies together for an art night. Nomi might join in for once."

"That'd be awesome."

Shivanna smiled and pet Cleo behind the ears. "You can go check on her. Sometimes her indecision gets the better of her."

"Sure."

He wandered down the narrow hall, listening for rummaging or footsteps at each door. At the far one left cracked open, Naomi groaned and said, "What's better a t-shirt or a tank top? The tank top is kinda cute-sexy, but I don't know about paddling in it, and I'll probably burn my shoulders."

"Anything you wear would be cute-sexy, but being comfortable is important too."

"Kieran?" Her voice shot up an octave. "I thought you were Shivanna."

"She said you might need help to decide."

"That little jerk." Some rustling and hurried footsteps echoed before she said, "Okay, come in."

Kieran stepped inside the room which had cream walls with one pale purple accent wall. Sunlight streamed in from a large slider window, and Naomi had strewn a dozen tops across her queen bed, dresser, bedside table and the floor.

He laughed. "She wasn't kidding about that indecision."

Naomi emerged from around a corner in a fitted burnt orange t-shirt with a tent and canoe on the front. "I can be an overthinker."

"I see that. You look perfectly cute-sexy."

She played with her thick single braid. "Thanks, Shivanna helped. I've never been talented at this make-up and hair stuff, so you're forewarned."

"You are beautiful, with or without it."

She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder. "You smell good."

"Thanks, I tried this wild new thing called showering. Jake was quite impressed too."

Naomi's body rumbled with a laugh against his, and she stared up at him.

Why had he planned to do anything but hold her all afternoon? Although that would make the plan to let her lead their intimacy more difficult.

"Excited to go canoeing?" he asked.

She pulled away, to his dismay, but he tried to mask it.

"I've never canoed in the city before."

"Me neither. I've been out to Caddy Lake to do the tunnels."

Her chestnut eyes brightened. "I've always wanted to do that."

He smiled. "Pick a date, and we'll go. I never use up all of my holidays."

"Maybe. It could be fun." She grinned up at him. "We'll have to conquer Fort Whyte first."

He glanced at the pile of tank tops, dresses and t-shirts covering her purple comforter. "You want help to put this back?"

"Nah, I can do it later."

"You sure? Some of those hidden lacey ones have me curious."

She tucked them further into the gigantic pile. "You'll have to wait to find out."

He grinned. "That I can do. Do you want a towel or sweatshirt in case we tip? Not that we plan to, but you never know."

"That's not a bad idea." She scurried to the closet and grabbed the same grey sweatshirt she'd worn when they ran into each other for the second time. She tossed on a baseball cap, and they left her room.

Shivanna chuckled as they reentered the living room. "That's record time for you, Naomi. Kieran should stop by more often." Shivanna winked at him.

Naomi grinned and held his hand. "I think so too."

She stared at him like she might lean up and kiss him, but he doubted she'd do that for the first time in front of her friend. Her lips brushed against his cheek again, spreading warmth through him. When she looked into his eyes, her adoration poured through, and he got dragged further into deep water.

I think I love writing Kieran and Jake's brotherly dynamics a bit too much XD

How do you think their second date is going to go?

The next update will be on Saturday :D 

Canoe image by Guiseppe Ramos D accessed on Canva Pro