A Warm feeling

After picking up Zane, Lanet pulled into the driveway and immediately noticed Beau's car still parked outside.

"Is that yours?" Zane asked, surprised, as he gave the unfamiliar vehicle a once-over. It wasn't the kind of car he'd expect Lanet to drive.

"No," Lanet replied simply.

He wasn't sure what to feel. On one hand, he was glad Beau was still here. On the other, he dreaded the scrutiny his best friend would undoubtedly subject Beau to.

As they entered the house, the butler greeted them at the door, his demeanor uncharacteristically cheerful.

"Good day, sirs," the man said with an actual smile—a rare sight from someone who usually embodied stoicism. 

"Good day," Lanet responded, narrowing his eyes slightly in suspicion at his smiling butler. "Is my guest still here?"

"Yes, sir," the butler replied, his smile widening. "Mr. Langley is quite something. The house feels... alive and warm with him here. He's in the kitchen."

The butler took Lanet's coat and walked away, still looking inexplicably pleased with himself.

Lanet hesitated for a moment, watching him go. He couldn't recall the last time his butler had shown this much interest in anything.

"Did someone feed your butler rainbows?" Zane asked, as surprised as Lanet. "Every other time I've seen him, he looks like life personally offended him. Now he's..." Zane gestured toward the retreating butler.

Lanet sighed and ignored the comment, leading Zane toward the kitchen.

As they entered, Lanet immediately spotted Beau. He stood near the stove, swaying his hips to the rhythm of some upbeat music while chatting with the cook. The two were clearly enjoying themselves, laughing as they worked together to prepare something that smelled incredible.

For a moment, Lanet froze. Seeing Beau like this—so carefree and at ease—was... unexpected.

Zane leaned closer, smirking as he whispered, "Well, well. Looks like someone's making himself at home."

The cook, Maggie, was the first to notice Lanet's presence. She elbowed Beau, who turned around, his face lighting up with a wide smile.

"What the heck is going on?" Lanet feigned shock, crossing his arms. "I leave for a few hours and you've completely taken over my house?"

Beau's cheeks flushed, and he looked sheepish. "Sorry, I wanted to make you dinner before leaving."

Lanet couldn't suppress the warmth flooding his chest. He would absolutely love to come home to this every day. "No, that's alright," he said with a soft smile. "I'm glad you're still here."

He walked over to Beau, wrapping his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on Beau's shoulder as he peered at the pan on the stove.

"That smells good. What are you making?"

"We've got lasagna in the oven," Beau replied, stirring the vegetables in the pan. "Now I'm just stir-frying some vegetables to go with it."

Maggie giggled softly as she prepared to leave the kitchen.

"Thank you for your help, Maggie," Beau said with a smile, still stirring.

"Don't mention it," Maggie laughed as she walked out, but not before adding with a wink, "I still expect to get paid, Mr. Hines."

Lanet raised an eyebrow as he watched Maggie exit.

"You're home early," Beau remarked. "Maggie said you wouldn't be here until 6 p.m."

Lanet was about to tell Beau about his day when Zane cleared his throat loudly from behind him.

"Zane, you're still here?" Lanet turned around raising an eyebrow sarcastically.

Zane shook his head, a laugh escaping him. "So rude."

Lanet sighed and waited for Beau to finish what he was doing before guiding him over to the kitchen island, where Zane was sitting.

"Beau, this is my friend Zane. Zane, this is... uh, my boyfriend, Beau." Lanet turned to look at Beau, gauging his reaction to the label.

Beau wiped his hands with a napkin and then extended one of them to shake Zane's hand, his friendly smile never faltering.

"How is it that he's freaking out over the tabloids and you're not?" Zane raised an eyebrow, clearly curious.

"Over what tabloids?" Beau glanced between Lanet and Zane, his smile slowly fading as he noticed the serious expressions on their faces.

It was clear that Beau hadn't seen the magazines yet. Lanet pulled his work bag off his shoulder and rummaged through it, pulling out the magazine Kira had handed him earlier.

Beau's eyes locked onto the front cover, and his expression fell. "What the fuck, front cover?" His shoulders sagged, the color draining from his face.

He started pacing back and forth in the kitchen, his steps heavy and rigid as he tried to process the unexpected turn of events.

"I thought if you couldn't get them, they'd at least be on the internet, and we could figure out how to erase most of them or something. Not damn hard copies." Beau's voice trembled slightly.

"He's definitely more panicked than you were," Zane observed, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Both Lanet and Beau shot Zane a glare, which made him quickly raise his hands in mock surrender.

"Sorry, sorry," Zane muttered, looking a little too amused than sorry.

"This is fucked up," Beau muttered under his breath. "Why is this such a big deal? There are a million things they could put on there."

Lanet stepped closer to Beau, trying to calm him. "Beau, it will go away."

"Will it, Lanet?" Beau snapped, his voice tight. Without waiting for an answer, he stormed out of the kitchen.

Lanet turned to Zane sharply, irritation flashing across his face. "You're very helpful, you know."

"Sorry, man," Zane shrugged apologetically. "I thought he already knew. Anyway, have you read what it says?"

Lanet paused, realizing he hadn't actually read the article. He grabbed the magazine and flipped open to the page, his eyes scanning the bold print.

"After years of our favorite multi-billionaire bachelor being single, he has finally found someone—and we know he's happy because, duh, the big smile on his face. Is this mysterious man the one to steal Lanet Hines' heart? Many of us hope so. They look so great together and might be our next hot power couple."

Lanet's eyes narrowed in disgust.

Zane, seemingly unfazed, leaned back and added, "I mean, at least it's good stuff. It could be worse, like that time you were dating, uh… what's her name? The one your parents set you up with? She was a demon."

Lanet's jaw clenched. "I don't care what it says right now," he said, his voice lower and more intense. "I care about Beau. This isn't something he's used to."

Zane's expression softened, and he gave Lanet a friendly pat on the back, trying to comfort him.

"It's Beau who should be comforted," Lanet muttered under his breath. He probably worked so hard to lead a discreet life.