The meal went off without a hitch—everyone ate their fill. Zach just took it all in and watched Jake play with Rusty throughout the meal as he fed him. The conversation was good, but the secret was still there, like an elephant in the room. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"So, Constantine, will you accompany me into the Township for a milkshake and maybe fries at the little shop? I also have to return Ed’s speeder without even getting to drive it yet."

Constantine looked at Mr. Zack. "May I have your permission to go for an afternoon out? I promise I’ll be good—nothing is going to happen. Please, sir."

"Well, if you can get Donnie and Stephen to babysit for you, I don’t see that it’s going to hurt anything if you two spend a little adult time together. You need to grow up, and this is all part of life—spending time with other adults while resisting temptations."

Constantine hugged Zack’s neck and thanked him profusely.

"And Jake, I expect you to be on your best behavior also. I know we’re friends, but this one here is extra special."

"You don’t have to tell me this beautiful young man is special—he’s special from the top of his head to the tip of his toes, and he will be treated very gently and with nothing but respect, my old friend."

The two men stood up and thanked Constantine for the delicious meal they had. Jake handed off little Rusty to Constantine and told him, "I’ll pick you up about 6 PM and we’ll head into the Township."

"Yes sir, I’ll be cleaned and dressed, freshened up and ready for our date together."

Constantine’s heart skipped a beat as Jake’s hand brushed up against his when he took Rusty from him. Is this a sign? Was he meant to be with this human as his mate, or just to be broken in by him? Whatever it was, it sure felt right.

Constantine was in a tizzy for the rest of the afternoon. He went through his closet trying to find just the right shirt and pants to wear, made sure his shoes were cleaned and shined—after all, this was his first date, and with a human no less. Donnie came over, and Chas too, trying to make sure that Constantine was ready for his big outing with a very special man.

Donnie took his reader and sat Constantine down at the table and keyed in search: Jake Traylor. What came back blew Constantine away. The man had been a player in his younger years, yes, and he’d tapped everything that walked—human, male and female. He didn’t have any children and no other family, but he was the third richest person on the planet. Hawthorne was number one, number two was an investment group, and then there was Jake—the man asking him out for a date. Constantine ran to the bathroom to throw up, he was so nervous.

"Uncle Donnie, what if he doesn’t like me honestly? I’m a hybrid, not even a pure blood Genman. I’m not human like he thinks I am. I can’t go out—I just cannot go out with him. I can’t deceive him like that."

"Constantine, you’re going to be just fine. You’re going to take it nice, take it slow, and at the right moment you divulge exactly what you are to the gentleman. And then if it doesn’t work out, you got a great milkshake out of the deal, maybe some fries. Let’s face it—that place cannot cook, even with its good cooks."

Constantine chuckled about the cooking part. "I guess I’ll just have to show him how cooking is done when I’m there, maybe even impress a few people."

"But first we have to get you looking good. Time to bring out your best clothes, time to beef you up, make you look like the young desirable hybrid that you are. When you walk out this door, I know half a dozen or more Genmen’s mouths are going to fall and hit the ground. Time to show them what they are never going to get to tap, because whether you know it or not, Jake Traylor is your future and he’ll be the father of all your babies—I guarantee that."

"You know Mr. Zack told me I can’t let anybody touch me there and definitely not to let him inside of me with their... you know what."

"Constantine, it’s called a penis, a prick, a cock, a dick, or a prong. And when Jake Traylor gets ready to take you, as he is going to, you better believe you will let him into your vent—that’s a simple fact of nature. It will take over your common sense and he will tap you, and you will conceive his child the first time of many. So young man, get ready, cause your life is about to begin."

6 o’clock rolled around and Jake pulled up to the front yard and stepped out of the runner. Donnie was waiting along with Chas on the front porch.

Jake introduced himself to Donnie and Chas and told them that he was glad to meet them—he had heard a lot about them and what they all went through, and he was glad to see that they were doing great. He wished Donnie all the success with his upcoming birth.

Constantine stepped out the front door dressed in his best. Jake lost his breath. He took Constantine’s arm within his and walked them out to the buggy and helped him into the passenger side. He waved bye to Eli and the rest of the family and got behind the wheel, and the two took off on their date.

They were almost there to the soda shop when Jake couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled the buggy over. He leaned over just when Constantine was about to say something and kissed the young man for the first time in his life.

Constantine was taken aback. He looked at Jake. "Why did you do that to me?"

"Because, young man, someone as beautiful as you are needs to be admired and shown that they are worthy of someone’s affection and attention."

"But Mr. Jake, you don’t even know me. You don’t know nothing about me, and I’m afraid that we might have to go home."

"Constantine, it’s Jake when you’re with me—it’s just plain old Jake. And what do I not know about you? That you came here? That you and your family are living on the Z1, a Genman ranch? Where the hell else would you live—you three, correction four, hybrids? Yes, I know. I know your secret. You’re the most beautiful hybrid I have ever seen in my life. All three of you boys are. I have caught a glimpse of Richie, and give him a couple years and he’s gonna be a knockout—any man would be thrilled to have him as their mate."

"Someone already has him as their mate due to the fact that he’s in a super-cycle, and the only way it can be stopped is he must be bred. I wasn’t happy about it and he didn’t want the idea, but it was for the best due to his health."

"I wish it hadn’t had to be that way. He needs a few years to mature so that he can find his own place in life—that’s just the way some things are. Now back to you, young man."

"This is our date. I intend to prove to you that you deserve to be loved, and at this time in my life I’m ready to settle down. When I saw you this morning, you’re the only one for me. I didn’t care if you were human, Genman, hybrid, or anything else—I want you by my side as my forever mate."

"It doesn’t bother you, Jake, that I’m a hybrid? That I’m built different from other males that you’ve been with or even your own females?"

"Constantine, it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I am glad that you’re a hybrid. There’s just one last thing I have to deal with. I’ll let you know right now that I’ve already got things planned for us and our entire families. I purchased 5 acres off Ed Hawthorne today, and it’s right next to the property line where your home is now and where your uncle Steven, Donnie, and their families are located. So you will never have to leave them—you’ll be right across the line. And the house that I build there—it’s not for me, it’s your home, it’s our family’s home. And if anything happens to me, it will all belong to you and our children. In fact, your name is on the deed already."

"So, let’s go in here and have our milkshakes, talk about our future, and maybe have a few fries along with it. And one more thing—get used to this because I’m only going to be doing it a lot." Jake leaned over and kissed him once again as they sat in front of the soda shop.