Page 67 of These Family Ties

Okay, bitch. Don’t fuck this up.

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“Have a nice night.” I smile, holding the door open as the last patient of the day carries her sleeping toddler out the door. And rub the plastered-on happy from my face as soon as it clicks closed behind her.

“Calden already has her car out front with the air conditioning running. Dad is really impressed with the both of you today. Honestly, this is the first time I can remember anyone surprising him.” Aaron walks out of the back of the office and joins me, pocketing his cell.

“You don’t look surprised by any of it.” I reach for my coat, but Aaron beats me to it.

“I’m not.” He lifts it up, holding it open for me. “May I? It’s okay to say no, too.”

“Thanks.” I hesitate but slide my arms into the sleeves. “You’re not?” I reach up, pulling my hair from the neck of my coat.

“Nah.” He follows me to the elevator, reaching for the button.

The doors open, and Calden is leaning against the far wall, arms and legs crossed, wearing a satisfied smirk.

“The little guy didn’t even wake up when I helped her get him in the car.”

“See what I mean?” Aaron and I join Cal in the elevator, and I push the button for the ground floor. “Want to grab some dinner?”

“With you?” Fuck me, that was rude. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sure you did.” He laughs. “Yeah, with me.”

“I don’t think we can.” I reach for Cal’s wrist and check the time. “We have to get home to Father.”

“Oh.” Aaron shakes his head. “I knew that. So, does he still like pizza? My treat?”

“Game over, man.” Cal slaps him on the shoulder. “You had her at pizza.”

“Hell yeah, he did.”

We get off the elevator and follow Aaron to his Jeep. The bright red Wrangler with its shiny hard top is impossible to miss sitting in the far corner of the lot.

“You really have a thing for corners, don’t you?” Calden wraps around me, tucking me under his arm the same way he does when we’re walking in a crowded area or late at night, and Aaron studies us, stepping in closer on my other side, both men taking a protective stance in the empty garage.

“And who are you two keeping me safe from?” I try not to sound too harsh, but I’m suddenly feeling a bit crowded in an otherwise empty lot.

“I was just following his lead.” Aaron shrugs, giving me a bit more space but keeping pace with us. “Sorry, sometimes you two feel the same, but other times, you’re harder to read.”

“Remember how I told you thank you for trying?” I reach out, poking him in the side. “Well, stop.”

“Gee, thanks.” He reaches into his pocket and unlocks the Jeep, climbing in.

“You’re very welcome.” I flip the lever, climb into the back seat, and pull the headrest back until Calden’s chair clicks back into place. I look into the rearview mirror, locking gazes with Aaron. “Seriously, though. You don’t have to try so hard. Just be yourself.”

“But not the asshole from the other week.” Cal snorts, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a joint. “We hated that, dude. Still smoke?”

“I sure fucking do.” Aaron pushes a couple of buttons on his phone and then puts it into the dock on his dash. “Pizzas will be at your house in thirty. Plenty of time to smoke and get back before your dad eats all of it.”

“Hey, Aaron?” I tap him on the shoulder. “We appreciate you.”

The vehicle is silent, and my words hang heavy in the air, but we don’t break the silence, instead letting the truth of my statement sink in.

“Thank you,” he finally whispers back, swiping at his eyes with the back of his arm. “I’m still not letting you play shitty music in my Jeep.”

“Well, that was just untrue, now, wasn’t it?” I giggle, diving for his phone, and both men burst out laughing.

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