Page 22 of His to Protect

“I can go.”

“No,” Declan said, pinning me in place with his voice. “You stay. And if you’re okay with Derrick being here, he’ll stay, too. This happens sometimes when Aidan has a date.”

“I can reschedule,” Aidan chimed in, although the way he said it said he wouldn’t be happy about doing it.

“You don’t get out enough.”

Aidan smirked. “Pot meet kettle.”

Something simmered between the two of them as they stared each other down. The tension sparked and crackled, and I jumped when Derrick dumped his bag on the hard floor. “You got pop, Declan? Because Dad’s all out and I’m thirsty. I’m also ready to kick your ass tonight.”

At my expression, whatever that might have been, Derrick simply said, “Call of Duty. It’s a game we play when I’m here.” He walked by me, disappearing into the kitchen, and shouted loud enough for us all to hear, “Although it’s a bunch of crap because I am thirteen and old enough to be on my own for a night.”

“Yeah,” Aidan muttered, grinning at his feet. “Except I remember what I was doing when I was a few years older and since Derrick there is the result, no way in hell is he ever staying alone.”

Aidan looked so young that I’d figured he must have been a young dad, but at that surprise, a laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Both men looked at me. Aidan shrugged his shoulders, unashamed of his actions or the result, and Declan’s eyes went soft, soft in a way I didn’t fully understand.

This whole situation was overwhelming and awkward.

“All right,” Aidan said, clapping his hands.

That must have been what finally got Boomer’s attention, because all of a sudden he barked and I heard his paws hit the floor.

He rounded the corner, his tail wagging like it did when he was excited, and before I could stop him, his front paws were on Aidan’s chest, shoving him back into the front door.

“Holy fuck,” Aidan gasped, his hands immediately flying up in the air.

“I’m so sorry,” I gasped, and tried to jump toward Boomer to grab his collar.

Declan beat me, his large fingers wrapping around Boomer’s collar before I could get to him, and something about that quick motion made me snap.

“Get off him!” I shouted, and lunged forward, somehow shoving Declan out of the way. “Get your hands off him!” My hands wrapped around Boomer and I yanked him down, pulling him to my side.

When he was back at my feet, I heard a harsh whisper. “What in the hell?”

“Cool it, Aidan,” Declan said.

He crouched in front of Boomer, hand out, palm up, completely nonthreatening.

“Trina.” I didn’t catch the concerned tone in his voice. All I heard was my name, and I knew my dog had done something wrong. Again.

I flinched and curled myself around the animal when a shadow fell over us. I pressed into Boomer’s fur harder until Declan whispered, “It’s okay, babe.”

Babe.

That one word echoed inside my head and I realized what I’d just done.

I’d just made a complete fool out of myself.

Blood rushed from my face and I stepped back, protecting Boomer at the same time. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my limbs beginning to shake. “I don’t know…I just saw you reach for him…”

Tears blurred my vision and before either man said anything, I gripped Boomer’s collar and turned to rush him outside.

I completely ignored Derrick, who I barreled past on our way to the sliding door, but once the door was opened, I shoved Boomer through it and then my back hit the cement wall. I slid down until I was sitting on the cold cement, my feet pulled up to my backside. I dropped my forehead to my knees while my body shook and trembled.

Would I ever stop being so afraid all the time?

---