Page 27 of Learning to Run

Well, it seemed like I’d figured out something else to dobesides studying…educating Brady.

Chapter 8

Cashel

“Do I want to know why your phone is exploding or are wejust going to ignore it?” Bates was trying not to laugh, but his grin made itclear he was finding the whole thing funny.

“Ignore it…in one second.” Shooting a quick text to tellGareth that Brady was driving me insane, I quickly put it in a private modewhere only Gareth’s messages would come through. He knew better than to driveme nuts by sending me a thousand texts in a row.

Brady didn’t.

“Okay.” Letting out a breath, I shoved my phone back in mypocket. “All yours.”

Bates finally chuckled. “I should’ve known our date wouldn’tbe traditional.”

Our day at the Air and Space Center had been amazing andanything but traditional. But I’d been hoping the rest of it would gosmoothly…I should’ve crossed my fingers or knocked on wood.

I tried not to roll my eyes but they had a mind of theirown. “I should’ve known better than to leave Gareth and Brady alone withoutsupervision.”

“What did they do?” Bates reached out and grabbed his water,taking a sip as I sighed. “Come on. Your phone has been going off like crazyfor the last twenty minutes.”

It was ridiculous.

“First of all, Brady made sure I knew he’d waited and waitedbefore texting me.” That had Bates snickering. “I know. But evidently, after weleft, Brady asked Gareth why he wasn’t jealous.”

It might’ve been more convoluted than that, but it seemed tobe what it boiled down to.

Bates pinched his lips together and nodded. “That must’vebeen an interesting conversation.”

Oh yeah.

“Gareth was helpful, but now Brady wants to know all kindsof things.” But he would have to wait or I’d sic his mother on him. “But he’sgoing to be patient while we enjoy the rest of our date.”

Or day together?

At the very least, he was going to wait while we enjoyed anearly dinner. Bates had picked a great little seafood restaurant, probably withGareth’s help, and I wasn’t going to let Brady ruin it.

“I’ve certainly enjoyed it so far.” Bates reached across thesmall table and took my hand. “But I have to admit to being very curious…and Ican’t help wondering what Jude will think of the questions too.”

“Ugh.” That sounded stressful. “You can deal with him. I’lltake Brady and I’ll make sure Gareth knows to watch him better.”

For some reason that made Bates laugh and shake his head.“You guys are great.”

I was pretty sure that was a polite way of saying we wereinsane, so I just ignored it. “Alright, before we were interrupted you had aquestion?”

I just couldn’t remember what we’d been talking about thatled up to it. Brady was distracting as hell and he’d scrambled my brains.

But my reminder had Bates going quiet and he looked down atour hands. “I was actually going to ask about Gareth’s past since he’s not here,but now I’m wondering if that would be inappropriate.”

He seemed to forget who he wanted to discuss.

“It’s Gareth we’re talking about. His level of inappropriatewould be something completely insane. Me telling you about his past wouldn’teven begin to approach that level.” He wouldn’t even understand why it was anissue. He’d made it clear Bates was family and that was it in his mind.

As Bates laughed, looking less worried, I shrugged and triedto explain. “Besides, he’d say that you’re family and wouldn’t understand whyyou shouldn’t ask about something you were curious about.”

Gareth just might not understand how to explain growing upwith parents who kept forgetting he existed.

“Then he’d try and bribe me with a…reward.” Bates’s leeringgrin said he was thinking something wicked. “Okay, I won’t get stressed overit.”

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