Chapter Five 617

Chapter Five

“See this button?” Aaron pushes the red circle on the headphone cable. “You push it so we can hear you, okay?”

“So only you and Calden can hear me?” I ask, watching the video feed from the front of the building. “Why?”

“Well, anyone logged in can hear you unless you go in here.” He moves the cursor to the top right side of the screen and clicks on the three little dots. “There’s your name, mine, Calden’s, my father, and the rest of the office. You click on the individual name to speak directly to that person. The green dots beside the names are the people logged in, but not actively logged into our channel. The red dots are the people not logged in at all, and green with a secondary green ring are active on our channel. I know it’s a lot, but if you get lost or overwhelmed, you can just click here.”

I watch as he clicks on a chat bubble and adds me, Calden, and himself. “What’s your safe word, shortie?”

“Motherfucker.”

“Alara.” Calden chokes.

“I mean. It works, but maybe pick a funny little picture.” He snorts.

“The guy hyperventilating into a paper bag clear enough for you?” I raise a single brow .

“Hard to misinterpret that one.” If I see that in the chat, I’ll step in for Calden, and he’ll come to you. “Look, I know this probably sounds ridiculous, but it’s not. You’re in a medical office, and you have a medical condition. Just because your anxiety isn’t causing you to bleed from the ears doesn’t mean you aren’t still bleeding out.”

“How did you go from asshole to emotionally mature in a week?” I ask, only kind of teasing.

“Honestly?” He shifts from foot to foot. “I’ve been talking to my mom each night. She’s helping me see how damaging my behavior has been” –He stops looking me in the eye– “to all of us. We’re all a little fucked up. It’s time I stop hiding from it and fix it.”

“You’re making it really hard for Calden to hold a grudge,” I tease.

“Puttin’ in the work and not just the words.” He shrugs. “Are you two ready?”

“I can see her from the booth?” Calden asks, pointing at my screen. “Just like her?”

“Yup.” Aaron points to the camera above the door. “You’ll see everything that camera sees. You watch for the patients leaving the office, grab their keys, and pull their cars around. And for fuck's sake, try not to look so brooding. The older ladies are going to eat you alive.”

“I’m not brooding,” Cal huffs, grinning like a cat who stole the canary. “I’m a poet.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” I take my seat and spin twice. “Oh my god. This chair is awesome. You two can go away now. I’ll be here, eating candy and spinning in circles.”

“She’s going to end up puking, isn’t she?” Aaron grimaces.

“Nah, she’s got this.” Calden nudges him. “And so do we.”

“Love you, Cal,” I say right as the phone lights up. “And thank you, Aaron. We won’t let you down.”

“I have no doubt about that.” He grins before turning and heading to the elevator with Calden.

Okay, bitch. Don’t fuck this up.

***

“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.

“You could have just asked.” Calden reaches out, tickling my side.

“What? And given you two the chance to say no?” I grab Aaron’s hand, unfolding his fingers and pressing his thumb to the screen. “Ha! I’ve infiltrated your Spotify! Oh my god, you need help.”

“I thought that much was obvious.” He starts the vehicle and pulls out of the space and out onto the main road. “Well, DJ, No Clue. Show me what you’ve got.”