I sighed. “Yeah, I could definitely use a chat.” I tossed my sketchbook down and tightened the brightly colored wrap I’d put around my shoulders. I knew I looked ridiculous in lounge pants, a silk button-up, and the colorful wrap—like a fashion queen on crack—but each piece brought me comfort and I didn’t really give a damn. Sliding my feet into slippers, I followed Cooper down the stairs.
On the second floor, we stopped in to check on Rai, Spencer, and Hadley who were surrounded by a stack of books with Mario Kart paused on the game system.
“You good?” Cooper asked Hadley, but I could tell he was checking in with the guys as well. Cooper had taken to being a father to Hadley like a fish to water. He had no issues sharing the girl with the housemates and friends, but he was always certain to check and make sure no one felt as if they were being forced into free babysitting.
“Yep, Rai and Spencer are teaching me Mario Kart so I can get my license like Logan. And I’m reading them books about unicorns and dragons.” Hadley pushed her dark, curly hair from her face. The girl had enough hair to make a whole-ass wig and still have enough on her head; it was often in her face if Cooper hadn’t pinned her down to pull it back.
“Girlfriend, come here,” I said and sat down on the couch in the game room. Hadley smiled and scrambled to sit on my lap. “Do you have an elastic of some sort for your hair?”
She nodded and glanced around on the floor. “It fell out. Dad fixed it when he came home, but he doesn’t do it as good as Daddy.”
Cooper beamed. “Shhhh, we don’t tell Dad that.”
“Are you okay with me braiding it so it’s out of your face?” I pushed a strand away from her eyes.
Hadley nodded. “I like braids. I like your braids. You have a lot of them.”
“I do. We’ll just do one for you. Sit on the floor.” I took a few minutes to braid Hadley’s hair, grateful for the mundane distraction.
“Your meeting go okay?” Spencer asked.
“Not exactly. Gonna fill Coop and Bev in, I can catch you up later or you can hear it from them. I’m sure Logan, Cruz, and Jesse are getting an earful right now, too.” I finished the braid with the elastic and patted Hadley’s shoulder.
I really wanted to talk to Gabby, but I tried not to put her in the middle of Khi and me. So, I followed Cooper down to the kitchen where Bev was just pouring tea.
“Grab those cookies and settle in, boys. It’s been too long since we had a chat.” I knew Aunt Bev missed having Cooper in the house, but she also adored having Cooper, Jesse, and Hadley right next door. She brought the mugs to the table and we sat down with hot tea and butter cookies. “Now, Khi seems grumpier than usual and you don’t seem to be much better. What’s going on between you two?”
I chuckled. “That’s a much longer answer than we have time for over tea.” Nibbling on a cookie, I thought back to those long-ago high school days. “I guess the easiest way to explain it is that Khi and I have always rubbed each other the wrong way.”
Cooper grinned over his mug. “Maybe you two should give in and rub each other the right way.” He wagged his brows.
I huffed, heat warming my cheeks. “Pretty sure the only contact he wants to have with me is to get his hands around my throat.”
“Ohhh, kinky,” Cooper teased.
“Cooper Scott, let the boy talk.” Bev shoved the plate of cookies Cooper’s way. “Put a cookie in your mouth and hush.” She turned to me. “You and Khi had a thing back in the day?”
I scoffed. “Not even close, unless by thing you mean our little every-single-thing-you-do-annoys-the-hell-outta-me situation.”
“Why the animosity? Did something happen?” Bev sipped her tea.
“It’s a long story and I don’t even know that I understand where the dislike started. But suffice it to say that we were very different back then. I was an immature closeted gay kid hell bent on doing anything I could to make sure no one ever suspected I was gay. Khi was focused on getting out of Bellville. Anything we might have had—which would have probably just been friendship—never got a chance to get started. Which was likely for the best if I’m being honest, we were too young and too different. But I fucked it up royally the day Khi left town.” I grabbed another cookie.
“So, not to switch the subject, but you know how I am—and I get the feeling you’re not going to give juicy details about the past.” Cooper bounced a knee as he tapped fingers on the table. “What happened with your boss?”
I sighed. “She switched a bunch of shifts and assignments. On a positive note, I got promoted to day shift.” I chomped on the cookie, not even sure I could feel excited or proud about the promotion.
Bev winced. “And Khi?”
“He got a new partner,” I deadpanned.
The two were silent for a moment before realization dawned.
“Ohhhh, bitch,” Cooper drawled. “No way. You and Khi are partners now? Like work every shift together? Ride in the same ambulance?”
I leaned forward on my elbows and held my face in my hands. “Yep. Twenty-four-hour shifts. When we aren’t in the rig, we’ll be at the station. There’s a lot of downtime with this job, so we can probably avoid each other some. Like we won’t have to eat together or hang out. But we’ll bunk together, take calls, all that.” I scrubbed my hands over my face.
“And then come back here and share a room.” Cooper’s eyes were wide.
I nodded.
Bev clucked her tongue. “I say it’s about damn time.”
My eyes shot to hers. “What?” Damn, could I not even get support from my own aunt?
“Child, I didn’t get to
