My mouth fell open as I looked at Aaron.
“It was self-defense,” Carter added.
Michelle and I glanced at one another, shaking our heads. These men were impossible. We put the kids in the car.
“You all right?” I asked Michelle, noticing she was holding her stomach.
“Yeah, just a stomach bug, I think. I was taking half a day at work anyway today to rest.”
“You want us to take Diego so you can rest?”
She shook her head. “Carter’s taking the rest of the day off, so I’ll be good. Those two are like peas in a pod.”
“All right. Talk to you later.” I went over to the awaiting car and climbed in the door that Aaron held open.
On the way back home, I had to explain to not only the children but their father as well that we would not be stopping for ice cream. Even though what happened was a form of self-defense on Kyle’s behalf, there were still better ways to have handled the situation. I was adamant about only promoting physical violence when and where necessary. I didn’t know who wore the biggest pout—Kennedy, Kyle, or Aaron.
Chapter Seventeen
Aaron
I watched from the doorway as Patience finished up the night’s reading with Kennedy. I’d just put Kyle down to bed after we finished up a round of video games and some drawing. I could hardly believe that this is what my nights had become. Playing video games and drawing before watching my wife complete up her nightly routine with the children. I was also beginning to realize that there was absolutely no place I’d rather be. I was starting to loathe the idea that I had a business trip the following week, even though it was only for two nights.
Patience’s lips turned upward as she shut off Kennedy’s light and passed me, closing the door. I barely moved, instead forcing her body to brush up against mine. I grinned inwardly when I saw the vein in her neck kick up in its beating rate. I followed her into our bedroom, shutting the door behind us. As she went to wash her face and brush her teeth for the evening, I changed into my pair of pajama bottoms and remained shirtless, per usual. I’d gotten in the habit of sleeping without a shirt, even though the idea had always made me cringe as a child and young man. The thought of someone seeing my scars and daring to ask about them always made me agitated. But ever since our very first time together, when she kissed my scars, that agitation went away. It was why I had no problem when Kyle asked about them. The tattoo, on the other hand…
“What are you thinking about?”
I lifted my gaze to see sepia eyes staring at me.
“Kyle.”
“What about him?”
I folded my arms across my chest, tilting my head but remained silent.
Patience sighed, moving to sit on the bed, cross legged. “Ask me.”
“Does he–”
“I think so.”
Everything in my body clenched. My hands tightened into fists and my lips balled up.
“Aaron.”
I shook my head, unable to answer her.
“Aaron!”
I turned my back.
Patience came to stand in front of me, hands at my sides.
“I did this.”
“Stop it! Kyle being teased by another little boy is not your fault. It’s that boy’s parents for not raising him better.”
“But his dyslexiaismy fault.”
