“Quit changing the subject. Did you get approved?”
“I did. And before you ask, you pervert, I’m going tonight. As soon as I get Hawk settled.”
“You aren’t taking him? Is that wise?”
“Dear God, you’ve become a worrywart in your advanced years.”
“Advanced… I am not that many years older than you, my friend. My forty-two to your thirty-six. There are siblings with bigger age gaps. Couples too. I know one couple who is more than fifteen years different.”
I knew the same couple, and none of us thought they’d make it work, but they proved us all wrong. A decade and several kids later, our former teammate and his husband were still going strong. They’d caused quite a scandal, as the younger of the two was an intern with the physical therapist, while our teammate was a veteran player facing forced retirement due to injuries.
“Have you talked to Jake and Aaron lately?”
“They are well. Adopting another kid, last I spoke to them. They were invaluable to Anya and me when we adopted… our boy.”
Dammit. So close.
“I still do not understand what the big deal is with me knowing the kid’s name.”
“He wants to make his own mark. Do it on his own merit. The boy is afraid to… what’s the saying he used… ride my tail or some such thing.”
“He doesn’t want to ride your coattails.”
“Yes. That. Nonsense. As long as he has the talent, there won’t be any question as to how he got drafted.”
I agreed with Mikal and his son equally. The people who mattered would know. The people who got passed over by the boy would say it was nepotism, not talent.
“You’re both right. So, I won’t push.”
“Thank you. Now, I’ll let you go so you can take advantage of the club.”
“You have a weird obsession with my sex life, my friend.”
“No. I am tired of my friend living less than half a life.”
And with that, he hung up.
FIVE
AIDEN
I sat in my Jeep, which I’d parked in the lot behind the club, as I had every week since the day I moved in. I knew the outside of the place like the back of my hand. I should since I’d sat my ass in the parking lot watching the building like I was on a stakeout or something equally ridiculous every Saturday night.
I didn’t know what I was afraid of. Just like all the previous times I’d been here, Daddies and their boys filed past me from every direction as they headed toward the club. There were just as many Daddies and boys on their own as there were couples and throuples and groups of boys and Daddies, so I didn’t feel like I would stand out if I went in by myself, but I just couldn’t work up the courage to get out of the dang car.
Morrison
Are you still sitting in the parking lot?
I shook my head, regretting sharing my location with him. I got it, safety first and all, but I didn’t think he’d use it to call me out for chickening out.Again. My phone rang and I groaned. I knew better than to ignore him.
“Yes, I’m still sitting outside the club.”
“Why?”
Umm. Why did he think?
“C’mon, Aiden. This club is everything you’ve ever talked about. Everythingwe’veever talked about. And it’s right there at your fingertips.”
