His mouth twisted. “Thanks, but I don’t think getting punched in the face by my kid sister is going to help.” Besides, Dani had started holding back when she realized she could beat his ass.
He hated that they all knew what had happened to him and Dani. Everyone at Leonidas had always supported them both and had helped him get his record expunged so he could work with VACA. But he didn’t like it.
It wasn’t even like Dani hid her past. She was open about being a survivor. She talked to survivor support groups and used her status as a champion MMA fighter to advocate for victims and raise money for programs.
For him, her openness was another reminder he’d failed her.
Paige stared at him long enough to make him uncomfortable. “What?”
“I’m worried about you, Tink,” she said.
“Why?”
“This is your, what? Third case in a month?”
“Something like that. I thought you and Graham were cool with the time I give to VACA.” If they weren’t, he would have to reevaluate some things. He wasn’t willing to stop volunteering with them.
“We are, that’s not the issue,” she said.
“Then what’s the issue?”
“I can see the toll it’s taking on you. You’re not hiding it as well as you think.”
He huffed out a half laugh. “Have you been taking classes with Addison?”
“No, but I’d like you to talk to her. Or someone else, but you need to talk to someone. We need you at a hundred percent and so do those kids.”
“I’m good, Paige. You don’t need to worry about me.” He had a tight control of his emotions.
“Sorry, it’s part of the job description. Talk to Addison. You can consider it part of your yearly psych eval, but I want you to talk to her.”
He rubbed his head. “Okay. I’ll call her this week.”
“Thank you. Dani said the Knights are having a party tonight. You going?”
The irony of belonging to a club called Tarnished Knights wasn’t lost on him. The last thing he wanted to do was hang around a bunch of people, but he wanted to be alone even less.
“Yeah. You?”
She shook her head. “No. Ash’s parents are driving up from Savannah for dinner.”
He grabbed the rag hanging on the frame and wiped his hands. “Wow. Meeting the parents already?”
She moved her arms when he waved her off to drop the hood. “Technically, I’ve already met them. This is the official meeting.”
Tinker smirked, knowing she’d hooked up with her boyfriend at his sister’s wedding. “Good luck with that.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” She flipped him off for good measure. “I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know.”
She headed off to the exit. “Have fun. Don’t get arrested.”
He grunted and shoved the rag into his back pocket. He appreciated that she didn’t push him to talk. She’d drop everything if he needed her to, even dinner with the new boyfriend’s parents. He picked up the wrench he’d dropped earlier.
A few drinks, maybe a hot woman with no expectations, and he’d be fine.
Going out with friends
