Every embarrassing second might get tucked away, within the nook of the field, held in place by every time I managed to take child steps into one thing regular with him. I didn’t wish to fawn over him, I didn’t wish to research every nuance of every second, as a result of it felt wretched.

Anya ran off to his workplace, and to my shock, Aiden didn’t comply with.

“I owe you, Ward,” he mentioned.

I blinked. “For what?”

Aiden jerked his chin towards the highest of the metal beam.

My cheeks flushed sizzling. Actually, with the flushing and the falling and the nodding. “No, it’s okay. You don’t owe me something.”

“Sure,” he mentioned evenly, “I do.”

There was nothing for me to say, as a result of 1- I used to be afraid I’d preserve arguing as a result of no, I didn’t owe him something for getting the small little one off the very excessive beam, and 2- it appeared safer to not provoke a dialog with him.

Problematic, that.

“Anya,” he mentioned, lifting his chin towards the place his daughter had disappeared, “she’s executed that her complete life.” On the carry in my eyebrows, he clarified. “The climbing. Doesn’t give me a coronary heart assault prefer it used to, however each from time to time she goes slightly too far.”

The best way his voice softened when he spoke of his daughter had all types of melty, gooey issues occurring in my physique. At first, all I might do was nod. However after I mentioned nothing in response, I felt his curious regard.

Promise me you’ll strive, I heard Amy say in my head. On the time, she’d had no clue what she was asking of me, however I’d given her my phrase all the identical.

Earlier than I might kind phrases although, Aiden spoke once more.

“You don’t like that I’m right here, do you?”

My eyes zipped to his. “What?”

Aiden’s gaze was regular, looking. He didn’t repeat the query. To not be impolite or intimidating, however as a result of we each knew that I’d understood him completely.

“I,” my voice faltered, and I shook my head. Attempt, Isabel. “Change is tough for me,” I compelled out. Pushing apart all butterflies, all off-kilter emotions with a sweep of my hand, I dug previous the embarrassment and located a kernel of fact. “I nonetheless don’t know what your presence right here means,” I advised him.

Handing him that piece of fact, even when I had no clue precisely what it meant, was like tugging out part of my physique. However his response … I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it didn’t make it just a bit much less painful.

The best way he watched me speak with out ever speeding or pushing me helped loosen one thing tight and uncomfortable behind my ribs.

Aiden tucked his fingers into the entrance pockets of his darkish denims. “How about this,” he mentioned slowly. “I promise I gained’t make any large adjustments with out discussing it with you first. New identify apart,” he added.

My coronary heart hammered. He wasn’t required to try this. And his method—the calm, the regular—wasn’t one thing I anticipated.

“You don’t have to try this,” I advised him. “That is your house, not mine.”

A couple of folks walked in—attorneys from a neighborhood agency—and effusively loud greetings got here my approach as they entered. I waved.

“You certain about that?” he requested dryly.

I hid a happy smile. Simply barely. It’d felt like my place for the reason that first day I walked in.

“All the identical.” I stored my reply even, skilled. “It’s your identify on the constructing, or will probably be quickly sufficient. You may make your mark on it with out my say-so.”

After I mentioned the phrases, I needed to take them again. Or for a second, I did. As a result of I’d identified so many athletes, ego-driven, prideful, who preened obnoxiously underneath any highlight they got. And nonetheless, I wasn’t solely certain how this explicit former athlete would reply.

“All the identical,” he responded. “I would like you to belief me, Ward.”

My eyes might hardly meet his, not with the best way he mentioned my final identify. If he seemed laborious sufficient, he’d see goosebumps rise alongside my naked arms. The impulse to clean them down with the palm of my hand was virtually unimaginable to disregard. Earlier than I might react, Anya popped her head out of his workplace.

“Daddy, my iPad froze. Are you able to assist me?”

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