Page 49 of Under Pressure

“Why is everyone hitting me?” Johnny asked.

“Because you’re asking for it,” Axel replied.

Don glanced around at the decorations. He thought it looked pretty good. “What’s wrong with it?” He’d spent hours on this.

“In all the years Sandy and I have been married, you’ve never put up so much as one balloon.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “Now there’s an arch of them.”

“That’s for pictures!” Don barked.

Wayne rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Completely missing the point.”

Sean came back in with the bowl of white chocolate drizzled popcorn and sat on the armrest next to Johnny. The two dug in.

Don placed his hands on his hips. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t like the decorations, they’re not for you.”

“That’s not what I said.” Wayne pointed at Don. “You know what, never mind.” He threw both palms in the air.

Sandy placed a hand on Wayne’s arm. “Honey.”

Wayne signaled to Don with his whole hand, fingers together. “He’s not ready for it.”

“If you have something to say, son, say it.” Don arched a brow.

Wayne leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “I have two patients, a married couple, who are extremely passive-aggressive. I got a flat tire on my way to work once and ended up being five minutes late. They spent our entire session angrily telling me they were fine.”

Don glanced back at Wayne as Wayne sat on the love seat next to Sandy. “What’s your point?”

“I’d take the passive-aggressives over your version of in denial—Fort Knox of denial,” Wayne said.

Johnny snorted.

“Exactly,” Polly replied.

Don snapped his gaze to her.

“Thank you, Polly,” Wayne said. Rosa had a hand on her arm.

The doorbell rang again, and a soft voice called from out the door. “Hello?”

Don spun just in time to see Bluebell walk in holding a little gold and pink-wrapped package. A big, blond guy came up behind her. Polly and Rosa came up behind Don, crowding behind him, and then glancing around him.

“Oh, good,” Bluebell sighed. “This is the right place.”

“We found it?” the guy with her asked, a wide smile crossing his face and showing his sheet-white teeth. Don could’ve swornthey sparkled. Mr. Sparkles wrapped one arm around Bluebell’s waist.

“Santa María,” Rosa said, eyes bulging as she looked at the door. “Esta papacito.”

“Si.” Polly murmured in agreement as she fanned her face.

And he was. Even Don could see that. The man was gorgeous. Tall, broad-shouldered, strong-jawed, good lean muscles and Don supposed those baby blue eyes of his didn’t hurt with the ladies. He even dressed well. Manly. He wore khaki pants and a flannel shirt.

A not-so-manly yelp came from the direction of the couch and popcorn went flying.

Don glanced that way just as Sean disappeared under a pile of balloons.

“My popcorn!” Johnny cried out.

“Hi, there,” Mr. Sparkles said, extending his hand. “I’m the new guy.”

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