Page 21 of Never To Suffer

“You’re a mess. That’s my fault.”

“No, you didn’t let me end up as a clone of them; it’s a positive thing.”

“Yeah, but are you taking care of yourself? Of Dani?” She taps the side of my head. “You’ve got a big brain in there, kid. It could take you far. Both of you.”

“Yeah, whatever. I tried asking mom about taking some of my old stuff from my room, and she gawked at me like I asked if I could perform brain surgery on the dog or something.” I take off my jacket and toss it over the back of a chair before I dig the cigarettes out of my back pocket, offering one to my aunt. “She said Dad moved it out, but Berto said it’s downtown.”

“It is. I talked your dad into keeping it. When do you move in?”

“I’m going to pick up the keys today. Dani and I are camping out there tonight, so she can finally get some solid sleep before they leave in the morning. If I get the furniture, I want to move it in while she’s gone so I can surprise her and so she won’t have to wait till I’m back.” I take a drag, the first one I’ve had in months, and let my head rock back. “I’ve been eyeing some stuff down at the discount place, too. She’d flip out. I can afford it if I get a few more subscribers, or post more.”

“Tell you what, you text me the address and what you want from storage. I’ll get it all delivered over there the day after tomorrow. I’m sure I can get your dad to agree to that. Hell, he’s probably forgotten it’s even there.” Before I can counter her offer, she adds, “Don’t! It’s an early engagement present. Or something like that.”

“I told you, Aunt Melody, Dani isn’t the marrying type. It freaks her out.”

“I get it, Little Bug, but an aunt can dream. And to me, you two are already married.” She slaps me on the arm as she ashes her cigarette into a fake shrub. “And at least I’m not giving you shit about smoking, drugs, or asking when you’re gonna give me nieces and nephews. Please, do not give me nieces and nephews. Seriously. Kids are a fucking mess.”

“I won’t tell your kids you said that.”

“It’s fine. I will once they’re old enough.” She laughs so loud I’m sure people inside can hear her. She doesn’t care though, she never has. She’s the black sheep of her family and she’s passed the mantle down to me now that she’s had to take up at least part of the family business. “And if your dad says no, I’ll give you stuff from my place I need to get rid of.”

“Any guesses why Dad wants me in Tokyo?”

“No, but he has something up his sleeve, so be prepared. My guess? He’ll ask you to run the new office we’re opening.”

“Hard pass. A month isn’t going to change that. A year wouldn’t.”

“Yeah, but he’ll try. He wants you to have every opportunity before we pass the company off to one of my kids, since that’s a good twenty years away from happening.” She ruffles my hair as best as she can through the product. “That’s better. Come on, lets head back inside and laugh at people.”

“Do you think dad will ever just let me be me?”

She sighs, her face dropping into pity. “Make me a promise? After Tokyo, get out. Stop saying yes, stop giving them the leash. You’re free, Xander. You got out, but you keep coming back out of this wild sense of duty or to spite them. I’m not sure which. But promise me you’ll take that giant step away and go live your happy life with your beautiful un-wife.”

“Un-wife? Dani would like that one.” I purse my lips and nod, studying the dirt and cracks in the concrete pathway to avoid eye contact. “Yeah. I like that idea.”

CHAPTER 10

MY OWN WORST ENEMY

LIT

“Good morning, Dr. Clay!”my receptionist chirps as she walks into the office, her bright red hair swaying as she sets a cup of coffee down in front of me. I glance up at her over my glasses, watching her chew her lip and avoid eye contact. “I didn’t buy the coffee! So don’t look at me like a disappointed dad! I got that look from my own father.”

“So this just magically appeared out of the blue? Let me guess, coffee fairies?” I ask, eyebrows raised while I wait for the answer.

“Sort of? The new barista already knows your order, so he asked me to bring it up for you since you haven’t been down this morning.” She leans in with a smirk because she thinks she’s being coy, but I’m a psychiatrist and she’s not an actress. No matter how bad she wants to become one. “He’s got a thing for you.”

“Kennedy,” I rub my temples, but she’s not done yet.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice, because you noticed! Last week, when we went down for a break after Coop—I mean—Mr. Cooper’sappointment!” She folds her arms and gives me anover the top look of disappointment mimicking my own. “You straight up ogled him, Dr. Clay.”

“First, I’ve told you to call me Theo and don’t call Chase Mr. Cooper, he hates that. Second, I did no such?—”

“And he gave you a free muffin! That’s barista for let’s hook up,Theo! Trust me, that barista used to work at the shop near the studio I worked at and he never once gave me a free muffin, and I was in there every fucking day! And I’m cute!” She stops, eyes going wide. “I mean, every gosh darn day. Sorry.”

“You can say fuck, Kennedy. We’re adults, and there are no patients around. It’s fine.”

“Right, thanks.” I hired her as a favor and thought it would only last a week or two, but she’s been with me for a few months now and it’s been working out pretty well. She had a bit of an intervention from friends and family not too long ago, and she’s cleaned up her act after dramatically driving her car through the front of her boyfriend’s gym after he broke up with her. Hollywood is a wild place to be a therapist.

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