Page 55 of Interpreter

Still, that doesn’t mean I have to be super excited by his presence. A knot the size of Antarctica formed in my throat after learning he was coming too. Anniston insisted we all go. I like Kane, I do, but the thought of him saying something horrifically offensive or asshole-ish that may offend Milah and her roommate, Felipe, puts me on the offensive before we even leave the house.

I look at Cade, my voice strained, mouth tight. “What do you think? Should we all go?”

The reason I ask for Cade’s opinion is because I know he will be unbiased. Out of all of us, Cade is the most reasonable and thoughtful. He’ll put the needs of the group before the needs of just one. So, I feel confident he will give me the truth if this is a bad idea—for meandthe family.

Cade types something on his laptop before he looks up, his face calm and unhurried. “I think it will be fine.”

I’m not sure how I feel about the word fine. I could always go by myself, but I’ve already asked them, and that would be shitty. And really, they all need to get out and have some fun. Since my hearing loss, I’ve brought the mood down around the foundation. My family, whether I meant it to happen or not, has suffered with me as I stayed locked away in my deep, dark, pity hole.

So tonight is partly about reuniting us as a family and partly about introducing Milah to my family. I know she has a lot of questions about the foundation, and I’ve gone out of my way to avoid most of them. I’m not embarrassed about where I live or who I live with, but I’m not eager to open up a portal to my past. The reason I have this family and the reason I live at the foundation has everything to do with my past. So, I would rather not rip off that bandage just yet.

Besides, Milah hasn’t been the only curious one. My family has noticed a change with me. Maybe not a big one, but a change nonetheless, and they think it has something to do with Milah. I can’t decide if they are right or not. But for now, I’ve kept tight-lipped about her and Oliver.

Well, except to Breck. I confided in her the other day about how Milah thought her cherry tarts were delicious, and I might have suggested that it’d be nice if she could put an extra in my bag for both of them. Knowing Breck, she baked twenty and put some in the freezer. That reminds me, I need to make her sit down more often. Carrying twins cannot be easy on her. I’m sure Cade has it covered, but just in case.

“Do you think B should come? You know, with her being pregnant and all.”

Cade’s mouth tips up in amusement. “You think she’s going to miss meeting this stripper—I mean, teacher of yours?”

For fuck’s sake. “She’s not a stripper,” I repeat for the rest of the smug-asses lounged out in Cade’s office. See where I get the teasing behavior from? When you live with shit on the daily, you pick it up. “And it’s a piano bar, not a strip club.”

Hayes is already shaking his head in laughter when he stands. “Don’t tell Theo. He’s been trying to convince Anniston for a couple’s lap dance. I can’t wait to see how disappointed he will be when he realizes we are going somewhere tasteful.”

I didn’t say it was tasteful, but I don’t know that it isn’t. I’ve never been inside before.

“Are you sure you want us all to go?” Cade signs. He speaks for the rest of them.

I swallow, looking around the room at Hayes and Kane. Surely, both of them will behave.

“Is Bianca coming?” I ask Hayes.

His eyes do something weird like he is picturing something, and then he says, without signing, “Absolutely.” And then, as if I needed another hint about his intentions tonight, he does this little front floss, thrusting type dance move. He intends to dance with her and probably cart her off on his bike to fuck her wherever they deem appropriate.

I guess it’s not that bad.

One more look at Kane, who is scowling at his phone, and I think it might be okay. If Kane gets bored, he can play on his phone. He’s probably playing a game with Bianca that will send Hayes into a fit of jealousy.

“Yeah,” I answer Cade’s earlier question, “I want you all to come.”

“Now is the time to back out, because once I get Ans into this club, I’m not leaving until I’ve fucked her somewhere filthy.”

I imagine collective sighs echoing in the car.

“Theo!” Anniston chides, but she isn’t mad. “We aren’t leaving Tim when we go in.” She gives me a little smile. “Unless he wants us to.”

At the rate they are going, and Theo’s murderous look, I’m thinking I’ll be fine alone. “I’m okay. I want everyone to have a good time.”

Theo grins slowly and devilishly. “That’s the spirit, Lambros. Now stop stalling and get the fuck out of the car. Ans and I only have a few hours before we have to pick Aspen up from the babysitter. I don’t want to miss seeing your girl in action.”

The car is silent when Theo jumps out and trots over to Anniston’s side to let her out. But the guys are laughing, I can feel it. The ones who know that this is not a strip club and Milah is not a stripper all have turned their faces away, smothering their laughs as their bodies bounce with the weighted movement.

“Whatever you do, don’t open the door until I have my phone ready. I want to record his reaction.” I shake my head at Hayes who pops his head through the open car door that Anniston vacated. “This shit is too good not to catch on video.”

It really is, but right now, as a creeping feeling of dread settles in my stomach, I can’t enjoy it. What was I thinking by coming here—to a concert? I don’t like when Milah signs to me at school, and I agreed to come to a concert of all things, so she could sign to me the entire time. It was her legs. It had to be.

Getting close to her, being between her legs has done something to my brain. Something terrible. I would have never agreed to this. Ever. As everyone is filing out of the car and chatting outside, I pull out my phone, hesitating. Fuck it. He started this.

Tim: I’m attending a concert tonight.

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