Page 76 of Heat Exchange
There was a long pause before the reply came through.
Aren’t you working?
Dad’s here.If he can’t handle it,he can call Ashley.I’m on my way.
“I’m leaving,” she told her dad, reaching behind her to untie her apron.
He paused in his conversation with Fitz, scowling at her. “What do you mean you’re leaving? You’re working.”
“It’s your bar. You tend it. Or call Ashley in. But I’m leaving early tonight.”
“You’re going to see Hunt.”
“Yeah.” She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “Did you know about the fight?”
“I heard about it.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
He shrugged. “This is between them.”
So many words ran through her mind and she wanted to shout them all at him. Both Scott and Aidan had so much respect for him and, if he’d be reasonable about her relationship with Aidan, he could help them be reasonable, too. But that was too much to expect from him, and the disappointment he’d never change was almost as keen as her anger.
But there was a line and if she unleashed her temper on her father, she had no doubt she’d cross it. So she just stowed her folded apron on the shelf under the cash register and walked out of the bar without saying another word.
When she finally reached Aidan’s apartment and he opened the door, she stood there staring at his face for a few seconds before walking past him into the living room. His lip had been split and it looked like he had a bruise on his cheek. She wasn’t sure what Scotty looked like, but he’d obviously gotten in a couple of good shots on Aidan.
“Tell me what happened,” she said. It took her a second to realize he was shirtless, but had on a pair of jeans. She wasn’t sure what that meant.
“What do you mean?”
She tried to keep her cool, but she wasn’t in the mood for him to play stupid. “Don’t bullshit me, Aidan. What happened with you and Scotty? Everybody’s giving me the side-eye and I heard you guys dropped gloves on the ice. I heard it from pretty mucheverybodywho came into the bar tonight. You guys fought?”
“Something like that.”
“And everybody who came in the bar knew, but neither of you toldmeabout it?” She held up a hand. “And if you tell me it’s between the two of you and not my business, I swear to God, I’ll finish what he started.”
“I just needed a little time, I guess,” he said. “Maybe I thought you wouldn’t find out, which is stupid, and you wouldn’t feel like you’re being pulled between us. When push comes to shove, he’s your brother.”
“And you’re my...I don’t know.” She blew out a breath, crossing her arms. “I don’t answer to my brother, you know. And I certainly don’t live my life to make him happy, so it’s none of his business what we do.”
“He’s my best friend.” Aidan sat on the edge of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. “He’s like my brother, you know. And we’re supposed to have each other’s backs. Wehaveto.”
And there it was. The brotherhood. The bond that held them together and was protected above all else. Sometimes even above spouses and children, forcing families to put on a brave face and accept the fact they came in second because it had to be that way.
“So if you have to choose which one of us you piss off,” she said, “I lose.”
He rose to his feet, anger coloring his cheeks. “Who said anything about choosing?”
“You and Scotty threw fists at each other because you’re with me, and now you’re sitting here beating yourself up because you’re supposed to have his back. It sounds to me like you feel a need to choose.”
“What do you even care? You’ve made it pretty clear you want nothing to do with a firefighter. If you’re looking to get laid, I’ll do just fine, but I can’t ask any more of you than that because your ex-husband was a dickhead.”
“It’s not just Todd,” she shot back at him, her voice louder. “You wanna put Tommy Kincaid on some kind of pedestal, that’s fine. But I’m his daughter. I grew up in this brotherhood of yours. I married into it. I’ve done my time waiting for somebody to remember to call and tell the family everybody’s okay. I’ve done my time losing sleep and putting on a brave face and making casseroles while the guys sit vigil in a hospital waiting room. And in return, what do I get? I get to be an afterthought. I get to be understanding and supportive and make sure the fridge is fully stocked with beer. Screw that.”
“I told you I won’t carry some other asshole’s baggage, Lydia.”
“Fine. But you know how I feel about coming second to the brotherhood and you had an opportunity to have enough respect for me to tell me what happened, and you didn’t. You let me get blindsided at the bar rather than include me in a situation that involves me, which means you’re no different.”
