Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Aaron
“Are you still stewing?” I glance over to see my father flipping through his phone. His lips are pursed, his eyes focused. “Because you’ve been pouting for two days now and I’m starting to think I brought a girl along with me.”
“I’m not pouting but somehow me taking my shitty mood out on you seems unfair. I guess I was wrong.” I look ahead and notice the shift of his body as he turns more in my direction.
He and I are a lot alike. It’s why we butt heads so badly. Why we have our moments, battle of wills so to speak. It can get heated and when it gets like that and people should walk away for a bit and let us get it all out.
But at the end of the day, we shake it off and move on.
Never take the shit from a workday home, he always says.
It was a rule, one he put into place when taking over O’Shay Construction. He never took his bad mood home to his family.
It’s harder than it seems.
“This have to do with that pretty brunette I’ve noticed hanging out at your place?”
“Now Mom’s got you peeking in my windows too?” She doesn’t really peek in my windows, but you can see my place from theirs.
“Red Jeep, parked in the driveway. Showing up late, leaving early.” I glance over to find him watching me.
“Not to mention I was out locking up the garage and heard the two of you screaming at one another a while back. Seemed a little heated.”
I don’t respond.
“But since her Jeep was in the driveway the next morning I assumed the two of you made up.”
“She can be a little difficult at times.”
He chuckles. “What woman can’t. But from what your mother says, us men miss all the important things and are mostly to blame for any wrongs in a relationship. I don’t argue, because we know Mama is always right.”
I smile at his acceptance of that.
I grew up with two loving parents, as in they love one another a little too much at times.
At least in front of me that is. But they’ve also shown me a great example of what love should look like between two people.
They are always in each other’s corner, always supporting and encouraging.
Their love is strong and their friendship is just as solid.
“Is it over?” he asks and my stomach grows tight. Like someone has reached in, grabbed hold, and is twisting everything so tight I can barely breathe.
“Feels like it,” I say and that hurts worse.
“You ready for it to be over?”
I shake my head.
“Never known ya to be a quitter,” he adds and I can’t help but grin.
“Not quitting Dad, just taking time out to let things cool. I go in now, we’ll be at one another’s throat within the first two minutes. That woman has her fists up and ready at all times.”
“Bet that keeps things interesting.” He chuckles and it’s back to his phone. “Reminds me of your mama. I call that passion son, and at times it plays in our favor.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “You can stop right there old man, I don’t want to hear another word. I know where you’re heading and there are things a son should never hear about his parents.”
His chuckle echoes over the cab of the truck and I turn up the music to drown him out.
“I’ll get that,” Bennett hollers out to me as I climb up the scaffolding. Damn thing shakes and it pisses me off more.
Ignoring him I continue on determined to do something to occupy my mind. It’s been a few days and I wasn’t quite ready to battle with Kendall again. Truthfully I wasn’t sure what to say to her.
Still pissed by the way she handled things, it felt like a better idea to give it some time. We are two very determined people fighting to win, neither accepting a loss. If we don’t both maintain some control, we very well may kill each other.
“Aaron,” Bennett hollers out once more and I wave him off.
“I got it,” I assure him, climbing over to the edge and grabbing hold of the board that was slipping. Only to find that it had never been anchored in the first place.
There is a reason why Greg got tossed last week, the guy did things half assed and it was leading to a lot of issues. Fucker couldn’t even secure the boards to ensure our safety. Half the time he spent on his phone on some dating app chasing girls half his age.
Bennett and Rory have gathered below, both staring up at me with their hands on their hips, perplexed looks on their faces.
Questioning me was generally not an option, my father owned the company but I was the second in command.
One day I’d be the big man, pissing me off normally wasn’t something any of them tried to do.
And over the last couple days everyone has picked up on the fact that I’ve been in a mood. Plus, Sophie and Jillian had a front row seat to the shit show between Kendall and I, so it spread like wildfire.
I figure I am the asshole that pushed too hard and I expect consequences the next time the six of them are all in one place and I happen to be there too at the wrong time.
Rory yells something and I continue to ignore them as I work to reposition the boards, anchoring in the grooves as I go.
Pulling my body up onto the platform I swivel, and my foot slides. I instantly feel myself losing my balance. The first thing I grab for is another board, only to find it too is loose.
Before I can catch myself I am free falling with nothing secure to grab on to. I hear people yelling just before I hit the pavement below and everything goes dark.