CHAPTER 14 THANKSGIVING, WALKER STYLE #2
“You must be Aife.” Mom moved to the right as Aife entered. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Without a thought, Mom hugged her tightly.
I blinked. “Mom, let her go.”
She whirled to face me. “Hush, James.”
Aife smiled. That smile did things to me. I found my arms wrapping around her, and Aife buried her face into my chest as her arms tightened around my waist. I reveled in the feeling of her pressed against me. She was always a comfort to my soul. My heart raced at the same time my body settled.
“Hi Talon,” Aife said, smiling brightly at me. “How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Filled with food.” Grabbing her hand, I led her to the living room. “Might as well get the interrogation over with while you’re here. They are going to ask a million questions.”
“That’s fine. Is it nice to see them again?” She sounded upbeat, happier than on the phone.
“Yeah, it’s been great! My brothers are crazy, but I have missed them. They’ve been doing so well with work. I’m so proud of them.” I smiled at her. “How was seeing your family?”
Her face fell slightly. “It was fine.” Her voice was almost devoid of emotion.
“Aife?” Grabbing her hand again, I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles. “You don’t have to lie or pretend with me.”
“Really, they were fine.” She smiled weakly. “They just always treat me like I’m made of glass. It can be hard seeing them when I’m doing so well. I understand their concern, but they take it too far sometimes.” Aife tugged her long sleeves further down her arms.
She was being intentionally vague about her experiences. It bothered me a little that she still wouldn’t fully open up with me. Aife was my best friend; I told her everything. I didn’t like that she still hid parts of herself from me because I wanted to know everything about her.
“Oh, I’m sorry, darling.” I kept her hand in mine.
“You want to talk about it?”
Her big, beautiful eyes met mine. “When we are back in Chicago.”
I nodded as my family came barreling into the living room.
Each of my brothers carefully eyed Aife, doing whatever they did to surmise if she was worthy, I guessed.
They all introduced themselves before sitting down.
Mom noticed our hand holding, but she didn’t say anything. A bright smile filled her face though.
“So, Aife, tell us all about you.” Mom handed her a slice of pecan pie and a fork.
“Thank you, Mrs. Walker.” She took the plate before handing it to me. “I’m allergic to tree nuts.”
Mom’s face fell. “Well, someone didn’t tell me that.
I’ve got pumpkin?”
“I’d love a slice. I should have let you know beforehand.”
“I should have asked,” Mom said as her smile reappeared. “None of my beasts have allergies.”
Quickly Mom returned with another slice of pie and handed it to my girl.
Aife happily accepted and waited for my mom to sit before she took a bite.
Her eyes widened in what I assumed was joy as a soft moan left her mouth.
I bit my lip to not react, but that didn’t stop my dick from twitching.
Moaning was not going to be allowed around my brothers.
“This is delicious!” Aife took another bite. “Thank you so much.”
“Yeah, Ma’s pie is fantastic.” CJ exclaimed proudly. “Now, tell us all about you little lady.”
Aife narrowed her eyes at my older brother. “Please don’t call me little lady. My name is Aife.” She smiled sweetly at my brother. “I’m a social worker at a hospital in Chicago. I work the neurology floor.”
Mom nodded at her words. “How did you meet James?”
“She goes to school with Davis,” I said before putting some pie in my mouth. “Zeke took me to a soccer game, and Aife was playing. She kicked Jefferson’s ass.”
“School? Are you getting a master’s degree?” Mom took my now empty plate.
“I’m getting a PhD, ma’am. I’m getting my doctorate in social work. It’s why I moved to Chicago.” Aife looked down, a blush on her cheeks.
“Wow.” Mom looked strangely proud of her. “How did you get into social work?”
Looking down at her feet, Aife smiled softly.
She hadn’t even told me how she got involved in her career.
“Honestly, when I started my bachelor’s, I wanted to pursue law.
I was seemingly far more passionate about law and debate.
I took a social work class my first year, and it blew me away!
Everything I thought I wanted to do with law, I actually could do with social work, and I fell in love.
I graduated in three years and went for my master’s degree on the advanced course which only takes a year.
“The more classes I took, the more I fell in love.
My master’s flew by and then I was licensed and working.” She smiled again, a bright smile. Her smile brightened her entire face; she was so beautiful. Her hazel eyes crinkled when she gave her real grin.
“I feel like that’s not the full story.” EJ crossed his arms over his chest. “A class changed your life?”
“And a sport changed yours. That’s the story I’m willing to share,” Aife said, “In social work, you learn to meet people where they’re at. Perhaps you should try that.” There was a teasing tone to her voice.
I smirked at my oldest brother, “Don’t pry, Eaton.”
“Y’all are dating! I have a right to pry!” My brother threw his hands up in exasperation.
Silence surrounded the living room, echoing within the vaulted-ceiling room.
My heart was racing. I’d repeatedly told my family that Aife was a friend.
Briefly, I glanced at her. Her face was pale as she licked her lips.
Her bright face had dimmed, masked with the echoes of something I couldn’t name.
“We aren’t dating,” I said softly. “I already told y’all that.”
AJ looked over at both of us. He took in our clasped hands and cocked a brow at me. Rubbing a hand down his face, he let out a loud sigh. “James…”
“No,” I said, standing up. Anger hit me at full force.
“No. We aren’t doing this. Y’all know Melody fucked me up. You know I’m still dealing with that, and despite me telling you that Aife and I are just friends, y’all are insistent it’s something more! Enough!”
Carefully, I pulled Aife off the couch and walked out of my mother’s house.
These were the times I missed Dad the most because he would have calmed us all down.
Once we were outside, a groan of frustration left my mouth. My family loved me, but they were extremely aggravating sometimes. Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair as I turned to face Aife.
“Are you alright, Talon?” She placed one of her small hands on my elbow. It steadied my pounding heart.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry about them. They’re just really excited that I’m close to my old self. My ex really fucked with me, and my family thinks we’re a couple because I’m affectionate with you.” My hands ran through my hair again, pulling at my curls.
“Talon, relax. It didn’t bother me. They’re curious!
Can you blame them?” She leaned against her car. “Eventually, you’re going to need to face all those pent-up emotions. Wallowing in anger only hurts yourself at the end of the day.”
“What’s the real reason you got into social work?” I chose to ignore her words for now.
Aife frowned, not enjoying my attempt to change the topic. “Secret for a secret?”
My hands found their way into my hair again.
I trusted Aife, but Melody was a raw subject for me, and I knew that’s what she would ask.
Sure, Aife knew about the cheating aspect, but could I tell her all the horrible things Melody did?
How she destroyed my self-esteem? It was a miracle I even still liked women after what that woman did.
With a sigh, I nodded. “Sure.”
She slowly sat against her car. “It did start with a class. All of that was true. But, I really got into social work because I was traumatized by my medical experience.”
Tears slowly formed in her eyes. “The way I was treated and dismissed for my very real pain was completely unacceptable. Every surgery and all the pain I dealt with led back to one common diagnosis. It took eight years to get it. I don’t want anyone to go through what I did,
and I won’t let it happen.”
Aife was still hiding a piece of herself. There was clearly still some fear and anxiety around her medical ordeals. I wasn’t going to push though. I never wanted to push her.
“Thanks for sharing,” I said, finally sitting down next to her on the hood of the car.
She nodded. A loud sigh left her lips. “I’m still dealing with my recovery. It’s not linear, at all. Some days are far easier than others. Other days, I feel like I’m still right in the eye of the storm.” Aife fiddled with her long sleeves. She always wore them.
“I like that,” I said. My eyes remained on her sleeves. I never questioned why she always had her arms and legs covered.
“You like what?” Aife swiped at her tears. She tugged again at her sleeves, pulling them almost over her hands. It seemed like a nervous tick.
“Recovery not being linear. Melody did a number on me. Told me all kinds of horrible shit, like I’d never amount to anything after hockey. She really fucked with my head.”
Aife’s eyes connected with mine. “You are so much more than a hockey player, Talon.”
“And you are so much more than medical issues,
Aife.”
Her head dropped. She began fiddling with her sleeves again.
Clearly, this was a sore subject for her. Her eyes glazed over as she zoned out looking at my mother’s lawn.
I didn’t want to bother her. Carefully, I pulled her into my side, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head. She was worth the world; she had to know that.