“That’s a pointless promise; if it turns out to be bad advice, it won’t come back on you, it’ll come back on me.”
“It’s an idiom, smarty.” Daniel threw a pillow at him, and Kyle caught it and threw it back. Daniel picked up a couch cushion to defend himself, but they both froze when the door opened.
“There you are,” Winnie said, smiling. “I should’ve known you’d be together. Your dad’s here.”
“Why?” Kyle asked.
“I’m not sure. Something about lunch?”
“Oh. Right. We’re going out together.”
“And you didn’t invite me?” Kyle couldn’t tell if Daniel was actually hurt by this; he employed a lot of sarcasm that was sometimes hard to distinguish from actual feelings.
“No, we didn’t. He just wanted to spend time with me.”
“Fine, then. See if I invite you the next time we go for a bike ride.”
“Good, I don’t want to be invited. I have no interest in bike riding.”
“It’s the helmets, isn’t it?” Daniel asked, grinning.
“I’ve told you a thousand times that it’s the helmets.”
“So ride without one.”
“You’re so ridiculous. I can’t even with you.” Kyle grabbed his backpack from the lockers and slammed it shut, taking the time to check his Master lock briefly before leaving. He didn’t want to give his brother any opportunity to mess with his stuff while he was gone. His father was waiting for him near the nurses’ station by the front door.
“Hey, son.”
Kyle grunted an appropriate greeting.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes. Nurse Harper, please inform anyone who asks for me that I’ve gone out to lunch and will be back shortly.”
“Will do.” He saluted. “Nice to see you, Dr. Durand Senior.”
“Nice to see you, too,” his father said, giving a friendly wave. “So, where to?”
“You choose. It’s been a taxing day.”
“No, that’s April fifteenth.” His dad laughed at his own joke, and Kyle rolled his eyes. “Lighten up, son. Let’s walk to Mashita; it’s such a nice day out. I gotta soak up the sun while I can.”
“That’s fine.” They walked three blocks in silence. Kyle’s brain began to ease its death grip on analyzing his conversation with his brother and the situation with Ainsley. Walking did feel good; it was proven to release endorphins and boost one’s mood. It probably helped that it wasn’t raining.
“Daniel still giving you trouble at home?”
Kyle snorted. “When hasn’t he given me trouble? All he does is make messes and hog the living room furniture.” And help me with personal problems and give me someone to talk to at dinner and share a pot of coffee with.
“I bet you’re glad he’s moving out then, eh?”
Kyle didn’t answer. Surely it was obvious. He let his heels strike the concrete more forcefully with sharp, staccato steps.
“How are things going with Ainsley?”
“Fine. How are things going with Mom?”
Evan grinned. “Things with Mom are fine, thanks for asking. The rest of them seem to assume that Mom and I are fine no matter what.”
Kyle grimaced. “Relationships are a lot of work. I wouldn’t take that for granted.” He hadn’t meant to go there in his conversation with his dad . . . Maybe it was too weird. But Evan wouldn’t tell anyone, and he did have thirty plus years of marriage experience. “Did you and Mom ever have . . . relationship issues?”
“You mean like arguments? Oh, definitely. Just last weekend, she wanted to go to Sisters to check out an antique—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean like . . . sex issues.”
His father turned his head toward him slowly. “Yeah. All relationships are bumpy in some ways. I wouldn’t say they were big problems. But right after you were born especially, we weren’t on the same page. She was exhausted and insecure about the weight she’d gained, and I was lonely and resented you and Philip getting all her attention. And of course, being autistic, you hated being a baby and basically never slept. But we worked through it. I started helping out more at home, cut back my hours.”
“I can’t apply that to my situation.”
“What’s your situation?”
“Ainsley wants to have sex with me. Daniel recommended that I explain my reservations. I’m considering that advice.”
“Communication is usually a good thing. Good practice for marriage, anyway.”
“I don’t relish explaining myself. I don’t usually come off looking like a hero. Especially when I can’t explain exactly why.”
“Why can’t you?”
“Because I don’t know!” he boomed. An older couple passing them on the street sped up, and Kyle frowned. “Maybe we should talk about this later.”
“No, it’s okay. Look, are you attracted to her?”
“That’s a stupid question. She’s objectively very beautiful. She’s the most beautiful woman in Timber Falls. Maybe in the whole state.”
“Well, as long as it’s not a symptom of deeper issues between you . . . just make sure she doesn’t get the wrong impression.”
“I’m fairly sure she’s already got the wrong impression. She had third-date expectations. She was . . . unhappy with me.”
“So set her straight. She’s known you a long time. Surely you two won’t let something like this come between you.”
Kyle gave him a curt nod. “No, you’re right. We shouldn’t.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KYLE FIDGETED ON AINSLEY’S couch. He played with his keys. Anything would be better than sitting on her uncomfortable gray IKEA monstrosity, his knee bouncing uncontrollably. All it was doing was giving him time to reconsider, to doubt his decision. No. He wasn’t going to lose her over this. If this was what she needed, that’s what they’d do. She did lots of things that he needed. She hadn’t used garlic once since he’d mentioned it. Even her shirts seemed to be cotton more often on nights when they were going to be close, though that could be a coincidence. It’s not, his mind insisted. You love her. Just do this for her and get it over with. Maybe he should put on music . . . Which John was it that she liked? Was it John Legend or John Mayer? How could he have allowed this important detail to slip his mind? It was usually so faithful to trap all her little left-behind bits, all the little things she mentioned that she loved. The sound of footsteps on the stairs jerked him out of his thoughts and had him jumping to his feet.
The front door opened, and Ainsley came in, her head down, digging through her purse for something.
“Hey.”
Her head snapped up, and she grinned with delight upon seeing him. “What are you doing here?”
“Winnie let me in. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is.” She dropped her bag and hurried over to him, giving him her signature greeting of her arms around his neck. She jumped, and he caught her against him, giving her a sweet kiss. Her eyes were sparkling. “What a nice surprise.” So far, so good.