Lost and Found (Twist of Fate #1)(90)

I liked to think it was something we’d brought out in each other.

Gary’s arrival caused the few people milling around to burst into applause. After all, he was the reason for today’s celebration. I watched as he, Xander, and Jake talked for a few moments. It wasn’t until Gary headed my way that I realized he wasn’t alone.

“Bennett,” he said as he reached out his hand. I got up to shake it.

“Gary, you remember Xander’s Aunt Lolly, right?”

“I do,” he said. The pair exchanged small talk before Gary returned his attention to me. “Is Lucky around? I wanted to introduce him to my nephews.”

“Yep, he’s playing with Bear,” I said as I motioned to where Lucky was throwing a ball for Bear in the yard. “Lucky!”

When he looked up, I motioned to him and he jogged over to us. As soon as he saw Lolly, he leaned down to hug her and she gave him an all-in hug like she had me. I loved how he took the time to ask her how she was feeling. He quickly straightened to say his hellos to Gary as well.

“Lucky, I don’t think you’ve met my nephews, right?” Gary said.

Lucky shook his head. I could see a flash of insecurity go through him as his eyes fell on the boys who looked to be about his age. “No, sir.”

“This is Tony,” he said as he put his hand on the shoulder of one boy. “And this is Will.”

“Hi,” Lucky said as he nodded his head and shook both guys’ hands.

“Hey, man,” Tony said.

“Tony will be in your class this fall, and Will is a year behind you.”

Lucky nodded awkwardly. Part of me wanted to wrap my arms around him and remind him he was perfect just the way he was, but I refrained. I knew there were some things I couldn’t protect him from, and the awkwardness of meeting new kids his own age was just one of them.

“So Will and I are headed to Marmot Falls to meet up with some friends for a swim. You wanna come?” Tony asked.

Lucky’s eyes shifted to me. “Um…”

I gave him a quick nod, more as encouragement than to grant him permission.

“Yeah, I’d love to,” he said, his body relaxing marginally.

“Cool dog,” Will said as he bent down to pet Bear. “You can bring him along.”

“Yeah, sure,” Lucky said. There were a few more moments of awkward tension as the three said their goodbyes to us and headed off. As Lucky passed Xander, they bumped fists in a way the two other boys wouldn’t notice.

“Thanks for that,” I said to Gary as I motioned in the direction the boys had disappeared in.

“No problem. I remember that age,” he said. He sat down in the chair next to Lolly and continued chatting with the older woman while I went to mingle with the other guests.

Until I spied the one guest I’d been waiting all morning for.

“Hey,” I said as I met Aiden halfway across the yard and walked right into his arms. I was surprised when he held me a little longer than expected.

“Hey, B,” he said softly.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I am now,” was all he said before pulling back. “You look good,” he said. “Got you some this morning, did you?”

I punched him in the shoulder. “Pig,” I said with a snort. “Come meet people, but behave yourself. A lot of them work for us now, and the last thing Xander and I need are sexual harassment claims,” I joked.

“Fair enough,” Aiden said. The answer was so un-Aiden.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” he said, forcing a smile to his lips. “Where’s the kid?”

“Off making friends,” I said with a grin.

Aiden nodded. “Good for him. I was hoping to steal him away from you guys tonight for a movie and dinner… tacos preferably, if this hick town even knows what Mexican food is.”

I chuckled. Aiden and Lucky had grown close over the past year, and I’d wondered which of them benefited more from the relationship. “I was actually going to ask you if you wouldn’t mind hanging out with him tonight. Xander and I are going camping.”

He raised his eyebrows at me. “Is that code for getting your slutty ass fucked up against a tree again?”

“Jesus, Aid.” I shook my head at him. “But yeah, I fucking hope so. Are you going to take him or not?”

“Yeah, I’ll take him… time to show him a few things.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned.

“What?”

“Corrupting my kid. I bet you’ve already googled all the places in Denver that serve your two favorite things. Bourbon and go-go boys.”

“Married life has turned you into a prude,” Aiden said as he put his arm around my shoulders.

“Shut up,” I said. “Stop saying that.”

“What, the prude part?”

“No.”

“Ah… the married part. Don’t worry, B. It’ll happen.”

“I know,” I said.

It wasn’t the exact truth, but I didn’t want Aiden to know that. After Xander had mentioned marriage the one time last summer when we’d been talking to Lucky about adopting him, he’d never brought it up again. After my adoption of Lucky had been finalized, I’d been certain we’d revisit the topic, but when Xander had asked about starting the process of him adopting Lucky without mentioning anything about marriage, I’d started to wonder if it was something he just wasn’t ready for. I’d been hesitant to bring the subject up myself, since so many things in our lives had changed so quickly.