Double The Ache(12)

I look at Wes and he shakes his head slightly, telling me to be cool and not follow her. She walks into the living room and we can still see her from where we’re at. I can even make out some of her conversation, even though she’s trying to be quiet.

“Yeah, some of the boxes, but I didn’t realize I had so much.” There’s some silence and then I hear her again. “I can’t tonight. I’ve got plans. Sure, I can do that. Okay, see you in a little bit.”

“Plans?” Wes asks me and I shrug, I know just as much as he does.

“Yeah, sounds perfect. I love you, too. Bye.”

Amelia walks over to us but doesn’t sit down. “Thank you both so much for breakfast, but I’ve got to go.”

“Why?” Wes asks, like he has every right to know.

“My dad needs me to go over some stuff before tomorrow. It’s my first day at work,” she replies, and I can see how excited she is. She looks so happy.

“So we’ll see you tonight?” I ask, hoping that we we’re the plans she was talking about.

“I, um, don’t think I can tonight, but maybe tomorrow.” She walks towards the door, and Wes and I are hot on her heels. “You guys aren’t going to break down my door, are you?”

She bites her lip and looks back and forth between the two of us. I want to pick her up and pin her against the wall.

“Not right now. But when you’re in our bed again, your little ass better stay put,” Wes says and leans down, giving her a quick, soft kiss.

When he releases her, I do the same, feeling the delicate touch of her lips against mine. It’s not as long as I want it to be, and it’s damn well not deep enough, but for right now it’s what we’ll give her.

“Don’t run from us,” I say, holding her chin and making her look into my eyes.

After a moment, she nods and then I take a step back to let her walk out of the door and across the hall. We watch her go into her place and glance back at us once more before she shuts her door. I close ours after that and look at Wes.

“You better know what you’re doing,” he says as he turns and goes back to the dining room table.

“Me too,” I mumble to myself before I join him.





Chapter Seven





Amelia





I cut the sandwich in half and slide it across the counter to my dad.

“You going to tell me why you’re all dolled up now?”

“I’m not all dolled up,” I say defensively, looking down at myself. I’m in yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt and I’m barefoot.

My dad raises an eyebrow at me. “Your hair and face.”

“Oh.”

My dad didn’t get here until late afternoon. I wanted to keep myself busy, so I took a long bath, then spent extra time on my hair, nails, and makeup. I knew I was going to be cutting it close between my dad being here and the plans I made for tonight. I’ve already picked out an outfit and shoes to wear so I can get dressed quickly when my dad leaves. Apparently I’m not as clever as I thought. I’m not even trying to get dressed up for my date, more like keeping myself busy so I’ll stop wondering about the two men next door.

“I might have a date.” I shrug and now both his eyebrows rise. “I mean, it’s kind of a date. I don’t…it’s nothing special.” I throw my hands up in the air.

Dad smiles at me. “With?”

I pick my phone up off the kitchen counter and pull up the guy’s profile to show him. My dad scans it before handing my phone back to me. “He’s a doctor.”

I nod.

“I don’t like him.”

I roll my eyes. “How can you not like him? You haven't met him. Aren’t dads supposed to want their daughters to date doctors?”

“A doctor will work too much,” he complains.

“You don’t know that.” I grab a grape from the bowl I put out to go with the sandwich I made my dad. “We’re both into health. The human body,” I add, trying to come up with something. I don’t even know why I’m bothering. It doesn't really matter because I'm not excited about the date.

“I’m sure he’s into the human body,” my dad says, rolling his eyes, and my cheeks heats.

I throw a grape at him and he laughs.

“Dad! I’ve got to put myself out there. I need to date and meet people.”

“You’ll meet people when you come to work. That’s how most people make friends.”

“I want more than friends, Dad, and I don’t know if it’s wise to date someone I work with.” I can’t stop myself from glancing at my front door. My mind goes straight to Dean and Wes.

“Yeah, maybe that’s not a great idea.” I glance back to my dad and I see his eyes are now on the door. “I didn't want to bring this up while we were going over work, but since we’re done with all that I’m slipping into dad mode.”

“Uh oh,” I mumble and smile at him.

He takes a bite of his sandwich and I wonder where this is going. “I hear you went out last night with the team. That Dean and Wes were there.”

“Most of the team was there,” I try to play it off.