Page 58 of Mr. Naughty List
Aaron stepped closer and touched his arm. “RJ, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s not that I wouldn’t be proud to tell my family about you, but we just aren’t there. I don’t think either of us plans to ever be there. Am I right? You’re leaving soon. I’m not out at my job and don’t want to be.”
RJ stared down at him. There was a lie in that, about not wanting to be out at his job. RJ sensed it. “And why is that?”
“Why is what?”
“Why are you closeted in your job? Is the school homophobic?”
Aaron scrubbed his hands through his hair. “Christ, it’s such a long story. Can I tell you later? I’m not blowing you off, but, like you said, we should get going soon.”
Rutty walked back into the barn with some big, old blankets hefted over his shoulder.
Aaron cast his voice lower. “Besides, now isn’t the time or place for this tale.”
RJ nodded, swallowed down his unfair and ugly hurt, and plastered a smile on for Rutty’s sake. “Let me help with those, sir. We’d love to stay longer, but I’ve got a show in town tonight, and I need to be getting back.”
Rutty clapped him on the shoulder. “Sure thing, son. But don’t be a stranger. Now that Aaron’s brought you, I want to see you again soon. Like, say, on Christmas Eve.”
“Dad, stop, please.”
After they’d figured out how to lay the seats down in the Lexus, laid out protective blankets, and loaded in the blanket-wrapped tree, Rutty said to Aaron, “You can keep all those quilts. My Aunt Gladdy made about a hundred before she died. I don’t need more than a couple. If you don’t want ’em, give some to your mama. Just don’t say they came from me. Make it a gift from you somehow.” He shook his head and let loose a bitter sound. “That woman would vomit up a beautiful steak dinner if she found out that I was the one to grill it.”
Aaron nodded with downcast eyes. He’d been solemn ever since their short private discussion, but he seemed to summon a small smile for his father. “Thanks for everything, Dad.”
Rutty glanced between them, and RJ gave the man a stiff smile, hoping it looked less awkward than he felt right now. Rutty lifted a brow. “Ah, Cracker, c’mere.”
He tugged Aaron aside, and RJ pretended that he couldn’t hear every word, continuing to tuck blankets around the tree in the SUV and keeping his back turned. He winced a little at what he did hear, though.
“I don’t know what was said or done in the little bit o’ time since you first showed up here looking like a light had been turned on in your soul. I don’t know what happened to make that light turn off again. But, please, son. Don’t be like your mother. Don’t ruin perfectly good things just because they aren’t what you planned.”
“Dad, that’s not—”
“Just think on it.” Rutty hugged Aaron and then pulled away, starting to lumber back up to the house. “Good to meet you, RJ. Thanks for coming out.”
“Thanks for the warm welcome,” RJ said, waving as he and Aaron climbed into the SUV and put on their seat belts. “Your dad’s nice.”
“Yeah,” Aaron agreed.
RJ started the car and decided to risk a question. He’d already spilled some of his darkest history earlier in the day. It could be Aaron’s turn if he was willing. “So, I didn’t mean to overhear, but what was that about your mom?”
They circled around in the yard, heading back down the bumpy driveway, avoiding goats and dogs. Aaron groaned. “It’s another long story, sort of connected to the first long story.”
RJ glanced at Aaron. His dad was right. Whatever light had been shining in him when they’d arrived was definitely dimmed now. Aaron was just as handsome as before. Maybe, in a weird way, even more so, with his expression so solemn and his vulnerability leaking out all over the car. RJ wanted to hold him close, soothe him, and force the layers of his brittle, protective shell to split open. Force him to let it all go.
RJ took another chance, because Aaron Danvers brought out the risk taker in him. He cleared his throat and prompted, “A long story, huh? Well, it’s a long ride back home.”
Home. Wow. How was it that Aaron’s little loft had come to mind when he’d said that word? He’d only been in it twice, and it wasn’t exactly the coziest of places. RJ could think of a hundred improvements to make for comfort: a few cat-safe house plants here and there, colored curtains that billowed and shifted the light, and warm, soft quilts to huddle under on the sofa. Hey, at least the last item was covered now, what with the quilts around the tree in the back.
But Aaron’s apartment wasn’t his home. So why had it come to mind instead of Mom and Doug’s place?
“All right,” Aaron said, a little resentfully. “Let me figure out where to start. What harm can it do to tell you?”
RJ hoped it wouldn’t do any harm at all. But he couldn’t be sure. Aaron was pricklier than ever as he started his story.
“My mom is the principal of the school where I teach. But I guess the story begins way before that. It starts with the divorce. I was ten.”
RJ listened and as he did, he clenched the steering wheel harder and harder. His mother had been neglectful, sure, but only because she’d had no choice. Aaron’s mother was outright mean, and for no real reason RJ could discern. She was blessed with Aaron for a son—a beautiful man, a good person, and an excellent teacher. What was wrong with Aaron’s mother that he wasn’t her pride and joy?
RJ hadn’t ever despised a person he’d never met before, but the more he listened, the closer he came to just that.