Page 44 of Third Time Lucky

ASHER

‘I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’ve got a problem, and I need your help.’

What in the fuck? Why is he here?

‘Nice to know you have no respect for personal space,’ I mutter, irritated that he’s shown up during a date that was going perfectly. ‘How in the hell did you find me?’

‘GPS,’ Aaron says, his fingers curled through the fence he’s on the outside of like I’m in jail. He’s lucky the fence is there because I just discovered he’s probably got a fucking apple tag in my truck, and I’m holding an axe.

‘ What GPS?’

‘Life 360. Remember? The time I disappeared for two days with that girl? You and Lyssa made us all download it so we could track each other’s locations in case we go missing again.’

I shake my head. ‘Only one of us has ever gone missing…’ I remind him.

Disappeared – or run off like a rambunctious, horny puppy?

It’s a tale as old as time in Aaron’s world.

He met a girl in a bar, and she invited him home.

Of course, he said yes. But it turned out her home was in Seattle.

Once he was there – he had no way back – had lost his wallet and phone somewhere along the way (I suspect she robbed him, but he insists otherwise).

I called the police for advice on what to do when a grown-ass man has gone missing.

After asking a few questions about Aaron’s lifestyle, they advised me to give him a couple of days. He’d probably surface, they’d said.

Forty-eight hours later, he called me from a number I didn’t recognize, and once again, I had to make that phone call to update the police on the actual situation (he followed a woman home) and let them know that I had found him. Then, I had to drop everything to bring him home.

‘You’re about to go missing right now,’ I mutter quietly so Lucy doesn’t hear me.

I hear the thud of her axe hitting its target, then falling to the ground below.

‘Thank God you’re in jail then, eh?’ he laughs. ‘Listen, I see I’ve pissed you off and that you’re busy. In my defense, I thought you were just here blowing off some sexual tension.’

Jesus, please don’t let Lucy have heard that.

‘I’ll make this quick. I pushed the boundaries with Madi and she’s mad, and I don’t handle mad women well, so I’m cutting her off,’ he says, that last part under his breath.

‘What?’

‘I wanted to see how serious she was so I may have hit on someone else in front of her. It didn’t go well, she wants forever or exclusive or some lovey dovey shit I’m not cut out for, so I’m ghosting her.’

‘Can I ghost you?’ I ask, running a hand through my hair nervously.

‘Nope, you’re stuck with me for life ’cause we’re brothers.’

‘People cut off family all the time nowadays.’

‘You’d never,’ he says, calling me out.

Holy shit, this moron. He is going to fuck this up for me. Deep breath. ‘You are an idiot,’ I growl through clenched teeth.

His shoulders tense as he spits out the words. ‘Things were getting too real, and I couldn’t handle it.’

‘This is one of those ridiculous conversations that should have been a phone call or a text I could ignore until I’ve got time.’ I shake my head in exasperation at Aaron’s typical behavior. It’s always the same cycle with him – getting too close, feeling suffocated, and then running away.

‘Tried that, you didn’t answer.’

‘Because I’m busy.’

‘Well, I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what to do because now she’s blowing up my phone,’ he says, flashing me a glimpse at the screen, notifications filling it. ‘I don’t want to hurt her by blocking her, but love was not our deal.’

I glance over at Lucy, who has retrieved her axe and is now eyeing Aaron with curiosity and suspicion. At this point, I should just tell her what’s going on and let her hurt him for Madi.

‘You’re unbelievable,’ I moan. ‘How do you chase a girl for weeks and then decide, nope, I like her too much, she might be in love with me, she’s got to go.’

He shrugs. ‘I’m a complex fella,’ he says, arguing back.

‘No, you’re scared of feelings.’

‘No, I’m not,’ he says, offended. ‘I’m scared of commitment. There’s a difference. I need space to do my own thing, you know? I can’t have some woman depending on me, I’ll let her down. Just like Dad let Mom and us down. Trust me, it’s best for both of us,’ he mumbles, clearly avoiding eye contact.

‘What I know is that you’ve got some deep-seated relationship issues and fuckboy tendencies and need to see a therapist before you die of gonorrhea, or some pissed off girl kills you.’

He laughs. ‘Never had the clap, thank you very much.’

‘Not brag-worthy,’ I remind him. ‘Listen,’ I get closer to the fence separating us. ‘If you fuck up what I’ve got with Lucy by hurting her friend, I’ll hurt you .’ I raise the axe.

‘Come on,’ he says, not believing a word I say. ‘You’d never. You’re all soft inside, remember?’

I roll my eyes. ‘I’m not cleaning up your mess this time, so whatever you’re here to ask of me, the answer is no. I’m busy.’ I glance back at my date, who flashes me a gorgeous smile.

Lucy strides over, her axe glinting in the overhead lights. She stops before us, her eyes flicking between Aaron and me.

‘Hi,’ she says. ‘Is everything OK, or did I just hear you say you need space?’

Aaron nods, thankful it seems someone is more understanding than me.

‘From Madi?’ she asks.

He shrugs, suddenly realizing who he’s talking to. ‘Nah.’

‘Oh, so you’re not here because something happened with Madi? ’cause I thought I heard you say you’d hit on another woman in front of her.’

His gaze shoots to me, then back to Lucy, who is also holding an axe. ‘Nope.’ He shakes his head repeatedly. ‘Would never do that.’

I roll my eyes.

‘Huh, that’s weird then,’ she huffs. ‘’Cause I just checked my phone, and I’ve missed fifteen texts. You got caught grinding up on another woman in a club? Is that true?’

He rears his head back, ‘Doesn’t sound like something I would do,’ Aaron lies.

‘You did what?!’ I ask, knowing damn well it’s true.

‘It was just a dance.’

‘A Swayze style dance?’ I snap.

His jaw drops a bit. ‘It’s the best way.’

I glance at Lucy, hoping she’s not judging me based on his mistakes. But her eyes are firmly on Aaron, and it looks like she might be the one to give him his next battle scar. She steps closer to the fence.

‘Well, in case I’m right, you should know I’d never let someone intentionally hurt my best friend, and I’ve got plenty of space in the dungeon back at Mitzi’s if needed.

What do you think of actually disappearing?

’ She asks teasingly, clearly having overheard our entire conversation, which is why she probably checked her phone, but a fire in her eyes screams: ‘I’ll protect my friend no matter what.

’ Aaron might finally have crossed the wrong women.

He looks slightly intrigued yet terrified now. ‘You’ve got a dungeon in that mansion?’

Lucy nods, but considering this is the first time I’ve heard of this dungeon, I suspect it’s just a basement, likely filled with expensive wine and champagne.

Aaron gulps audibly, glancing between us like a deer caught in headlights. ‘I, uh— I’d rather not make the news,’ he says sheepishly.

‘Too bad,’ she says with a smirk. ‘It’s not been used in ages.’

I laugh under my breath, earning a glare from Aaron.

‘Don’t worry, Luce. Aaron can figure this one out on his own because he’s a grown man and he was just leaving,’ I interject, shooting Aaron a pointed look. ‘Weren’t you?’

‘You’re not even gonna help me?’

I shake my head. ‘I’m not even gonna help you. Time for you to grow up, little bro. Deal with it and leave.’

He cocks his head, looking less than thrilled with me.

‘Fine. I’ll just figure it on my own,’ he says, backing away slowly. ‘I didn’t need help anyway, I was just… checking in?’ He glances around, nodding his head approvingly. ‘But everything seems good here, so off I trot.’ He turns on his heel and practically sprints away, not daring to look back.

Lucy watches him go with a slight smirk before turning her attention back to me. ‘He’s a lot of work, isn’t he?’

I chuckle, feeling relieved that Aaron is finally out of the picture. ‘Like a puppy on his first night in his forever home.’

‘One of those hyper types,’ Lucy agrees. ‘Did he really do this to Madi?’

‘I don’t know. Knowing Aaron, probably.’

She sighs heavily, throwing the axe in her hand and nailing it dead center. ‘Shit,’ she groans. ‘You know how I wanted this date to end?’ she turns, asking me.

‘How?’

‘With sweet nothings whispered into my ear and a kiss that curls my toes?’

My jaw drops. ‘I drove you here. Maybe he ruined the mood at this location, but we can still end this date – the best date of my life with the most stunning woman I’ve ever met – any way we want.’

Her smile widens into one of pure sweetness, lighting up the dimly lit bar and making my heart skip a beat. She chuckles softly, a blush painting her cheeks.

‘Always wise. Let’s do that then, handsome.’