Page 105 of Until Nalia

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I slide through the order I just completed to make sure that everything I needed is listed before I press purchase, then sit back in my chair with my arms over my head. If we needed someone in the office full-time, I would gladly hand over the responsibility of ordering parts and products to them, but at this point, we don’t have enough work available to bring someone on, so I’m stuck doing the monthly inventory restock. Normally it bothers me more than today, but with Nalia still at the doctors with Zuri, Coop heading to my parents, and Billie staying after school for rehearsal, I’d be going home to an empty house anyways, so I don’t mind.

Hearing footsteps coming down the hall behind me, I turn in my chair in time to watch Aaron come into view. Dozer laying at my feet barks at him, which is interesting, because he never barks at anyone.

“Hey, man,” he stops in the doorway of my office while I tell Dozer to hush.

“What’s up?” I don’t make a move to get up or to shake his hand when he steps fully into the room.

“I wanted to come by and talk to you.” He looks at the bench next to the desk. “Mind if I take a seat?”

“Go for it.” I lift my chin, and he sits while I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

“How have things been?” he asks after a moment of just looking around.

“I don’t have the time for small talk, Aaron, just get to the point.” I sigh.

I’m sure that Kristy would have something to say about me being less than welcoming to the guy she plans on marrying, but I don’t give a fuck. Just because she’s okay with him doing what he did doesn’t mean I am. Not when my kids are involved, and not when he’s supposed to be a role model for my son, who is still impressionable and learning how to treat women.

“I wanted to talk to you about the kids.” He shifts, pulling down the hem of his khaki shorts then adjusting them. He’s dressed like he just stepped off the golf course and he probably did. From what the kids have said, he spends a lot of time golfing, and he and Kristy met at some golf fundraiser that her bank hosted.

“What about them?”

“With Kristy’s parents coming into town next weekend for Billie’s show, she’s concerned that they’re not going to want to stay the night and how that might look.”

I know the smile that creeps across my lips is ugly. “I’m sure the kids would be willing to sleep over if you weren’t there.”

“We’re getting married.”

“Yep.”

“So, they need to get used to me being around.”

“They don’t need to do anything. Billie’s past the age of being able to decide for herself where she wants to spend her time, and Cooper isn’t going to go if his sister doesn’t.”

“You guys have a custody agreement that states the kids are with their mom every other weekend,” he says as my cell beeps. When I check, it’s a text from Nalia letting me know that she’s leaving the doctor’s office, and that Zuri is okay, that she just has a couple bruises.

“If Kristy has an issue with the kids not staying with her while she’s with you, she can take it up with my lawyer.”

“You know she’s not going to do that,” his voice pitches an octave higher.

“Did she ask you to talk to me, or are things going to shit and she’s questioning if she should have let you slide that ring on her finger?”

“Things between her and me are fine.” His jaw hardens.

“Ummhumm…” I get to my feet. “Are we done here?”

“She loves her kids.”

“I know, and they love her.” I hold his gaze as he gets to his feet. “Why do you think her daughter isn’t cool on you stepping out on her mom?”

“I didn’t step out on her; that whole thing was a misunderstanding.”

“Right.”

“Kristy knows I didn’t do anything, and that I love her.”

“Good.” I grab my jacket from the hook behind the door.