Page 98 of Bonds of Shame, Bonds of Lust

43 - AMBUSHED

Derek

There was too much smoke. I built the fire too hot because I always build the damn fire too hot. I didn't look around to see if anyone noticed.

"You're gonna get burned again, D. You should let Aaron do that," Josie quipped.

Laughter.

Dammit.

"Yeah, D. Let me take that over. Fire hurts, brother," Aaron said.

I turned to him, grim-faced. "Mocking a man with a genetic disorder is incredibly problematic, Aaron."

Aaron looked momentarily confused. "D, I wasn't talking about your ugly face, I meant the wimpy pain thing."

Laughter again, this time some of it was mine.

"Fine, Aaron, but don't come crying to me when you get burned." I handed him the spatula.

He took it and immediately moved all the burgers out of the perfect line I had them in. Then grinned at me. Fucker. I almost twitched. I pretended I didn't notice and turned away. He laughed anyway.

I looked for Jess—there, not running, just building what looked like some kind of dirt fort with Mindy and Jeremy, Aaron and Josie's eight-year-old twins. Sitting up. Color good. Talking.

"I'm watching her, Derek, don't worry," Josie said. She didn't look up from the cooler when she said it. "Here, have a beer and relax. Tell us about the doctor you had dinner with."

Here it was. The deadly attack I'd been waiting for. I reached out to take the beer as a tiny cheer went up—Josie, Terry, his wife, Katie, Karl, the rest of them. Then Aaron yelled, "Hey, wait. I definitely want to hear this one."

This felt like an ambush, only because it was an ambush.

I sighed dramatically while my mind raced. "There's nothing to tell, it's just about the MRI machine."

Josie nudged Karl with her elbow. "Oh SURE it is, Derek. If it's not the Doc, tell us all about this new drug you've obviously been taking."

"He's been whistling," Karl said to nobody. Sticking a knife in me.

"I don't whistle." Traitor.

"You whistled in the truck on Tuesday. Like a bird. Terry heard it too." Karl looked over for confirmation.

Terry just nodded contentedly, from a chair that was too small for him.

I looked around, trying to think of something funny, but they weren't going to let it go. Problem is that I actually didn't know what to admit to. "Jesus, can't a guy be fucking happy once in a while without the whole attack?"

Aaron looked comically at Josie, then Terry, and at once they all said "NOPE" and cracked up.

Karl cut in. "Seriously, D, tell us what's up. Everyone here knows everything about everyone, it's not like there's secrets."

Which is true. I've carried Karl's kit when he was hurt and Aaron has actually carried me out of trouble. There's a photograph of it somewhere that if I ever get my hands on I'll destroy.

I put my foot up on the picnic table bench and leaned on my knee. "Okay, children, because you are all acting like children, gather round and let Papa Derek tell you about the great romance."

They did it too, leaned in, looking fascinated. Terry cupped a hand behind his ear. Josie put her chin in both hands like a girl at a campfire.

One beat. Two beats. THREE beats…

I leaned back. "Yeah, I got nothing, sorry." Suckers. My turn to laugh.