Coop steps forward and says, “you guys just don’t really look alike and we’re…”
“Idiots.” Niko supplies.
“Protective,” Cooper retorts. “Especially after last night. We wanted to make sure you’re okay and I still need to get you to the police station.”
“The fuck? Why are you going to the police station? Did Benji—”
“No!” I yell, pleading with Niko to stop talking through sibling speak. Silent deadly looks and big round puppy dog eyes usually do the trick. “No, brother. Nothing like that. Just your regular old home invasion. Someone probably looking to steal all the fancy stuff I don’t have. Little did he know, the most expensive things I own are outside of the house thanks to these guys.”
“What does that mean?” Niko demands.
“They paid for most of the landscaping supplies and they bought Hadley a huge playset. Then they talked the whole town into buying us patio furniture and a new barbeque.” I shrug, knowing I can’t lie to him.
“You guys trying to buy your way into my sister's pants?” He scowls at them.
“What? No!” Jace declares loudly. I’d be offended if the look on his face wasn’t so comical. “Look man, we just wanted to help out the new single mom in town. We don’t need to buy our way into anyone’s pants. Believe it or not, we’re almost as attractive as you on a good day,” he retorts sarcastically.
Niko’s not impressed.
“Coop, why don’t you let me get my brother settled and I’ll need to put some real people clothes on, then we can go down to the station. I can be ready to go in twenty minutes.” I say, hoping the girls and Niko will be okay to watch Hadley.
“Aw, but those jammies are so cute, Love Bug.” Cooper jokes.
“Oh my god, why am I always doing this?” I say, looking down at my matching top and bottoms pajama set. At least these one’s cover me properly. “I’ll head over shortly. Let me figure out what I’m doing with Hadley, get dressed, and show Niko his room.”
“You got it! The guys and I will leave you be. See you soon Ari girl.” Jace says, pushing the guys back toward their house.
“Sorry I was a dick Aria!” Ethan shouts, causing me to laugh.
“All good Ethan.” I smile at him to let him know everything’s fine between us, then turn and push my brother inside. “No drama Niko. I’m serious. Those guys have been really good to Hadley and me since we got here. I did my research and made sure they weren’t known creeps, and they don’t give off the vibe of a psycho. Benji had tells. I ignored every red flag and ended up reaping the consequences. I don’t think that’s the case here.”
“I just don’t know what I’ll do if anything ever happens to you or Hadley,” he says, pulling me in for a tight hug.
“Speaking of Hadley, would you… I mean, I’d like to avoid taking her into the police station. Would you watch her with Dem and Tate?”
Thirty
Ain’t no party like a toddler party!
Aria
November 2020
“Going into the station was basically pointless. The guy confessed to just wanting to find some valuables to hawk. His name is Sheldon Vloski. He’s a homeless man from three counties over. He’s apparently a small-time thief, though he’s been picked up more than a few times for petty theft. I don’t know what qualifies as small-time but that seems like a few too many times to not get kept in jail.” I say, scrunching my nose in distaste. I hadn’t wanted to talk about it. In fact, I’d mostly just wanted to forget it, but I understand why my family needed answers so here we are talking about it. “This was his biggest hit and he failed big time. Apparently he assumed that these houses are off the beaten track enough that he’d be able to get away with it. The guys’ house was on his hit list too, he just thought he’d start at the smallest property and work his way up.”
“What a scumbag. He sure chose the wrong area to fuck with. Maybe he should’ve done a little more casing to notice the freaking police cruiser in the driveway!” Tate says. I know she’s pissed but at least no one got hurt.
“I don’t think Cooper keeps it in the driveway. I’m pretty sure it stays in their garage.” I shrug. “The worst part about that whole trip was that they replayed the audio from my 911 call so Coop heard me trying to stay strong while telling dispatch about recently having left an abusive marriage and now I feel like he’s struggling to even look at me.” Two full days have passed and I still hear the unmistakable shake of my voice play over a speakerphone showcasing the wounds of my past. Even trying his hardest, he couldn’t hide the loathing and disgust from his eyes,” I tell them, relaying the events of that day.
When we got back to our houses the other day, he seemed a little shut down so I made up an excuse of wanting to spend the day with my brother. It’s not untrue since he’ll only be in town for a couple of days and has to leave again for the last leg of his tour tomorrow. So today we celebrate and enjoy our lives. It’s Hadley’s birthday and we’ve already made her purple pancakes, per her request. Now we’re getting the side dishes and things ready for the cookout this afternoon. I didn’t tell them about her birthday because I think they’ll go way overboard and they already demanded that they handle the meat today. So, they’ll just have to be pissed about it later.
“What the fuck? Can’t you catch a break?” Niko asks, pulling me in for a hug.
“Right? I’m almost ready to say fuck it and not go back home on Sunday.” Dem says.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I joke, but it falls pretty flat and the next thing I know, I’m genuinely crying. “I don’t want to say goodbye,” I whisper with tears flowing down my face.
For the first time in years I feel safe and happy. It helps having them here.
