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“I’m glad you’re not mad at me anymore. That hurt. I know we don’t know each other yet, but that hurt like a motherfucking piece of tape being ripped off of a scab. Pardon my jardon.”
“Jardon?” I repeat.
“Did I see that?” He shakes his head. “Say that? Shit, what did that man do to me? I do not feel right in the head.”
“Does your dentist not know your history with meds? It seems like he gave you too much…or you’re having a bad reaction…”
He clamps his hand over his mouth and looks green all of a sudden. “I think I better go home,” he says after a long inhale. “Would you mind getting Mya or Emma? If they’re not in court, they can help me home…I’m not sure I can walk up my stairs alone.”
“They are in court,” I tell him. “I can help you home. Let me just let Miranda know really quick, okay? Oh, can you wait long enough for me to get that box to the right place? I sorta left it inside…”
He nods and leans his head against the wall, his lips lifting in a smile when he glances at me as if he’s trying to reassure me that he’s okay.
“I’ll be right back.”
He doesn’t say anything, and I hustle inside, taking care of the box first before I call Miranda. I’m only gone five minutes at the most, but when I get back outside, he’s gone.
I hurry back into the lobby and the security guard waves me over. He’s got a big grin on his face and points at Aidan who is hunched over on the bench with his face in the fake tree next to him.
Oh my. This is worse than I thought.
“My boy Aidan is having a good ole time.” The older man, who happens to be built like a tank truck, bellows out in laughter.
Aidan pushes up and squints as if he’s trying to focus on him. “Tony, you’ve always had my fucking back.”
“Well, that’s because you get me those big gift baskets full of meats and cheeses and good wine. My wife loves them.” He winks at me. “I’m just kidding with you. You’re the best around, my friend. Now is this who you think is going to get you home?” He raises a brow at me, and I nod.
“She’s pretty, right? So fucking pretty,” Aidan slurs, before reaching up and grasping his lips between his fingers, his eyes crossing. “I don’t feel so well.”
“Yes, sir, she is. Damn. I think they gave you a bit too much of that laughing gas?” Tony says with a look of concern on his face as he helps Aidan to his feet. “You sure you can handle him?”
“Oh, I’m sure. He said he only lives a block away. I’ll get him home. Do you, um, do you know if he has a significant other that will be there to care for him?”
Tony barks out a laugh. “So formal, little lady.”
“No.” I shake my head, mortified that I can’t get my words out because Aidan has me all frazzled. “I just started working here this week and I don’t know him outside of work.”
“But you do know me, don’t you, Mazzzzzie.” Aidan takes his finger and possibly attempts to bonk me on the nose, but he starts coughing incessantly at the same time, and his finger shoots directly in my eye. I yelp.
“Oh, boy. Are you all right?” Tony asks as I blink rapidly and get Aidan’s arm wrapped over my shoulder.
“I’ll live.”
“To answer your question, my boy has probably left plenty of broken hearts in his wake.” Tony’s loud laughter bounces off the marble floors of the grand lobby. “But he isn’t seeing anyone right now as far as I know.”
Lucky me.
He’s all mine.
“Got it. Let’s go,” I say as I shift his weight and he appears to walk beside me just fine.
The walk to Aidan’s building is both hilarious and mortifying as people move aside like I’m carrying a man in battle, and he shifts from laughter to wheezing and pausing to catch his breath.
This gives the walk of shame a whole new meaning.
Chapter 8
Aidan
