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“Rest? You?” She eyed him. “Right. Like you can stay away from Blue Water.”
“No choice. But I talked to Juan this morning, and he’s got everything covered. I might have to make him a partner after this. He’s running the gym single-handedly.”
She frowned. “Aithan, I know you. You suck at being still.”
Wanting to convince her he was mending and could care for himself, I said, “Well, you’re doing so much better today than you were yesterday.”
He smiled gratefully. “See, Pauli? I’m healing just fine without you hovering around me like a dragonfly.”
“The swelling around your eye has eased and your face is turning the most astonishing shade of green,” I added and laughed at the sour look he gave me.
“Thanks, I think,” he said.
Paulina persisted. “How will you manage without help at home?”
“I’ll manage. I’m not a child and I don’t need you to wipe my nose.”
“No, but you’re still my baby brother.”
Her fussing reminded me so much of Greer, I almost snapped at her. Instead, I blurted out, “I’m here if he needs anything.” I caught his hand. “You can even stay with me. There’s room at my place, and Drew’s coming back this week, so there’ll be another person around to help.”
“Thanks. I might take you up on that.” He twined his fingers with mine. “Why’s he returning so soon?”
“I told him what happened.” I shrugged. “He wants to be here to help.”
“Who’s Drew?” Paulina asked.
“Zel’s other boyfriend,” he answered before I could open my mouth.
Other?Did that mean he considered himself my boyfriend, too?
Paulina’s eyes widened. “You have two men?” She turned to Aithan before I could answer. “So are you gonna be Dieter or Jason?”
“Who?” I asked, confused by the whiplash curves of this conversation.
She answered, “Dieter the Donor is the biological father of all Mama’s children. Jason is her husband and our dad.”
I looked between them, trying not to laugh. “You call your biological father Dieter the Donor? Not a close relationship, I take it?”
Smirking, Paulina shook her head. “Actually, Dieter’s great. He made us. Jason raised us. Mama also has two other lovers, Liam and Rustam.”
I looked at Aithan. “So the whole idea of reverse harem isn’t anything new to you?”
He grinned, looking a little lopsided. “Nope. Mama’s unconventional. One husband and three lovers. It made school visits awkward when we were kids.”
Paulina laughed. “Remember Mr. Sheever? He could never wrap his head around our mom and her men.”
Aithan laughed, but it turned into coughing and wincing again. When he finally stopped, he shook his head and held his ribs. “That sucks.”
I rubbed his arm. “It’ll get better.”
He smiled wearily. “Of course it will.”
“The police better find the bastard who did this to you,” Paulina snarled.
“They’re trying.” He sipped more water. “All we can do is wait.”
Changing the subject, I asked, “How long are you in town?”
