The Awakening Aidan - By Abby Niles Page 0,13
and drive me.” Inwardly, he cringed at his harsh tone. But the words were out, and he couldn’t bring himself to apologize, so he added, “I don’t think my pathetic ass should be driving that distance.”
In truth, he didn’t want to go alone.
Chapter Three
Aidan looked across the seat, wanting to break the unbearable tension inside the cab of the truck, but the shattered look on his friend’s face made coming up with words impossible. Inwardly, Aidan cursed.
If Liam had just sucked it up and shown up for his appointment this morning, then he’d already have one therapy session under his belt, and Aidan wouldn’t be sitting in painful silence with his friend.
Since slamming himself shut inside Aidan’s truck, Liam hadn’t spoken. Not a word, but he sure as hell fidgeted. Constantly. He scrubbed his palms against his thighs, rubbed his hands over his face, and took deep inhales. A few minutes ago, he’d started rocking. A slight motion, barely noticeable, but Aidan felt every movement.
Something had happened. But what?
Whatever it was, it’d been huge, since Aidan was driving thirty minutes to Asheville.
To Jaylin.
Man, she’d be stunned to see them. Probably pissed she was going to have to deal with him again. He bit back a smile. At least he had a reason to see her.
Aidan glanced at his GPS, noting that it told him to take the next exit off the interstate into downtown Asheville. After he entered the city, he turned right onto a side road where the buildings became sparser and more residential. About a mile up, he entered another commercial area, but instead of towering structures, the street was lined with different style homes that had been remodeled for business use. He finally found Jaylin’s practice. A ranch-type house with sage siding and flat-stone trim work that was set a little farther back from the road than the rest of the houses.
He understood why she’d picked this place instead of one in the heart of the city. It was quieter. Not as busy. Less chance of shifter activity being noticed, but still close enough to the city to bring in human clientele.
He found a place to park by the sidewalk. Without a word, Liam got out and trudged toward the house. Sighing, Aidan followed him up the long cobblestone path to the front door. They entered what would’ve been considered a small living room but had been transformed into a cozy waiting area, complete with plush light-blue chairs and thick beige carpeting.
A pixie of a woman with a loose bun, sitting at a desk in the right corner of the room, looked up from her computer. Her lips pursed and Aidan didn’t miss the appreciative once-over she gave both him and Liam before saying, “May I help you?”
When Liam didn’t speak up, instead his jaw hardening as agitation rolled off him, Aidan stepped toward the desk. “We’re here to see Dr. Avgar.”
“I’m sorry, you need an appointment.”
“If you’d just tell her—”
“I can make an appointment for tom—”
“Forget it.” Aidan stalked past the receptionist and headed straight for the wood door that sealed off the rest of the house.
The woman jumped to her feet. “Sir, you can’t go back there!”
The hell he couldn’t. He strode through the door, which led to a wide hallway with three more doors. He picked the first one and entered a large office decorated in darker colors that were a surprising contrast to the lighter, calming colors used in the waiting area.
Jaylin was bent over a notepad at her mahogany desk, writing. To her credit, when her head snapped up at his intrusion, her eyes only widened slightly before she calmly leaned back in her chair. “Mr. O’Connell.”
God, he hated when she called him that.
The receptionist hurried in behind him. “I’m so sorry. He just walked right by me.”
Jaylin waved her hands, brushing aside her employee’s words. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Mr. O’Connell. The roommate of the client I was telling you about earlier.”
“Oh.” She made a now-I-get-face that Aidan didn’t get. “Well, that explains the rudeness.”
Stunned, Aidan watched the receptionist return to her desk. What was with the women in this building?
Jaylin’s chuckle drew his attention back to her. “What has brought you by, Mr. O’Connell?”
The third time she’d used his name. The third time she used it to be superior, to put that clear “do not cross” line back in place. He’d let her for now, for Liam’s sake, but they had unfinished business to deal with after this