on my water glass. “Do we do the small talk thing, or skip right to the reason I answered your ad?” Immediately, I cringed. God, could I sound a little less like someone with no grasp on social skills?
But they both laughed softly.
“Well, we can break the ice first,” Aaron said. “But we all know why we’re here.”
“We do.” Will’s voice was low and smooth, and I decided then and there I could listen to him all night. Hell, I could listen to both of them all night.
Will leaned forward and slid his hand over the top of Aaron’s knee as he held my gaze. “It probably wouldn’t hurt to cut right to the chase on some things. Neither of us wants to pry into anything that isn’t our business, but especially when we’re getting into pain play, we have to make sure everyone stays safe.” He glanced at Aaron, a look of concern crossing his expression before he faced me again. “And we’ve unfortunately learned the hard way in the past that someone who’s just come out of a bad relationship or had, shall we say, an involuntary career change, can get…” He hesitated like he wasn’t sure which word to use. Finally, he settled on, “They aren’t as controlled as they need to be.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right.” I glanced back and forth between them. “So, I assume you’re asking why I just moved here and why my life is a bit, um, chaotic?”
They both nodded.
“As much as you’re willing to tell.” Aaron rested his hand on top of his husband’s. “Like Will said—we’re not trying to pry.”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Sitting back a little, I took a deep breath. “Okay, right off the bat, I’m not coming off a breakup or anything.” I laughed bitterly, but sobered. “I, um… The short version is that I moved to Laurelsburg because my dad passed away, and I inherited his house.”
They both straightened.
“Oh,” Will said. “Sorry to hear it.”
I shrugged. “It’s a long and complicated mess of a story. And as far as dating or breakups? I’ve hardly ever had the time or the headspace for a relationship since before I started medical school.”
Aaron’s eyebrows jumped. “You’re a doctor?”
“Uh, well…” The blush in my cheeks felt a lot more conspicuous than it probably was. “I said I started medical school. I didn’t say I finished.”
“Is that right?” Will asked. My first instinct was to take the question as snide and judgmental, and my hackles went up. But on second thought, as I replayed the words and his tone in my head, he didn’t sound snide or judgy at all. Cautiously curious, if nothing else.
Calm the hell down, Griffith. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation.
“Yeah. I, um…” I swallowed. “I made it to the end of my third year, and realized I didn’t want to be there. So I, um… I quit.” I cringed inwardly, bracing for the inevitable looks of pity or disapproval, since God knew that was what I’d been bombarded with ever since I’d parted ways with my father’s dream.
To my surprise, Aaron said, “That shit’s not for everyone. I went to law school with a guy who made it about that far, and one day he just said, ‘fuck it, I’m out,’ and never looked back.”
“Really?”
“Yep. He’ll be paying those student loans until he’s dead, but he’s a lot happier now.”
“Ugh. Same. Even when I realized I didn’t want the degree after all, racking up all that debt and not finishing still hurt.” I made a face. “Anyway, what’s he doing instead?”
“He went to work for his uncle’s construction company.” Aaron laughed quietly. “He said the day someone put a nail through his hand with a nail gun was still less painful than a single minute he spent in law school.”
“Oh.” I was surprised I didn’t sway as his answer pushed an unseen weight off my shoulders. In the seven years since I’d dropped out of medical school, the responses had varied, but skewed heavily toward “apparently you couldn’t cut it” and “well done, dumbass.” No one had ever accepted from the get-go that maybe some people weren’t wired for that kind of school or career, and that maybe it was possible to be happier doing something else instead of knuckling through because someone told you to.
Goddamn. Where were these two seven years ago?
And silence had fallen, and I could feel them both watching me, so I cleared my throat and