I just never found the appreciation for it the way my classmates had back in high school.
“Don’t worry. We have handouts that you can use for today. I’ll bring you some.”
He walked off, leaving me alone in a twilight zone. I sat on a chair at an empty table. In the center stood a bowl with some white chips. People waved to me with a smile, and I nodded back.
Everything was just so weird. No one tried to force me into a conversation, but at the same time, I didn’t feel dismissed. Not all the faces wore a relaxed expression. Quite a few attendees looked like they wished they were anywhere but here.
By the time Jodi with an i returned with the reading material, I was confused. And also properly chagrined for my stereotyping. Apparently, my preconceived notion of what to expect from an AA meeting was all wrong. The people seemed regular, not as if they were alcoholics. Or what I thought an alcoholic would look like.
A huge painting on the wall grabbed my attention. It was of a man staring up at a row of steps ahead of him. Each step had words written on them. The first of which read “We are powerless over alcohol.”
I found the message weird. If I was powerless over alcohol, then what the hell was I doing here? But before I could get to my feet and cry out of this meeting that seemed nothing like I’d imagined, movement at a little podium caught my eye.
“Hi, everyone, welcome back to our meeting,” a tall brunette announced with a wide smile. “My name’s Alice, and I’m in charge of today’s discussion meeting. Let’s get started.”
Chapter Three
Callum
“Hey.” Phil placed a hand on my arm, but when I turned to him, he quickly dropped it.
“What’s up?” I hated this uncomfortable rapport between us.
Phil and I had known each other since our first year in college, and we’d never fought like this before. We’d had some innocent ribbings, yes, but this was beyond anything we’d ever faced.
“Brayden and I will lock up.” He nodded toward the door. “Go get your boy.”
He must’ve overheard me when I called Rue to inform him he didn’t have to pick up Ashton after his AA meeting. I wanted to be the one he saw when he walked out. Just in case he needed me.
He and Rue were close, but there were some things only his Daddy could give him.
“I’ll help.”
Phil blocked my path and glared at me. “How long are you going to be mad at me, huh? I messed up. I know. I’m trying to make up for it, so don’t act like I’m not trying.”
I sighed, watching the entrance from the back where Brayden was. He’d have sensed the tension between Phil and me, but he hadn’t commented on it. I’d rather keep as much of what happened between us.
“You don’t have to keep making up for it. We’re good.”
“We are?”
“Look, man, I know you were coming from a place of concern, so I can’t be pissed off at you forever.”
“Good, because I wasn’t sure you’d still want to come to Kaylee’s birthday party.”
I leaned forward and rapped his forehead hard with my knuckles. “Is your brain on right now? Have I ever missed her birthday party?”
How I wished I hadn’t asked the question. Yes, I had missed her party one year, and that was when everything went absolutely shit with Mario. It was a timely reminder, though, that Phil’s concern about my relationship with Ashton was valid.
His execution had just been fucking out of line.
“I’ll be there. If it’s okay to bring Ashton.”
“Of course, if he wants to. We can hang out after the kids are in bed.”
“All right. Are you sure you don’t mind locking up?”
“Positive. You’ve given me a free pass many times, and it’s now my time to reciprocate.”
Assured that Phil could handle closing up alone, I took a quick trip upstairs and showered. I’d been in the coffee shop all day, and I might never be able to fully get the coffee smell away, but the sweat could go.
Half an hour later, I arrived at the AA building. I was a bit late, but several cars were still parked in the lot, and I assumed the meeting wasn’t over yet. I sat back, waiting for Ashton to walk out.
When he’d called me earlier, I’d been relieved to hear his voice. I would’ve liked for him not to need my encouragement to do this