eye?” Aidan spoke, but didn’t sign. Aidan knew more than a dozen languages, but ASL hadn’t been one of them. The moment he had learned Ben could read lips, he asked for the “repeat” sign and told him to sign that if Ben couldn’t understand something he had said.
Ben raised his hand and tipped it side to side. So-so.
Aidan nodded, then glanced over to Matt. “What’s going on? Have you annoyed him yet?”
That earned him a sneer from Julian and a headshake from Matt. Matt informed Aidan of their job hunt quest that had started the night before, breaking down the criteria of what the job could and couldn’t entail. With Ben’s theft charge, he couldn’t work a cash register. But ultimately, Ben knew communication was the biggest barrier, so he zoned out of the conversation.
Aidan raised his hand, catching his attention and stopping Matt. “Sorry, man, that sounds boring.”
Ben bit his lip to hide a smile when Matt frowned.
“I’m trying to find something that will work,” Matt said.
“Bullshit.” Aidan shifted his attention from Matt to Julian who now stood by the table with his arms crossed. That stance might have pushed others to back off, but Aidan had never been one to back down easily.
“Oh, c’mon,” Aidan said, rolling his eyes. “You guys are just trying to find something safe. I bet you’re looking for a job where he’s going to be in a happy little bubble because everyone around him is smiling and miraculously knows sign language?”
Ben smiled. Leave it to Aidan to shine a spotlight and put a tutu on the elephant in the room.
“That’s not—” Matt stopped midsentence. He looked over to Ben, his eyebrows arched upward. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”
He refused to reply, knowing a yes would hurt Matt and a no would hurt Aidan. As if sensing his struggle, Julian placed a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention. “I think we’re all doing that in some way,” Julian said while maintaining eye contact with Ben. “But he’s too nice to tell us to stop or say no. Right?”
Ben smiled, seeing the same understanding in Julian’s eyes that had been there last night. He shyly peeked over at Matt, hoping he hadn’t hurt his feelings. With a slow shrug, he signed his response. “I’m sorry.”
The detective scratched his stubble, the movement catching Ben’s attention. “What about the bakery on LeJeune? Their grandfather was deaf, so she might know sign language. Nat will probably be more at ease around Ben than most of your employers on the list. She can be a hard-ass, especially with her shop, but I think it would work.” Aidan let a small smile slip as he watched Ben. “I remember how you always attacked the grill and desserts during the weekend barbecues. I’m guessing you’re still a fan of eating?”
He loved eating burgers, hot dogs, and pizza, but baking was something that had always called to him. The thought of possibly having a job with a chance to bake something sparked hope and quickened his pulse.
He couldn’t nod quickly enough. He glanced over at Matt and nodded some more, finally excited about the prospect of working at a job that sounded interesting.
Matt smiled. “There’s our Ben,” Matt said, returning his gaze to his laptop. “I don’t see a bakery listed on that street. I can have J stop by her shop to talk to her or give you the paperwork and program information to pass along.”
The detective reached for his phone, scowling at the display. “I’ve got to go. Give me the forms and I’ll stop by Nat’s bakery later today.” Aidan stood and glanced back at Ben. “I don’t know what she would have you do there, but if she’s got you working in the back and helping her bake stuff, you have to make me a promise.”
Ben nodded.
“She makes - - there.” Aidan stopped at Ben’s frown.
He glanced up at Julian, watching as he fingerspelled c-r-o-i-s-s-a-n-t-s, filling in the missing word Ben hadn’t caught. Aidan pursed his lips, as if a thought had crossed his mind. “How do you sign twisty breads?” He nodded after Julian responded.
Emotions swelled in Ben’s chest, as it always did when someone tried to communicate with him.
Aidan returned his attention to Ben. “Jessie loves those croissants.”
Ben remembered meeting Aidan’s partner at the barbecues. He was always kind with a ready smile.
“You and I…” Aidan began, flicking his finger back and forth between them. “We’re good as long as you don’t