~Aaron~

The girls were a couple of miles away from me, holding hands, whispering to each other, and giggling.

And me? I was trailing behind, far enough to give them space but close enough to keep an eye on them. My gaze stayed locked on them, even as my phone stayed pressed to my ear.

“Denzel...” I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face as I tried to focus on the call.

I’d been on a call with one of the few friends I had—also a business associate—when Joan and Rhoda decided they were going out.

Joan had been right earlier. There was a lot I needed to handle after...