The Rockstar's bodyguard { A Bethanny Mcnarie novel }

Chapter 34: The Depression { Aaron POV }

"Aaron get off the damn couch!" My sister Jenn shouted at me as a pillow hit me in head.

"What?" I asked. "I'm just watching television."

"Uh huh," Jenn said. "Mom made me come over. She said you're moping around, not eating, not sleeping. You're just here. She's worried."

"I'm recovering from my health problems, " I shrugged.

"Three weeks ago you were recovering," Jenn yelled. "Now you're depressed. Why?"

"Because I got kicked out of the military, " I said. "I have got nowhere to go from here. I'm out of options sis."

"College," Jenn said. "You know my mother in law works at the community college. She said she can get you hooked up with the financial aid of ice and on track to getting a degree. "

"A degree in what?" I asked. "I wanted to be a soldier."

"Then get a job," Jenn yelled. "Get a life. Get off the couch damnit."

"I will, " I said.

"What about that family, " Jenn asked. "Mom said Joel Mcnarie has been calling and you won't return his calls. Those people adopted you practically. Whay gives? Don't you care about your friends? What about Bethanny? You two were close."

"Beth has her own life," I said. "It's better that way."

"Oh," Jenn said. "This isn't about the military. It's about a girl."

"What girl? "

"Bethanny, " Jenn said. "You like her."

"Nope," I said. It wasn't a lie. I loved her.
"Really? You're fine then," Jenn said.

"Just considering my options, " I replied.

"Well if you're fine," Jenn added. "Come with me. I need help taking your nephew shopping. He won't try on clothes with me because 'I'm a girl' and his dad is working. Come on..."

"Ok," I said.

"Good," she replied.

*

*

*

An hour into our family target trip, I was helping Diaz pick out a backpack when my phone buzzed. My voice mail was full, all from the Mcnarie household. I'd call back Joel and tell him how I was a total failure now. Then he would tell Beth. Beth would probably laugh about it with her new boyfriend as they rode off into the sunset and I sat on a couch in Omaha. Forget my life, I thought.

I probably could have re-enlisted. But my time in the military left a bad taste in my mouth. I had no direction. I needed a plan, a goal, something to work towards. And it needed to be bigger than just chasing after some chick. I'd been burned by Sienna, and knew women were trouble. Beth was actually being mature and staying away, it still, my feelings for her were messing with my head. I needed focus.

"This backpack has transformers," Diaz said. "My shoes have ninja turtles. Do they have a turtles backpack uncle Air-Ron?"

"I'll look," I said.

After an hour, we had all the ninja turtle gear a boy could want. I waited while my sister went through checkout and listened to my voice mails. After three messages from Joel, a surprising voice drifted through the speakers.

"Aaron. Hey, it's Beth. I'm calling because I hear you didn't finish boot camp. I heard you were hospitalized. I really hope your ok. We know you're with your mom now. Look, I know you probably don't want to hear from me. But if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. I'm always here Aaron. I still care.i just hope you're ok. Please, at least call my dad back. He has a severe man crush on you and you're hurting his ego. Ok, bye."

As stupid as it was, I did smile. She was adorable, and her voice made me giggle. Another message came on.

"Seriously though Aaron, this is Beth. Answer your damn phone. You're the mature one here. I mean, I got a boyfriend and you didn't even care. Clearly, youre like a robot. But if you're so damn mature just call us back. That's what grownups do. We're worried about you, asshole."

What did she mean, I didn't even care. Didn't she read that email? Another message came on and I shook my head.

"Ok, it's Beth. Sorry I called you an asshole. Please call us. Call me. Write or whatever call Blake even. You're like family. Just call."

I sighed, knowing what I had to do. I had to write her at least, and call Joel. Hopefully I could find something more exciting to say about my life than I took my nehpew to Target

*

*

*

I got home and saw a car in the driveway. I came in the door and heard my mother giggling with a woman. I turned the corner to see Kayden, Danny wife.

"Kayden," I said. "What are you...is Danny here?"

"Damn right," said a deep voice from behind me. I turned to see Danny holding a beer in each hand, passing one off to me.

"Oh my god," I said. "What are you doing in Omaha? "

"We're here to help you get your shit together, " Kayden laughed. "Pardon my language, Mrs. Andrews."

"No offense taken dear," My mom smiled.

"How so, " I asked, sitting down. "By the way, Kayden, you look lovely."

"Thanks," Kayden smiled. "Anyways, if you ever answered your phone, you'd know that Logan got married. "

"Married? To yoga chick?"

"Also known as my sister Demi," Kayden said. "They eloped. It was crazy. Danny thinks she is probably pregnant."

I nodded, knowing Logan.

"So Logan and Demi bought a house," Kayden said. "But Demi has an apartment leased for six months. It's prepaid because my dad paid the bill for her as a wedding present, so sweet. So you could live there rent free."

"Oh," I said. "Go back to LA. And then do what? Wait tables? Work security. "

"Work with me," Danny said, very seriously.

"What? " I asked.

"Look, I know the Marines didn't work out?" Danny said. "But you're one of us, man. A man who serves. You won't be happy in a normal job. You're a cop, Aaron. You might not see it, but I do. I see it in the way you saved that girl this summer, in the way you walk and talk."

"Isn't it pretty competitive," my mom asked.

"Isn't talked to my boss," Danny said. "Summer training begins in three weeks. That means in three weeks, you'll be in the academy. It's unpaid, but after that, you'd be hired on in LAPD. It's not glamorous. You'd work as a traffic cop for at least a year. It'll suck before it gets awesome. But it's worth it."

"Three weeks," I asked.

"That's plenty of time to recover," Mom said. "And start working out again."

I nodded, thinking about what Danny said. You're a cop, Aaron. You don't see it but I do. I was a cop, maybe. It felt like the right thing. I should be a cop. A sense of clarity hit me.

"I'll hit the gym tomorrow," I said. "Tonight, I'll make dinner for you all. Danny, you have no idea how much this means to me. "

"So you're doing it," Danny asked.

"Only if," I said, glancing at my mama. "I'll have my mother's blessing."

"Of course," she said, walking over to hug me. "Your.dad would be so proud. "

I squeezed her tight and smiled. I hoped she was right.