Close Behind || Aaron Minyard

42

GOOD GOD YALL BE WARE IN THESE NEXT COUPLE CHAPTERS

"Maybe this was a mistake."

Thats the first thing out of Nicky's mouth when they finally pull into the driveway of what must be his childhood home. He seems extremely anxious and Naomi can't help that she agrees.

"Oh, now he says it," Andrew says as he gets out of the car. "Too little, too late."

Naomi scoffs and mutters something about him being an asshole and waits a few seconds to get out. She watches Aaron take off his zip up and smiles that he really is wearing the shirt she's gotten him. He looks nice in it.

She grabs her bag but leaves her racquet in the car because there's no need for it. If Naomi needs to murder someone tonight she has a knife in her jeans pocket already.

"I'm going to humble it," Andrew is saying.

It's honestly a little funny to watch Andrew fake a swing and Nicky think he's actually going to break the car. He panics and takes the racquet away before it connects with what must be his father's car.

As they walk further up, Nicky passes the racquet back to Neil. Naomi frowns at it. There's no need to bring it inside but whatever. It'll probably be a mild inconvenience for the Hemmicks so she's on board.

Nicky is the one leading the charge, he stands on the porch with the twins behind him. The other three sort of make a wall so no one can turn around.

He rings the doorbell and a woman answers. Maria Hemmick. "Why did you ring the doorbell?"

"This isn't my house anymore," Nicky says.

She doesn't say anything to that. Her lips turn down a little but she opens the door and lets them all wander inside. Naomi plants herself firmly next to Neil and right behind Aaron.

"You must be Kevin, Neil and Naomi," Maria says to them. "I'm Maria."

None of them say anything to her so she turns to the twins next. Her eyes land on Andrew. "Aaron, it's been a long time."

"Aaron," Aaron tells her.

Maria looks at Andrew again, his wide smile, then back to Aaron with a little confused look. "Yes, of course."

"Andrew's been on medication for almost three years now, mom," Nicky tells her, a little annoyed.

"At least she looks nervous," Naomi mutters to Aaron in German. He huffs a bit.

"Maria. How very, very nice to see you again," Andrew says with one of his large, more menacing, drugged smiles. "I thought you were getting a restraining order against me? What happened? Lost your nerve?"

"Andrew," Nicky warns him.

"You can leave your coats," she says instead. Her hands wave over to a closet and everyone but Naomi takes their coats off. She stares at Maria with a blank look on her face. "Right this way."

"Can't even tell your own nephews apart—" Nicky is saying.

He stops when they get in the kitchen and are invaded by the sight that is Luther Hemmick.

To say he was an insignificant man wouldn't exactly be right. He's bland, sure. He is a very tall man with very light hair, both things are striking but matter little on Luther Hemmick. His shoulders were tense, he wasn't looking forward to this either.

As if the tension bothered her, Maria bustled away to the kitchen to remove herself from the entire situation.

He looks across the guests, he doesn't seem to give any fucks about the three random people being there or the bitch face Naomi is giving him. His eyes linger on the twins, longer on Andrew than Aaron though and it makes Naomi's gut twist. This is all wrong.