Let's Be Crazy (Oh Captain, My Captain 4)

“Right,” I nod one too many times. “Good night.”

When I lay back down, I realize that having her here, with the kids and everyone else, might be harder than I thought. She’s next door and wearing clothes I want to get her out of. This is going to be a fun weekend.

~

Brooke, Reed, and I are sitting in a little room off the front door that is an office no one ever uses.

“What are we doing in here? I want to go play,” Reed whines.

“We want to talk to you,” Brooke tells him. “You know that you’ve been staying with your dad a lot the past couple weeks, that’s because I’ve been spending time with a new friend. His name is Nate, and he’s very nice. He’s going to come up here and spend some time with all of us. What do you think about that?”

“Does he play hockey like Dad and Uncle Jax?”

“No, he’s a teacher that helps students become doctors,” Brooke answers.

“He is?” I question with confusion. I don’t remember her mentioning that.

Brooke glares at me. “Pay attention when I talk, Ashton, I told you that.”

“I guess I forgot.” Ignoring that for now, I face Reed. “We just wanted to let you know he was coming.”

“And be nice to him, too. I want you to remember your manners, okay?” Brooke adds.

“Yes, ma’am,” Reed nods. “Can I go play now?”

“Yes, go have fun with Sadie,” Brooke tells him.

Reed runs off in search for his best friend. Brooke finally seems a little nervous, but I don’t get a chance to question her. There’s a knock on the front door, and I rush to get it before Brooke. The infamous Nate is here. My mouth falls open when I see him. The simplest way to describe him is that he looks a little like a nerd. His glasses are on the geeky side, he’s wearing beige pants and a collared shirt with a logo of a university on the left chest. His face is framed by gray hairs that are invading his dark hair.

Brooke really needs to better inform me.

He clears his throat, and I realize I haven’t spoken yet. “You must be Nate. I’m Ashton Campbell.”

“Hey, Nate.” Brooke pushes me to the side, and he relaxes at the sight of her.

“Why is there a nerd at the door?” Jax’s voice sounds

from behind me.

Brooke elbows him hard in the stomach. “Ignore him, Nate. Reed has better manners.”

He smiles uneasily. “It’s nice to meet you,” he finally says, holding out his hand, which I shake firmly.

“C’mon in, Nate. Your room is down here next to Jax’s,” I point to Jax since he wasn’t formally introduced, “if you want to go ahead and set your things down in there.”

“I’ll show you,” Brooke quickly offers and tugs him away from us.

“How old do you think he is?” Jax questions before they are completely out of earshot. “He has gray hair, so I’m going with in his fifties.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Looks like we should have told you to behave too.” Brooke hasn’t told me much about him; I sure wasn’t expecting that. The kids are in the kitchen, apparently trying to convince Lexie and Tiffany that they need cookies already. I want to be in the room when Nate does meet Reed because I want to see how he is around him. If Brooke likes him, fine, but I have to like him enough to allow him the privilege to be around my son.

Reed and Sadie start trying to convince Jax, so I lean on the counter next to Lexie and whisper, “How old is Nate?” Thanks to Jax’s comment, I’m curious, but I know better than to ask Brooke right now.

“Forty, I think. Is he here?” Her question is answered as Brooke and Nate walk into the room.

“Reed, this is my friend, Nate. Nate, this is my son, Reed,” Brooke introduces them.

There’s a bit of a tense pause as we wait for Reed to speak. He looks at me, I smile, and then he glances back to Nate. “You kind of look like my grandpa. Doesn’t he, Dad?”