Chapter Fifty-Nine: Flare
Aaron
To Aaron’s dismay, Evie had decided to have her twenty-eighth birthday at Coney Island, inviting all the Sloane Contracting employees. He wasn’t a huge fan of amusement parks. He didn’t enjoy the rides, preferring to get his adrenaline rush on his assignments. He had been about to turn down Evie’s invitation, but when he looked at her, he realized he wanted to go just to spend time with her. Since her breakup with Alex the previous year, she had been much happier and more carefree, and he found himself gravitating toward her soft, caring, slightly sarcastic personality.
Given her generally quiet and gentle demeanour, he was surprised by how much she loved the rides, getting on every single one, screaming her head off, and getting off with a huge smile, immediately asking what was next. Thorn and Cole got on the rides they could, but because of their size they weren’t able to ride most of them. Willa was the only one who got on all of them with her, while Tommy and Nissa bowed out only of the rollercoasters and joined the others. Evie and Willa even got on the kiddie rides with Colton, since Lana was almost six months pregnant and Cole was too tall for most of them.
It was the first time Aaron had seen Evie interact with children for an extended period of time. Cole and Lana trusted her implicitly with the four-year-old bundle of energy, and Colton absolutely adored her, squealing loudly and running toward her, only to be pulled back by the leash Cole held andnearly landing on his butt. Evie had darted over and scooped him up into her arms to cuddle before Thorn appeared, and she had to pass Colton over to the big man, who chuckled and put him up on his shoulders, wincing as Colton gripped his hair.
Aaron had known she and Thorn were close, but it wasn’t until he began spending more time with her that he realized just how close they were. He knew Thorn had a girlfriend, but he was pretty sure Thorn spent more time with Evie than he did with Jolene. Unable to help himself, but refusing to admit he was a little jealous, he had asked her about her relationship with the Serbian giant as they left the movie theatre one night.
“He’s been a major part of my life since I was nineteen and has held me through more breakdowns than I want to admit.” She shrugged as they reached Aaron’s car and waited for him to unlock the doors.
“And there’s never been anything between you two?” He found his key and hit the button to unlock the door. He honestly didn’t think he would be able to keep his hands to himself if Evie was always sitting in his lap and cuddling into him the way she did with Thorn.
“I had a massive crush on him when he first moved in and I got to know him, but he made it pretty clear it wouldn’t happen. I accepted that and moved on.” She slid into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt.
Aaron got in and started the car, brow furrowing. “Jolene doesn’t mind how much time you spend with him?” Paula would have been livid if he had spent that much time with another woman, no matter how platonic it was.
“You know, I don’t know. Thorn doesn’t bring up Jolene to me at all. When I ask, he smiles and tells me things are good.” She smiled faintly. “She tried to keep him away fromme when they first started to date, but after the disaster that was my twenty-fifth birthday party, he realized he’d fucked up and gave her an ultimatum: accept his relationship with me or they could break up. She decided to accept it, but I get the feeling Thorn wasn’t lying when he told me he wouldn’t date me because he’s not a good boyfriend.”
“If you were seeing someone and they wanted you to spend less time with him, would you?” Aaron glanced at her as he pulled away from the curb.
“No. Thorn, Cole, and Tommy are non-negotiable parts of my life. They’re my family, and unless they do something unwarranted, rude, or mean to my boyfriend, I refuse to change my relationship with them for anyone.” Evie smirked. “Why? Jealous?”
“You wish,” Aaron snorted. “Just curious.”
He almost constantly found himself wanting to be around her lately. Evie was intelligent, adorable, supportive, and affectionate. She would tease him to the point of frustration, then smile and hug him, melting all his annoyance away. He loved holding her and feeling her pressed up against him. Her body was incredible: soft, curvy, and made to bounce on some lucky guy’s cock. Every time they got together lately was almost torture for him, because he was at some level of hardness the entire time.
After the rides, they played the midway games, trying to win teddy bears. Nissa ended up winning the largest one and gave it to Evie with a grin and a kiss on the cheek, but when Colton started to get fussy, Evie handed it to him, suggesting they all go get dinner at Ruby’s Bar and Grill.
As they headed toward it, Aaron told them he’d catch up, and once they were out of sight, he doubled back to theLobster Pot game. Five minutes and twenty bucks later, he won a Squirtle plushie. When he caught up with the group, he passed it to Evie.
“I didn’t get you anything for your birthday,” he muttered when she looked absolutely delighted and wrapped him in a big hug.
“Squirtle’s my favourite Pokémon!” She grinned up at him. “Thank you!”
Aaron just shrugged and sat beside Nissa. He knew Squirtle was her favourite. That’s why he chose it.
“Lucky guess.”
**********
After they ate, Cole and Lana decided it was time to take Colton, who was sound asleep on Evie’s shoulder, home and invited everyone back to their place for a fire in the backyard with smore’s and drinks.
By the time the sun set, everyone was a little tipsy, and Evie and Nissa were dancing around the fire, showing off the ballet moves they remembered and could still do. Nissa grabbed Tommy’s arm and pulled him up, positioning him so she could jump and be lifted. He actually managed to pull it off, arms shaking slightly as he held her over his head.
Evie, to Aaron’s annoyance, chose Thorn, tugging on his hand. He stood up with a grin, and when Evie ran to him, he lifted her over his head easily, then shifted his grip so he was holding her with one hand for a moment before lowering her gently to the ground.
“Oh, come on.” Nissa frowned and pouted. “You cheated by choosing the friendly giant.”
“I will always lift her up and support her,” Thorn said with a grin as he sat down and pulled Evie into his lap.
Aaron felt a flare of jealousy, not because of their closeness, but because Evie had been sitting next to him before Nissa, and she started playing around. Now she was across from him, tucked into Thorn like a child. She looked up, met his eyes, and a slow, mischievous smile crossed her face.
“Jealous?” she mouthed.
“You wish,” he mouthed back, shaking his head.
