Still. He showed up at my door, said a lot of sweet words, fucked me like I mattered, and then disappeared.
When we get inside, Aiden strides toward the couch again, after shedding his jacket and helping me with mine. He takes a few deep breaths and scrubs his hands over his face.
He doesn’t wait for me to join him. Not this time.
“The moment I heard about the inspection, I went to the mayor’s office,” he tells me and immediately has my attention.
The mayor’s office.
Not his father’s office.
Interesting.
When I sit, I pick the spot farthest from him and turn toward him, tucking my legs up and grabbing my blanket. He’s lucky he didn’t sit in my spot. And you know we all have them.
“First,” he sighs and glances at me, “I think we need to go back. I was older than you.”
I scoff, “Two years, what are we talking about Aiden?”
“I liked you. Back in school. I wanted to ask you out, but I didn’t.” When he looks at me, I suck in a breath at the intensity in his gaze. “It’s one of my biggest regrets in life. The other was giving you time when you moved back here. The breakup wasn’t a secret,” he whispers the words and winces.
“I get it,” I sigh. “I love my mom, but she talks to anyone who will listen.”
“She talks about you with pride.”
I blink back the tears threatening to fall. “I don’t want to talk about that. I love my parents. We’re still finding our way as adults and not just parent and child. But I always know I have a home.”
Aiden nods before looking around. “Looks like you have a home right here, darlin’.”
With a smile, I agree, “You’re right and it’s a lot to be proud of. I see what you’re doing, Officer.”
His green eyes darken, his gaze sliding down my body like a caress. A distracting caress.
“I planned to give you some time,” he admits and clears his throat, “you know, after you moved back. Then before I could get in front of it and make my move, lines were drawn and I felt like I had to at least stay away for the only family I have left. My only parent.” He hangs his head slightly. “And that was before you even opened.”
“He didn’t make it easy on us,” I whisper.
Aiden’s jaw clenches. “I tried to reason with him. He would never listen. Never,” the anger in his voice, the disappointment, has me clenching my fists right along with him. “There was no need for him to make it harder on you all. None. It’s a solid business. The space is nice and comfortable. You treat each area separately and work as a unit for events. I’ve been blown away since I heard about it and now seeing it in practice? It’s something else.”
“You think all that?” I shake my head and sit up a little straighter. “I just mean, I didn’t think you’d ever been inside. How do you know so much about it? And, you know,” I wave my hand up and down his body, “you don’t have an issue with our business?”
He mimics my hand motion and teases, “I have no idea what this means, Greylin.”
I huff and roll my eyes, doing it again. “You know. A cop. The fuzz. Donut shop aficionado. 5-O. The po-po. I won’t say the other one because it doesn’t seem appropriate in mixed company.”
Hebarks out a laugh, his green eyes sparkling for the first time since I found him on my porch. The sadness on his face doesn’t look quite as heavy. Good.
“Is the mixed company in question a pig?” He teases.
My jaw drops before I start laughing. He joins me and the tension breaks. And some of the hurt from not hearing from him eases.
“I don’t have an issue with it,” he tells me. “You work within the law. It’s not my job to interpret, judge, or change the law. It is just my job to protect people. Sometimes that involves arresting people. But you ladies are above board.”
His words from earlier, his emphasis on his dad being the only parent he has left, makes me wonder about something. I’ve never asked. I’ve never even heard anyone talk about it.
“Aiden,” I whisper before scooching closer to him, “what happened to your mom? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone talk about her.”
The look on his face—pure desolation—breaks my heart. I slide onto his lap, pulling my blanket around us like a cocoon. He sinks back into the couch and wraps his arms around me like he’s afraid I’ll move.
