“Wait!” I call out. Aaron turns to look at me in question.
“Bubble bath,” I say, hurriedly. “Can you grab me some?”
Aaron smirks, licking his lips. “I think I can make that happen.”
I give him a smile. “Thanks.”
And with that, he leaves us for good, and the moment the door closes, I feel a whole new sort of anxiety.
“Can I help with anything?” I ask, needing to move, to keep myself busy, because I feel like I could jump out of my skin.
“You can cut the cheese if you like,” Betsy says as the teenager lets out a snort and a laugh.
“You said cut the cheese.” She giggles and Shannon shoves her lightly.
“Manners, ma’am. We have company.”
“Oh, where are my manners!” Betsy says with a laugh. “Shannon, Lola, this is Jake, Aaron’s new beau.” She looks back at me for a moment and covers her mouth, her eyes widening.
“Oh, I mean Jacob. Unless you prefer we call you Jake or—”
“Either’s fine,” I assure her.
Lola looks at me with stars in her big green eyes. Or mischief, I’m not sure which.
“Uncle Aaron has aboyfriend?”she squeals.
“Mhmm. How long have you two been together? Did you say?” Betsy asks.
I swallow harshly. “Um, no, I didn’t, but um… six months, I think.”
That’s a suitable time period. Serious enough, it’s not a fling, easy enough I can still fade into the ether. I pull all the cheese from the island and arrange it in front of me.
“Well, it’s nice to actually meet one of Uncle Aaron’s boyfriends,” Lola says as Shannon tutts her.
“Lola!”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my nerves getting the better of me.
“Aaron’s never brought a boyfriend to the beach house before,” Betsy says.
“Honestly, I think the last boyfriend Aaron brought around was before Lola was born, so that was… thirteen years ago.”
Lola’s mouth forms a smile as mine falls open in shock. Thirteen years? Aaron hasn’t had a boyfriend since he was in his twenties?
How the hell has he been single all this time? The man is hotter than sin itself! Who in their right mind would pass up a cut of filet like Aaron fucking Everett?
I close my mouth and shake off the surprise. Lola grins and looks at me curiously.
“How old are you?” she asks.
Shannon tutts her again. “Manners, Lola!”
I shake off her question, because honestly, in a way, she reminds me of Noah. Blunt, bubbly. Funny. Not sure what that says about my brother, though, being as I just likened him to a thirteen-year old girl.
“She’s fine,” I say with a smile as I clear my throat. “I don’t mind, really.” I look at her and hold her curious gaze. “I’m twenty-four.”
Shannon lets out a nervous laugh as Betsy giggles.
