“I’ve got a son around your age,” Kennedy called over. “If you want to meet up with him, you’re welcome to drive down to Hambleton.”
“We love it there,” Roman told her. “The coffee shop’s fire, and it has the best lemon cake.”
“Who’s your son?” Rex asked.
“Kai Stone. He has a twin sister, Kady,” she told them.
“We’ve heard of Kai Stone,” Rex confirmed. “The kids at school talk about him. They say he’s one of the best ball players in the area. The babes love him, too.”
“Oh God,” Kennedy murmured to Ash. “My son’s reputation has spread a town over already. He’s only sixteen.” She glanced at Ash. “I’m going to call Kit back and let him know Pagan saved the day.”
Aislynn nodded and watched as Kennedy moved away to make her call.
“Have you been shoppin’?” I asked her, suddenly feeling a little tongue-tied.
Her eyes met mine and hardened slightly. “No. We’ve been to Nebraska. Donovan had a drama, and I wanted to go over to show support. Kennedy was acting for him in a legal matter.”
I nodded to her mom’s car. “Why haven’t you got your ride?”
“Mam’s heading home with Donovan, so I drove her car back.”
“Right,” I acknowledged. “Is your brother okay?”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Turns out he has a long-lost daughter. They’re finalizing the adoption now, and he’s heading home with her tomorrow.”
I barked a laugh. “Donovan O’Shea’s a girl dad? God help her.”
Aislynn’s eyes flashed, and she snapped, “He’s great with her, actually. He’ll be a beautiful dad. In fact, he already is.”
My jaw hardened at her bitchy tone. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Yeah, you did,” she accused. “You’re always digging at my brothers. Strangely, though, you seem to get along great with my cousins.”
Fuck.
She was talking about Erin.
“Aislynn,” I began, but she blanked me by turning to my boys.
“It was great to meet you two. If you’re ever down in Hambleton, make sure to look me up. My family owns the Lucky Shamrock bar, and you’re always welcome to come in for a glass of soda.”
“Cool,” Rex muttered. “Need your digits.”
I grinned because Aislynn had a new phone, and she wouldn’t give me the number. Her old one was still in use, but she never took it out with her, so I couldn’t use the tracking program Wiki used remotely.
She glanced at me defiantly and called out her old phone number. “I don’t always have that phone with me,” she told them. “But if you leave a message, I’ll either call you back or add you on WhatsApp.”
My heart sank, and I sighed.
Aislynn walked around to the driver’s door, calling out, “Thanks again for saving us,” over her shoulder. “It was great to meet you guys.”
“You too,” Rex called back, his fingers flying over his phone. “Just messaged you my number. If that deputy bothers you again, call.”
Aislynn smiled huge at him. “Thanks, honey.”
My heart swooped because I’d have done anything to hear her call me honey the way she used to. I fucking missed so much about her, and it was frustrating that she wouldn’t fold. Every woman I’d known since Breanna had fallen at my feet, so the fact that Ash didn’t, drove me crazy.
I would’ve said it was what kept me interested in her, but I knew it was more because my chest physically ached with missing her. I used to wake up and have a good morning text waiting on my phone, and throughout the day, she’d send me goofy memes and GIFs. At night, she’d FaceTime me, wearing pajamas and no makeup, and I fucking loved it because she looked so natural and innocent and so much like mine.
