“Tell me what you mean.”
Clearing his throat, his eyes dart to the window behind my head. “In San Diego, the best part of my day was anytime I was out on the water, the shoreline in my peripheral, the ocean to theother side, the temperature is always perfect. Not too hot or too cold. It was…the best.” Aidan pauses and meets my eyes. “The best part of my day when I’m deployed is when I’m not on. When I can take off the gear, strip down to my underwear, and be free. When I can wipe it all clean. That’s the best part of my day. The emptiness.”
I can’t help myself. The energy of truth feels like a drug. I need more. More of his thoughts and feelings. “What about here? What’s the best part of your day here? In Bronze Bay?”
Aidan raises one brow and nods. “Sunrise on the water. I can see it so much better here. I didn’t live on the water when I lived in San Diego. I just worked at the beach. Why do you want to know?”
Biting my lip, I tip my head to the side. “I think it’s important. That’s all.” Hesitating a few seconds, I tell him a bit about my grandpa.
He nods, eyes smiling. Aidan seems happy when I open up. I think he must feel relieved there are other pieces of me that Paul hasn’t scarred and blazed to the ground. He leans down and kisses me, then dips me back even further as he deepens the kiss. I giggle against his mouth. I’m breathless and can still taste him on my tongue when I pull away.
“Can I bring anything tonight?”
“Just your bravery and common sense.”
He scoffs. “As if you had to tell me that.” He flexes a bicep.
I roll my eyes, but can’t deny my core clenches as I admire him. I lead him to the back door and lock the door behind us, the blinding heat hitting us like a brick.
When I get to my car, I turn to say, “Hey Aidan.”
He grins in reply. “This was the best part of my day.”
He grins wider. The smile that makes my stomach flip. “Day’s not over yet, Magnolia.”
THIRTEEN
Aidan
I knockthe wall in Magnolia’s living room with the side of my fist. “These walls seem pretty sturdy,” I say, gaze flicking to Magnolia. Kendall is sitting on the sofa scrolling on her phone. Dinner was quiet, her daughter only speaking when her mother prompted her to respond.
Magnolia’s neck works as she swallows. I let my grin spread wider. “They are, but it will be easy to open up the one in the upstairs hallway to get to the electrical.” I’m under the guise of a repairman and a friend. Magnolia choked when introducing me to Kendall and I helpfully supplied the profession. I know this has to be hard for her. Difficult in the way that anything is when you don’t have any experience with it. I’m in it for the long haul so I’m willing to take baby steps even if it makes my chest hurt not being able to touch her. “You’re sure that’s where the electrical is for the ceiling fan, down here?”
Magnolia nods and casts a furtive glance at her daughter. “Kendall, can you think of anything that needs to be repaired in your bathroom?”
Kendall looks up, both eyebrows raised. “No, Mom. Is there anything you can think of that needs to be repaired?” Her sentence is laced with venom.
“Don’t talk to me like that, young lady. What has gotten into you?”
Kendall drops her phone on the cushion next to her and clasps her hands on her lap. In a move that tells us, even me, a person unskilled with kids, she’s going to unleash some sort of demon. “Stop lying to me, Mom. He’s not a repairman,” Kendall snaps. “I’m not an idiot. Don’t treat me like one. Can I go to my room?”
I clear my throat and draw two sets of eyes. “I can repair anything,” I deadpan. It’s a semi-lie. If I can’t fix it, my bros will know how. That’s the same thing.
Magnolia puts up a hand to silence me.
“I wasn’t sure how you would react if I told you I was dating Aidan, Kendall. Everything is tricky—tedious. I’m not lying to you,” she says, shaking her head. “I love you, and I wanted to do what was right by you.”
“Mom,” Kendall fires. “The second he walked into the house, I knew what he was to you. I’m not some child you need to shelter. Dad messed that up, remember? You are my person. The person I trust. I’m old enough to recognize,” Kendall says, pausing while she glances at me and then back to her mother, “whatever it is between two people who…like each other. It’s obvious to me, so please don’t treat me like a child.”
I take a breath for the first time in at least thirty seconds and put one hand in my pocket. With the other hand, I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “I can let you guys talk?”
“No,” Magnolia says, patting the seat next to her on the loveseat. “Sit down.”
This is a lot to take in. I realize now how serious of a thing this conversation is. I break out sweating. I’m barging into thisbroken home, claiming a position that has been vilified up until this very second. Crossing to her, I sit. She takes my hand and squeezes hard.
“I’m sorry, Kendall. I’m sorry,” Magnolia says.
“It was actually me who did the lying if we’re being technical,” I offer.
