He holds me tight, only pulling away enough to ask, “What’s wrong?” The worry in his voice is unmistakable, heavy in just those two words.
I sigh and tuck my forehead against the curve of his neck. “I just wanted to see you…”
“Bullshit.” He clicks his tongue while easing back enough to meet my gaze. “Don’t lie to me, sunshine. Tell me what happened because I know you wouldn’t be here unless something was wrong.” He leans in to brush a quick kiss across my lips. “If it were just because you missed me, you wouldn’t be shy about asking for a picture of my handsome face.”
A soft laugh vibrates through my closed lips. “Handsome indeed.” I move my hand up to drag my fingers along his five o’clock shadow. “Okay, you’re right. But we can worry about it when you’re off. I don’t want to distract you while you’re working. If something happens, you need to be focused on you.”
He tuts. “Ayden, it’s a little late for that. Now come on, talk to me.”
36
I’ve never really had an anger problem—or at least, I don’t remember being this mad this often.
The nameMichaelsparks something ugly in me. It makes me want to be violent. The sheer number of illegal thoughts that flood my head could put me behind bars without question.
We’ve moved to sit on the couch, and though every part of me wanted him in my lap, I gave him space to sit beside me instead.
Ayden just finished telling me about the call with his doctor friend at SF General. The fact that Michael would report him for that makes me sick. He has no evidence of anything, and we’re not even doing anything illegal.
“Have you told Alysa?” I ask, my thumb rubbing small circles behind his ear as I hold onto the back of his neck.
He shakes his head.
For some reason, him coming to me first makes me ache for him even more than I already do. It has me greedy. I want this—want him to turn to me, to talk to me, to hand me every piece of himself. To fill me with his wants and needs. To let me protect him.
“You should, tonightor tomorrow morning,” I say. “I don’t know what it might mean for her professionally, but probably not much, considering where she is. Still, she needs to know.”
I place my hand onto his jaw and pull his attention back to me, away from the blank space he’d drifted into. The moment his eyes find mine, his pupils flare.
“We’ll get this sorted. It’s all lies. There’s no evidence?—”
“I’m honestly worried, Keo.”
“Tell me why.”
“For so many reasons.” He attempts to shift away, but I follow, sliding closer.
“What’re you doing…” The bashful way he tries to hide the smile tugging at his lips is so cute.
By the time he reaches the end of the couch, I’ve squeezed in right beside him. “Forcing you to talk to me. Up close.”
He leans back, head sinking into the cushions. “It’s just… nothing happened. But in the context of what was reported, and what I’m about to say, it sounds terrible.”
I rest my arm along the back of the sofa, fingers slipping through his hair.
“Alysa was in a hotel here for a week after the funeral, and I stayed with her. Michael always told his friends he didn’t trust me to go anywhere—said he thought I’d cheat. It was always a fight after we hung out with them…” He doesn’t turn his head, but his eyes flick to mine. “I told him I was staying with her. If I’d had a key to the cabin, I would’ve stayed there. I’m worried he’ll twist it, use that to lie. There’s… no proof we…didn’t…”
It makes me sick just thinking about the picture Michael might try to paint. Imagining Ayden and his sister in that way, it’s unfathomable.
But, I get it. I’d imagine someone believing him, seeing him dating his stepbrother, and asking ‘Why not cross theotherline?’
“Sunshine, it’s all hearsay. I’m no lawyer, but I know enough. We’ll go after him for defamation against your name—and for assault, on both of us. We reported it but didn’t press charges. That changes now.” I lean in to brush a kiss against his cheek. “Alright? I promise nothing’s going to come of this. It might get ugly for awhile, but I’ve got you.”
His chest rises with a long breath before his hand comes to my jaw, thumb dragging gently across my lips. “Thank you.”
I smile. “No need to thank me.”
He sits up and presses his mouth to mine. I love kissing him. If it weren’t for where we are, I’d stay like this for hours. Tasting him,devouringhim. But we’ve already been talking for nearly an hour, and I have things to get done.
