“Besides, Bailey doesn’t strike me as someone who would stand by and let you lose your job. He’d fight for you.”
I grimaced. “I don’t want it to come to that. He and his brothers are tight. If I come between them, it’s game over for all of us.”
Aiden nodded decisively. “Then don’t let that happen, Flynn. He makes you happy. I like that for you.”
I raised my cup and sipped at the coffee, wrinkling my nose. My brother made his coffee so strong it was damn near toxic, but as a med student, I was sure he needed the caffeine.
“I feel a little guilty,” I confessed as I went to the refrigerator to pull out creamer. My brother had a cinnamon dolce flavor that he’d drowned his own cup in. I added a few splashes.
“Because of Bailey’s brothers?” Aiden asked.
“No.” I paused. “Well, yes, but that’s not what I mean right now. I mean, I feel guilty that you lost a boyfriend because of my history, and now I’m bringing Bailey here. It’s not fair.”
“A lot of shit we’ve gone through isn’t fair,” Aiden said. “Does Bailey know?”
I nodded. “I couldn’t start something without telling him.”
“Well, you could. A lot of people would,” Aiden said. “You did your time. You don’t have to keep wearing your guilt like a second skin.”
“I do, though,” I said quietly. “It’s not a second skin; it’s in my cells. It’ll never leave me.”
“Flynn,” Aiden said, voice pained, eyes dark. “You saved me.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s the only silver lining in all this. Seeing you living your life. Becoming a freakingdoctor. I’m so damn proud of you.” I laughed a little. “Wearing booty shorts.”
Aiden groaned. “Never gonna live that down, am I?”
I smiled, so dang happy tears sprang to my eyes. “Nope. You’re living your best life, and that life includes booty shorts. We must acknowledge how far we’ve come.”
Aiden laughed, the sound musical. “Andyouhave a gorgeous boyfriend. Times really have changed.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I guess they have. I just want the same for you. Don’t bring my baggage into your life if you don’t have to,” I said. “Let a guy chooseyoubecause you’re amazing.”
“Your baggage is my baggage, Flynn. Don’t you see that? A guy can’t really love me unless he knows that my older brother is my fucking hero. End of story.”
“I’m not a hero,” I said, turning to place my cup in the sink.
Aiden’s gratitude for my intervention was understandable, but I’d done a terrible thing. I didn’t deserve praise for it.
“Maybe you don’t see it that way, but I do,” Aiden persisted.
“Me too.”
Bailey had just returned, phone held loosely in his hand. “I don’t fall for bad guys, Flynn. That means you must be good.” He tapped his chest. “I know what’s in here. So does Aiden.”
“I knew I liked him,” Aiden said, sounding satisfied.
I sighed. “With two on one, I can’t possibly win this argument.”
“Good.” Bailey came over and went on his tiptoes. He smacked a kiss to my cheek. “Because you’re wrong, honey pie.”
“Honey pie?” I said as Aiden laughed.
“No good?” Bailey asked, a teasing glint in his eye.
“Why the hell not?” I said with a laugh. It was a hell of a lot better thanDozer, anyway.
I wasn’t sure if Bailey and Aiden getting to know each other was the best thing ever or areallybad idea. But the way they exchanged smiles made my heart light.
