A minute into the song, he leans into whisper in my ear, “You just need to remember how to do it tactfully next time. A partnership like that requires credibility. It’s different coming from me than from you.”
His voice is deep and low, unwavering in his statement. My teeth clench together tightly as he spins me like we have done this time and time again.
“I was helping you,” I whisper back.
“Investors need foreplay when you interact with them. Building relationships with them before you overwhelm them with facts.”
“Your dad thought I did fine.”
“He is not going to tell you that you did badly in front of him.” Aidan laughs. “You should have weaved me into your ideas beforehand, so we could’ve discussed the game plan together.”
“You were out fishing with your dad this afternoon. We didn’t have any time to talk.”
“We could have in the last twenty minutes before you disappeared.”
I take a large, deep breath, trying to hold back what is building up inside of me. It’s rising up and down, trying to contain any bit of composure I have left.
“Who are you?” I say quietly. “You almost sound like—”
“Like what?”
“My boss.”
My words cut sharper than I intended, not leaving any room for Aidan to answer. The Whitmores’ eyes are still on us. There is no point in talking about this right now, because with them standing there, I’ll never get a true version of him.
“I think I am going to get some food.”
I brush off his arm on my shoulder and head to the long table on the back wall filled with food. Aidan does the same on the opposite end of the room.
Both of us giving each other space.
Space seems to be the key to our problems lately.
When I look down at my necklace, it’s the dullest pendant I’ve ever seen. At the back wall, I fill my plate with mini quiches. I’m excited to silence the growling in my stomach.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see familiar tousled brown locks. I don’t look up. My only concern is stuffing this quiche in my mouth.
“I didn’t realize this was your boyfriend’s family thing.”
I start choking. He called this sixty-thousand-dollar event a “thing.”
“You never asked,” I say finally, when my throat is clear. I keep my eyes focused on Aidan’s blonde head of hair on the other side of the room. He is stuffing his face with cheese tarts.
“How long have you been dating?” Holden moves more in my eyeline so I can’t avoid his eyes.
“Four years.”
He swipes his tongue across his teeth, taking a few moments to process what I just said.
“Interesting. You never mention him much.” His body moves to the other side of me.
“What are you getting at?” My whisper grows louder. I divert my eyes from Holden to Aidan. From Aidan to Holden. My vision blurs between the two of them.
When Holden steps even closer, the scent of vanilla and musk consumes me. He is completely unfazed that my boyfriend is a few feet away. If I let him step any closer to me, this will definitely be a scene.
“Follow me.”
My words are sharp and concise as I keep walking. Aidan’s back is turned away from us as we slip onto the elaborate lawn that has flowers stretching out on the field of grass.
