21. Aiden
TWENTY-ONE
AIDEN
Parties in general are where I excel. I’m a fun guy.
The life of the party. My toes are already itching to boogie, and my shoulders twitch along with a beat I know I can crush.
But I happily remain plastered to Lennox’s side.
Proud doesn’t begin to describe how I feel to be on her arm.
Her hair is pulled back with wisps of light pink hair framing her face, the color making her blue eyes look practically electric.
She scans the entryway, likely searching for her parents, though I’m not sure whether it’s because she wants to get this meet-and-greet over with or because she’s working out a plan for avoiding them all night.
I’m game either way. This is Lennox’s show, and I’m just along for the ride.
Honestly, I’d follow her to the gates of hell.
I can guarantee even that would be more enjoyable than any night out I’ve suffered with the devil herself on my arm over the last few years.
“My cousin Nick is at your nine o’clock. We’ll want to say hi to him at some point. His wife is well-known as a gossip, but she has absolutely nothing on him. Every person who wishes him a happy birthday will hear the story of how besotted you are with me.”
Lips twitching, she looks up at me. I have to work hard to hide my smile. She’s teasing me because I kissed the life out of her outside and she doesn’t know what to do with herself now. She thinks this is all an elaborate game. If that’s the case, then I’d happily play it for the rest of my life.
“One juicy story coming up,” I tease, pulling her back against my chest so that her ass is flush against me.
As a surprised gasp escapes her lips, I run my nose against her bare shoulder and press soft kisses all the way up her neck until I reach her ear. “Let’s start with a little show and tell,” I murmur with a nip of her lobe.
She melts into my embrace, and when I spin her to face me, she whimpers. Once again, the element of surprise works in my favor. This time, I cup her face and kiss her, allowing my desire for this woman to speak volumes in the crowded room.
Unlike yesterday’s kiss, or even the one we shared moments ago, I allow myself to get lost in this one.
Why not? It’ll only make it more realistic.
That’s a poor man’s excuse, for sure, but I own it.
Because right now I’m selling our love story to the masses.
Showing them precisely how gone I am for this girl so that not a single person can question Lennox when she finally tells them she’s agreed to become my wife.
I don’t allow myself to even focus on those words. I don’t allow myself to get attached to the possibility that she’ll ever truly be mine.
But I do let myself enjoy the hell out of her lips against mine.
Pulling back an inch, I lick my lips, giving us both a second to breathe. “Think they’re watching?”
Lennox blinks, shaking her head. “Huh?”
A low chuckle slips out of me. “Your family. The birthday boy. You think we gave him enough of a story to run with, or should I take you over there and tell them how madly I’ve fallen for you?”
“Right.” She lets out a soft, almost sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, I think they got their story.”
I tear my gaze from hers and immediately catch her father glaring in our direction.
There’s no stopping the smile that spreads across my face.
I always loved pissing off Jackson Kennedy.
He never liked the idea of his daughter dating an athlete, but I think what he hated more was how happy I made her.
Or maybe it was the way I kissed her. He certainly doesn’t look happy right now.
This power dynamic is one I’m familiar with. I grew up surrounded by people like her father. Walking over to him, shaking his hand, and acknowledging that I need his approval is what is expected.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t play these games. Beckett and Gavin are much better at keeping up a facade in these situations. I’m the entertainment. The puppy. People approach me. If they don’t, then I don’t interact with them. I couldn’t care less what these people think they can do for me or my family.
But when it comes to Lennox, I’ll gladly play by the rules.
With my hand on her back, I guide her forward. “Let’s start with your father. He looks absolutely thrilled to see me.”
An unladylike snort leaves Lennox. God, I love the sound.
The house is larger than it looks from outside. Against one wall, a bar has been set up, and a line has formed. To the left of it is a DJ.
The Kennedys have certainly thought of everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if an up-and-coming musician is slated to perform tonight. That’s how these things normally go. Since this event is being thrown by the head of Kennedy records, I have no doubt the talent will be impressive.
Heavy gold and black curtains are draped along the walls, creating a speakeasy-type vibe. As we make our way toward Lennox’s father, the room goes silent. Every eye is locked on us, waiting to see what the Kennedy family heiress will do.
Lennox believes that she is a stain on her family’s reputation. In reality, they fear her because she can’t be controlled, and they have no fucking idea what she’ll do right now.
Her mother, Tia, is standing next to Jackson, but she still hasn’t noticed us.
That’s probably a blessing. If Jackson Kennedy considers me an annoyance, Tia Kennedy doesn’t believe I should even breathe the same air as any member of their family.
It’s a wonder Lennox is so kind and caring, with a mind of her own, unwilling to be molded into what they consider the perfect daughter.
“Hi, Mom,” Lennox says, gently grasping the woman by the shoulder.
As she turns toward her daughter, a smile tugs on her lips. It quickly falls, though, when she catches sight of me.
“Mrs. Kennedy, you look lovely,” I say, biting back the foolish smile I’m itching to break into in order to cut through the discomfort of this moment. It couldn’t be more clear how unwanted I am in this space.
“Yes, well, hello, Aiden. Lennox, I didn’t know you were bringing a friend with you tonight.”
Lennox clears her throat, but before she can respond, I butt in.
“Not a friend, Mrs. Kennedy. As you know, Lennox and I could never just be friends.”
It may not be wise to irk them so early in the night, but when Lennox breaks out into a surprised smile, instantly twisting her lips to cover it, I know I’m playing this right.
“Jackson,” her mother says, her voice tight. She tugs on his arm, drawing him into the conversation. Or maybe she just needs an anchor so she doesn’t fall to her knees in despair over her precious daughter being seen with the likes of me again.
“Princess,” he says, taking Lennox in.
“Hi, Daddy,” she says.
It’s odd, the way they greet one another.
For all the shit I’ve given my parents for being too busy when we were kids, my family has never been stingy when it comes to affection.
My mom hugs us, my brothers and I hug each other too.
Hell, hugging is my favorite thing to do, and I’m not going to change for these people.
Maybe that’s all Jackson Kennedy ever really needed—a nice, big Aiden Langfield–style hug.
So when he holds out his hand to me, I can’t resist. I pull him in, and this isn’t a one clap bro hug. No, I grip him around both arms so he can’t escape my embrace and then I do a one-two step. There’s no stopping the dance moves when the mood strikes.
The snort behind me is obviously from Lennox.
“It’s good to see you, Mr. Kennedy,” I say in his ear, and then because he’s so damn tense, I plant a big kiss on his cheek. “It’s been too long.”
As I pull back, Lennox’s shoulders shake with laughter, though she’s got a hand clamped over her mouth.
Though I expect to find her parents wearing angry or otherwise passive expressions, I’m surprised to find them smiling. Though it’s not at me . It’s clearly at someone right behind me.
I glance over my shoulder, and as I’m turning back to the Kennedys, prepared to go into the story of how Lennox and I are back together, the man’s face registers. Heart lurching, I spin and come face to face with the musician who asked my fake fiancée out on a date this week.
Somehow, I know that this won’t bode well for me.
“Ryder,” Jackson says in a far friendlier tone than he’s ever used with me. His smile is wide as he shakes the musician’s hand.
“Thanks for the invite.” He glances in Lennox’s direction, and his eyebrows raise, not like he’s surprised to see her, but like he’s excited.
Tia is smiling now too. Dammit. This just went from not good to a fucking disaster.
“I’m just happy that you finally said yes. I do believe you’ve met my daughter,” Jackson says, practically grabbing Lennox by the arm and pushing her in his direction.
One side of Ryder’s mouth kicks up in a lazy smile. “Yes, I have.”
Lennox, oblivious to the way her parents have clearly used her to lure the singer here, smiles warmly.
I hate it.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.”
“Didn’t know I was.” He assesses her parents quickly. “But then I realized you’d be here.”
A red flush creeps up Lennox’s chest, and yeah, I’m over all of this.
“That she is,” I interject. “With her boyfriend.” With a hand on Lennox’s hip, I tug her back against me, pulling her hand from Ryder’s.
“Boyfriend?” the guy has the gall to question, his brows furrowing as he looks from me to Lennox. The expression morphs into a scowl as he turns to Jackson. “I wasn’t aware.”
Lennox straightens and lets out an uncomfortable laugh. “It’s new.” She tries to pull free, but I tighten my hold on her, splaying my fingers possessively across her stomach.
“But serious,” I add, holding her close. I nuzzle into her, dropping a kiss against her neck.
“What’s serious?” a male voice asks.