22. Aaron
AARON
“This is Mia,” I said, again and again. “She goes to my school. She’s studying digital communications. Yes, her dress is gorgeous.” I said those things over and over as we talked to my siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
I felt pride that she was here with me every time someone commented on her dress. It fit her like a second skin and took her from beautiful to holy shit, she’s fucking gorgeous .
And she was here with me .
Part of the reason that made me so happy was that I genuinely liked her.
And I’d meant what I said about wanting her to have a good time tonight.
But I also couldn’t help noticing the way my family looked at me differently.
Like I was no longer just the youngest sibling.
Just the college kid. Just the last one to get adopted.
With Mia accompanying me, it was like they viewed me differently.
Except for Cousin Dan. He couldn’t keep his eyes off my date, and I quickly steered her away.
“Your dress is like a Rorschach test,” I said as we went to get something to drink.
“A what?” She smiled up at me, but with those sexy high heels, she didn’t have to tilt her head as far as usual. “Is that a good thing?”
I laughed. “It’s that ink blot test, where everyone looks at it and sees a different shape. Everyone who’s commented on your dress tonight has called it a different color. Aunt Miranda said it was a muted garnet, whatever that means. And Jason called it cinnamon.”
Mia had her hand wrapped around my arm, and her touch was somehow both light and warm. “Jason is your redheaded brother?”
“Yes.” I didn’t tell her that I actually had two redheaded brothers. She was already astonished by the size of our family.
“Who was that tall woman who called it spiced rose?”
“My sister Katie.”
Mia looked around as if searching for her. “Is she the judge?”
“Yes.”
She smiled. “Then I’d say she gets to make the final ruling.”
I laughed. “Better her than Cousin Dan.” I had a feeling that if I knew what he thought of Mia’s dress, I’d have to punch him in the nose.
And then I heard my name. My grandfather strode toward us, still tall and sprightly despite his age. Mia paled, and I knew she was determined to make a good impression.
Judging from the smile that lit up my grandfather’s face, she already had.
“It is so nice to meet you, young lady.” He actually took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it like he was a prince or something. Then grandma joined us, and her eyes sparkled when I introduced her to Mia.
Sparkled and… crap, was that a tear? Half my family seemed to think I’d met the woman of my dreams and that we would marry and soon have a minivan full of children.
The truth wasn’t that simple. Mia was my friend. And I could admit, at least to myself, that I was hoping for more, but right now it was enough to be her friend.
We finally settled at a round table as the meals were served. “You’re not eating much,” I whispered when I’d cut into my steak, a perfect medium rare.
“I’m too nervous.”
My fork stilled, and I looked at her. “You shouldn’t be. My family’s thrilled that you’re here. So please eat something. It’s good.”
“The dress is too tight,” she said, and I couldn’t help letting my eyes follow the line of the fabric as it tucked in at her waist and flared out at her hips. And the slit… that damn slit was going to be the death of me. It was open now, leaving almost all of her gorgeous leg bare.
“I think the dress fits you perfectly, but if it makes you uncomfortable?—”
She put a hand on my arm, stopping me. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I mean it’s a bit too tight to eat a big meal. Trust me, I’m not knocking the dress. I may wear it to every occasion for the rest of my life.”
“Well, sign me up for the ones you’d like an escort for.”
“Will do.” Her dangly earrings sparkled as she cocked her head at me.
Then it was time for the speeches. Some of my older siblings and aunts and uncles told their favorite stories about my grandparents. Then Katie, the judge, came up on stage and conducted a condensed version of a wedding ceremony as they renewed their vows.
And then it was my grandfather’s turn. His voice wasn’t as robust as it had been on the videos I’d seen of him giving political speeches, but it still resonated as he spoke of his love for my grandmother.
When it was done, I was surprised to see tears in Mia’s eyes. I squeezed her hand as she wiped her cheeks. My family could be a bit much, but they loved me, and I loved them. I wished Mia and all foster kids had been as lucky as I was.
The party was in full swing when I felt Mia's hand squeeze mine, the signal that meant she was getting overwhelmed.
I couldn't blame her. My family went all out for everything, and my grandparents' fiftieth anniversary was a huge deal.
The large hall was packed with what felt like half the city, everyone dressed to the nines and talking at volumes that competed with the live jazz band.
I glanced down at Mia, taking in the slight tension around her eyes despite her polite smile. I should’ve noticed it sooner, and I might have if I hadn’t gotten fixated on that incredible dress every time I looked her way. And the gorgeous body that filled it out so nicely.
If I were an English major, I might’ve been able to come up with the words to do justice to just how gorgeous she looked, but mostly I just snuck quick peeks and tried not to gawk.
But I should’ve noticed she was reaching her limit with all the socializing.
My family even overwhelmed me sometimes, and I’d known them since I was seven.
"Come on," I murmured, gently guiding her through the crowds, steering her far away from male cousins whose eyes went wide when they saw her, and older aunts and sisters who were probably picking out our wedding China by now. "I want to show you something."
I led her down a quieter hallway that connected the main reception hall to an outdoor courtyard.
We'd been to this venue for family events many times before, and I remembered a room my brother and I had found when we were kids.
A room with so many mirrors that it looked like a funhouse at a carnival.
“Ah, here it is.”
“Bridal staging area?” Mia read off the little plaque, and I flushed. I hadn’t remembered it was called that.
“I call it the ‘get away from family for a few minutes room.’”
She grinned and pulled open the door herself. “Sounds perfect.”
The little room was unique, you had to give it that. It was luxurious and lined with ornate, angled mirrors that caught the soft glow from the decorative sconces. It was blissfully quiet here, with just the distant, muffled sound of music drifting from the main hall.
"Better?" I asked as I closed the door behind us.
Mia let out a long breath, her shoulders finally relaxing. "Much. Thank you. Your family is amazing, they really are, but…"
"But they can be a lot," I finished with a grin. "Trust me, I’ve heard it before—from everyone who’s ever met them."
She laughed, and the sound made something warm unfurl in my chest. I loved making her laugh. Her whole face lit up when she did so.
The soft music filtering in from the party was too tempting to ignore. Without overthinking it, I held out my hand. "Dance with me?"
"Here?" She glanced around the empty room, but she was already reaching for my hand.
"Why not? No great-aunts asking if we're dating, no cousins making jokes about when I'm going to propose." I pulled her into my arms, and she came easily, fitting against me like she was meant to be there. "Just us."
We moved together slowly, her hand warm in mine, my other hand resting on the small of her back.
The silk of her dress was smooth under my palm, and I had to resist the urge to pull her closer.
We were supposed to be just friends at this party—that had been the deal when I'd asked her to be my date.
But moments like this made it hard to remember why I'd agreed to that arrangement.
I could feel her muscles relaxing and her shoulders lowering. “This is nice,” she said.
“I guess we have Diego to thank for the dance lessons.”
Mia immediately stiffened and stepped away.
Shit. Why’d I bring him up? And what the hell had happened last night when they’d been babysitting? After they’d run the scavenger hunt together, they’d seemed to be in a good place, and now something was obviously wrong.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked softly.
“No.” She turned away. “But thanks.”
When she took several steps away, all the women in the mirrors did, too. She paused, looking at the endless reflections of herself. “This is so weird.”
I moved to her side. “Not weird. It’s like having dozens of gorgeous Mias here rather than just one.”
“There are a bunch of Aarons here, too.” She peeked at my reflection in the mirror. "And they all look good in a tux.” Then she frowned, twisting one way and then the other.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s just strange that I can see both my front and my back.” She flushed a little as she stared into the mirror. “I’m not used to seeing my, um, butt like that.”
I didn’t point out how I could see that sweet, round ass—many times over.
I moved in behind her, so close I was almost touching her. Then I did touch her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Now you can’t see it.”
She leaned her head back, her eyes closing briefly. Then I felt her body shake. Was she crying again?
No, she was laughing.
“What?”
Her body shook as she kept laughing. “It’s just, there were so many people out there, and I was so grateful when you led me away, and we came to this room where there are dozens of dozens of people. Or at least it looks like there are.”
I smiled as I held her. “I only see one beautiful woman, and one incredibly lucky man.” I studied her, noted the way she wouldn't quite meet my eyes, and had an idea. Maybe if she could see what I saw when I looked at her...