14. Aiden
AIDEN
Settling back into his seat at the most highly rated restaurant in Paris, Texas, Aiden let his gaze wander over the eclectic decorations—the tin roof that jutted over the kitchen, string lights between the brick walls, and clear lofty ceilings that gave the feel of sitting on a patio rather than inside. Even some of the tables had umbrellas.
Interesting.
He and Callum had left the rest of the production crew behind at the Hampton Inn and headed out on their own for dinner and beer—which they’d grabbed in a jug.
Reaching for the center of the table, Aiden refilled his glass as Callum returned from the lavatory.
He gave his friend a steady smile as though guilt wasn’t eating an acid trail through his lungs.
As though this was just another normal night in London.
But it wasn’t. And until Aiden managed to have the conversation with Isla that he’d come for, things wouldn’t begin to go back to “normal.”
Callum sighed and sank into his seat. “I’ve really made a mess of things, haven’t I?”
“I’ve seen messier situations,” Aiden said dryly, sipping his beer. He’d also caused them. But this one felt uniquely catastrophic. “But yes. I’d say walking all over your sister’s plans and flying here from London without telling your wife what you were up to are both...slightly unhinged.”
Callum groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
“Not that I’m a paragon of advice when it comes to women, but my guess is that you’ll be in the dog kennel for a while. Might I suggest you invest in some fine Swiss chocolates?”
“If I could buy my way out of this one with chocolates, I’d probably have to buy a whole factory.” Callum poured himself a glass of beer and downed a large swallow. “Speaking of hiding things, I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were a part of this catastrophe.”
“You didn’t seem too keen on Isla leaving the inn to do this, and I didn’t want to have to confess that I helped make it possible.” Funny how fast one lie turns into a dozen.
Mason’s words hung in the back of his mind, though. “You’ve got to fix this. And tell Callum. Because if you don’t, I will.”
Insane how one drunken mistake had led to this—two best friends, stuck in the dullest town in America, eating burger baskets and drowning in beer.
Yet he was no closer to fixing this than when this had all started.
He didn’t have the foggiest idea how to fix it, either.
“Would it really have been that bad if Kyle pretended to be Isla’s boyfriend?” Aiden asked in a casual tone.
“Ugh, yes. It would have. You have no idea—well, maybe you do, considering that whole Ciara thing—but after my accident, not to mention my parents’ divorce, dealing with everyone feeling like they knew my business, gossiping about my family and me.
..” Callum palmed his face. “I hate that sort of attention. Loathe it. I know Isla loves the spotlight, but I can’t stand it. ”
“Because you’d be seen as dating siblings? That happens sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“But I’m not just dating Liddy—she’s my wife.
And can you imagine at the elopement party?
Some people will know about Isla’s show by then.
Enough of my father’s friends are already offended that they didn’t get invited to the elopement at Christmas.
They’ll see this as just another thing to gossip about.
They’ll ask questions, expecting Isla and Kyle to be a couple.
Or we’ll have to explain over and over again how it’s all a ruse.
In which case, they might think it’s a bit odd that my sister is so casually intimate with my brother-in-law.
They’ll either be scandalized or make comments like, ‘Ah, Callum. Isla loves keeping it in the family, eh?’ I truly don’t want to punch anyone at the party. ”
Callum had clearly put quite a bit of thought into this, and it was tormenting him.
Aiden reached for a chip from his basket and dipped it in ketchup.
“You know you can’t control what people say about you, Callum.
Or who Isla happens to sleep with, real or pretend.
You knew when she got into acting that she might have to pretend to have sex with men on stage or on film. That’s part of the business.”
The thought of that made his skin prickle and his chest tighten.
This would be the perfect segue. The opening he needed, perhaps, to come out with it and attempt to make things right with Callum.
But he’d said it, in part, to gauge Callum’s reaction. Test how a conversation like this might go.
“Maybe not, but I don’t have to like it. And to be honest, it was a relief when she quit the damn business to focus on the inn. Now it’s like that whole can of worms has been opened again.” Callum took a bite of his burger and chewed, deep in thought.
“Do you think that’s what’s bothering you? That she’s getting back into acting again?”
“Maybe. I do feel like she has one foot out the door of the inn. Like somehow she sees it as a punishment now. Like I’m forcing her when she was the one who begged me to save the place for her.
Between you and me, my mum has been telling me over the past few months that she feels like Isla isn’t very happy.
And that bothers me, too. I wish she would just tell me if that’s the case. ”
“It can get complicated, trying to keep friends and family happy,” Aiden said, averting his gaze and swallowing another chip. “Admitting the truth.”
“Maybe. But if a relationship is worth a damn in the first place, it ought to start with trying to be honest.”
Aiden held his breath, the words sharp like a knife.
Callum hung his head. “What am I going to do? I’ve never seen Isla this angry. And I can’t undo it. The production team was thrilled to get Tomas on board.”
“Apologize,” Aiden said in a strangled voice. “Try to fix it before it gets worse. And maybe accept that there are some mistakes you can’t undo.” He wasn’t sure if he was speaking to Callum or to himself at this point.
Callum nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re right.” He picked up his glass and then frowned again. “Isn’t that the cameraman?” He gestured to the front window. “Across the street?”
Aiden followed his gaze. Sure enough, one of the camera operators that Boyd had introduced him to was there...and appeared to be pointing a camera right at the restaurant.
Are they filming us?
No, that couldn’t be it. They must be getting B-roll footage to use as filler shots.
Sure enough, the camera operator continued walking past.
Aiden focused his attention back on Callum. “When do you head back to London?”
“Tomorrow morning. You?”
“Not for another day.” He was glad he’d given himself some margin. Hopefully, he could talk to Isla more freely once Callum was gone.
“I’m surprised at your level of commitment to this,” Callum remarked with a chuckle. “Still can’t see how it makes any sense for Camden Enterprises to bankroll something like this.”
Yeah, I haven’t figured that part out either.
Fact of the matter was, he’d cut the first sponsorship check out of his own personal savings.
He’d reached out to his financial adviser about finding the best way to handle any of this.
“I know. On the surface, it all seems a bit illogical. But what can I say? I have a soft spot for the Scott siblings.”
“You know, maybe you can help me, too. Since you’re such a devoted investor in travel television and all. How involved are you going to be?”
“Not sure what my schedule will allow for. But some, obviously.”
“Then can you do me a favor?”
Aiden leaned forward in his chair, the few chips he’d eaten feeling like lead in his stomach. “Anything.”
“Keep an eye on Isla for me, will you? She may or may not forgive me tonight, and I could use someone I trust watching over her.”
Holding Callum’s gaze was damn near an impossibility right now. “Of course,” he said with a taut smile. Then more softly, almost to himself, he repeated, “Of course.”