35. Isla #2
“And then there was that morning I called, and you were clearly waking up together. Or this morning, when your boots were lying on the floor of Aiden’s kitchen.
And knickers . Have to admit, that wasn’t the most pleasant way to start the day.
And for Aiden to suggest they belonged to some stranger from before he went to New York? That burned, Isla.”
She wanted to laugh. Or cry. Maybe both.
Of course he’d noticed.
Of course he’d been paying attention—because that was what Callum did. He protected. He saw what others missed.
And she’d treated him like he was blind. She couldn’t imagine how much it must have hurt him to know Aiden was lying to his face. How he wasn’t raging right now showed a side of him that neither of them deserved.
Tears pricked her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Callum.
We were going to tell you. We just didn’t know how you’d take it and wanted to wait until after the party.
” She swallowed hard, then added, tenuously, “But, I mean, it’s a good thing you know now, and we can talk openly about it.
And it’s a relief to know that you’re not opposed. ”
Callum chuckled without mirth. “I might not have been opposed. Before. But now? Now my enthusiasm is...definitely tarnished.” He leaned closer. “That sort of thing happens when you realize everyone around you is lying.”
Her hand tightened on his sleeve. “It’s not their fault, so please don’t blame them. Most of them are angry with us, actually—which is why this party has been so awkward for me.”
“Wonderful. Just the sort of drama I love.” Callum released a strangled sigh.
“I just don’t understand. Am I a terrible brother?
A monster who would resort to caveman antics of beating his best friend?
Or is there something I’m not seeing here?
Are you just hooking up? Is he blackmailing you into sex or something more nefarious? ”
Isla dropped her hand to her side. “No.” At least he clearly didn’t know about the marriage. He might be angrier if he did, though.
“Maybe I deserve this after what I did with your production and Tomas.”
Isla set her glass down on the balcony ledge, then slipped her arms around him. “No, no. That’s not it. And I’m so sorry, Callum. I truly am. You’ve always been the best brother in the world, and I hate that I’ve put such a horrible damper on your happy day.” She wiped her cheeks.
She should tell him about the marriage now and be done with it. The only way to get over this thing she and Aiden had created—this monstrous lie—was to go through it.
And now that Callum had admitted he knew, the news about the Vegas marriage was a ticking time bomb that anyone might let slip.
Her hand trembled at her side. Tell him now. Rip off the bandage. You already jumped the first fence—what’s one more confession?
Aiden might not be right beside her to tell him together, but Callum was her brother, and this was the only way forward now. “I have to tell you something?—”
“Callum! There you are,” Brenda, Liddy’s mother, stepped out onto the balcony. She waved him toward her. “The event planner is looking for you. They’re moving the party to the dining room, and she wants you to be introduced with Liddy.”
Callum held Isla’s gaze for a moment, then looked away and nodded at Brenda. “Coming,” he said. He squeezed Isla’s hand. “We’ll talk soon. I’m going back to all the pretenders. Liddy deserves a nice day, and I don’t want this to be the focus.”
Isla watched him go with a heavy heart.
Dammit.
Abandoning her drink, she rushed into the cocktail hour room and scanned the space. Aiden wasn’t hard to find—thank goodness he was tall—but he was already moving toward the dining room beside Logan, the two of them laughing at some joke as though they didn’t have a care in the world.
Like the last few minutes hadn’t happened. Her heart had cracked open and spilled the truth all over a balcony railing. But Aiden hadn’t heard it yet.
Hurrying in her long evening gown and heels, Isla came up behind Aiden and grabbed him by the elbow, eliciting a look of surprise from Logan. “I need to talk to you. Now. ”
Aiden gave her a curious look but said nothing as she dragged him away down the hallway toward the toilets.
“What is it?” Aiden asked.
They appeared to be alone, thankfully, and she stopped at the end of the hall, between the two doors for the men's and women’s rooms. “Callum knows the truth,” she whispered.
Aiden stilled. Completely. No breath, no blink—like the words had frozen him mid-thought.
“What?” he asked, voice low, almost hoarse.
“He’s known for a while apparently. Lola told him something about seeing us in Vegas.”
Aiden closed his eyes and turned slightly away, exhaling through gritted teeth. “Fuck.” His hand went to the back of his neck, massaging the skin like he’d suddenly developed a deep headache. For a long moment, he said nothing.
“How did Lola find out, exactly?”
“After that phone call she picked up. I think it set her over the edge. She couldn’t stand the thought that I’d picked you. So, she started digging and found the public marriage records in Vegas.”
Oh shit.
Isla shifted her weight, nervous energy ticking through her limbs. “He doesn’t seem to know about the marriage. At least not yet.”
That got his eyes back on her—blazing now, but not with anger. With something else. Dread? Shame? Regret? All of it?
“He must be furious with me,” Aiden said, barely above a whisper. Isla softened, especially as she thought about Callum’s thoughts on Aiden and her.
“But then, my anger faded, and it occurred to me that there also wasn’t anyone I trusted as much as Aiden...He’s always cared about you, and I couldn’t think of someone I’d be happier to see you with.”
“He’s hurt, but not in the way you think.
He said that he couldn’t think of anyone he’d be happier to see me with.
” Aiden smiled at that, although it was a reluctant smile.
Isla’s heartbeat was erratic. “He’s upset because everyone has been lying to him, which is fair.
We should make sure he learns about our marriage from us. ”
“Tonight? Here?” Aiden hesitated, his face lined with worry.
Isla nodded. “I think so.”
Aiden was silent, as though allowing the news to sink in. “All right. I’ll follow your lead.” A determined look crossed his eyes, the type that she imagined he must have in the office when closing a deal.
This was the side of him she loved. The one that wouldn’t back down. Who’d hold her hand even if they were walking through fire.
He seemed to catch the moment her gaze turned lusty, and a smile curved at his lips.
He bent, then pressed a deep, scorching kiss to her mouth, his hand grazing her breast. “It’s taken every single ounce of my control not to do that all evening,” he whispered, heat blistering through his gaze.
Funny how a kiss from him could make her instantly feel better. More grounded.
“Get out of here,” she whispered with a roll of her eyes. “Before you get us both in more trouble.”
He winked and turned to go, and she reached out, playfully smacking him on the backside.
His step faltered just slightly, then he tossed her a wicked grin. “Don’t tempt me with ideas for later.”
Settling back against the wall as he left, Isla closed her eyes, trying to still her heart.
We can do this. Together. The hard part was almost over, and it might not be so bad after all.