Chapter 32
JAMISON
Aiden’s face turns red.
I peer at him through the computer, silently telling him I’m not going to back down. He either learns to treat Dori well, or he won’t have a relationship with her.
And that’s not my decision. She came to that conclusion on her own. I just know her well enough to realize she’d never reach out to him first. Not after all she did to set him up for life.
Come on, Aiden. Don’t be a dick.
A minute goes by as we’re in a good ole fashion stare down. I’m not going to break the silence, so I wait.
He releases a heavy, growl-like sigh. “I only did what I thought was…good for her. I wasn’t trying to treat her poorly. For fuck’s sake, she’s my baby sister.”
“She’s not a baby anymore.”
“I know that, but I’m never going to feel like she doesn’t need my protection. I’m all she’s ever had.”
“Not anymore. She has me to protect her. That releases you from any responsibility. And on the same note, Dori is a strong woman. She can handle more than any woman I know. She’s a force to be reckoned with. It might do you good to recognize that fact.”
“I do. It’s just hard to see her not…” He stands and paces in front of the camera so I can only see him from the waist down.
I know he can hear me, so I push. “See her not what?”
He sits with his head hung low. “Need me.”
Oh, I didn’t see that one coming.
I thought I’d have to go hard against him to get him to come around. Maybe it’s time I change my approach.
I purposely relax my stance. “You took on a lot of abuse protecting her. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
His head snaps up. “ I’m not. It kept her safe.”
“Why didn’t I see the marks?”
He shakes his head and looks off to the side. “They’re hard to see when someone uses measures that are undetectable.”
Fuck.
Maybe he wasn’t exaggerating about being physically abused. I wasn’t sure I believed him because Dori never saw it happen, and I never saw marks, but I didn’t consider there are other techniques. It doesn’t have to be fists or external bruising to be considered abuse.
“What did he do to you, Aiden?”
There’s a long stretch of silence as he shifts around on his couch. He’s anxious about this, and it’s now I realize he’s telling the truth.
“Aiden, help me understand so I can see it from your point of view.”
He gazes up, stone-faced. “It started when my dad heard Dori tell Cara she was going to get you to kiss her. I didn’t even know what my dad was talking about.
All I knew was my shoulder was dislocated, and it was all because of you.
I vowed then to keep you two apart as long as he wouldn’t hurt me anymore. ”
Guilt seeps into my veins. “Fuck, Aiden. You should’ve told me.”
“And get my ass kicked for that?” He snarls as he shakes his head. “No. I wasn’t going to let you run off and tell your parents. They would’ve gotten involved and made everything worse.”
“I’m sorry. You didn’t have to go through that.”
“But I did.” His muscles flex. “And I’d do it again because he never laid a hand on her. That’s good enough for me.”
Jesus Christ, he must have gone through hell all those years. No wonder he acted the way he did.
My chest aches. “I’m… I don’t know what to say other than I’m sorry.”
“Like I said. I’m not. She was never hurt, and that’s all that counts.”
“But she was hurt. Maybe not physically, but emotionally and mentally, she was.”
He nods and lowers his head. “Yeah, I know. I should’ve taken her and run away. We probably would’ve turned out better if I had.”
“Neither one of you turned out bad. In fact, I’d say you did damn well because you’re both?—”
“In therapy because we’re fucked in the head.” He lifts his gaze to mine.
The strain on his face speaks of defeat. I realize their healing is going to take a lot more than a phone call.
“You’re not in therapy because something is wrong with you. You’re in it to get over the years of abuse you lived through.”
“I guess, but Dori thinks I’m only doing it because she gave me that money.”
“You’re not giving her enough credit. She sees the good in everyone. The only person she struggles doing that with is herself. ”
“She’s one of the best people I know.” He pauses and then forces out a laugh. “Do you want to know the crazy part?”
I lean closer to the screen. “Sure.”
“If I think about it, I never had an issue with you two being together.”
My laugh barrels out. “Right. I’m supposed to believe that.”
“No, it’s true. Before that happened with my dad, I thought nothing of you dating each other. I just wanted you both to be happy.”
“Come on, Aiden. Don’t bullshit me now.”
“I’m not. You had told me you thought she was hot, and I saw how she flirted with you. I figured you two would date and get it out of your system, and that would be that.”
“Now that I remember, you were pretty calm about it when I first mentioned my attraction to her.”
“Yeah, it didn’t bother me. Not until…” He runs his palms down his thighs. “Enough talk about that. It’s irrelevant now.”
My heart squeezes because I can tell he’s traumatized by what happened to him. Hopefully, in time, he’ll work through it and come out stronger.
“You said you had something to talk to me about. Why don’t you let me hear it.”
“Yeah, no time like the present.” He adjusts himself and looks at the screen. “I’m doing my best, but it’s hard to get my head around not being controlled anymore. I kinda feel like I’m learning to walk.”
“Take your time. We have all night, if that’s what you need.”
“Well, it might be that long.” He sucks in a deep breath. “I’ve been discovering because I was controlled for so many years, I learned to use psychological warfare to overpower the people around me. It gave me a sense of authority.”
I shrug. “That makes sense.”
“Yeah, well, it’s hard to just let that go. ”
“I can only imagine.”
“Then take this with some leniency.” He peers at me through the screen.
I nod to give him permission to continue, so he does.
“About what you’re into…sexually.”
“No. That topic is off limits. It’s none of your business, and I’m going to keep that between Dori and me. Nobody else has any say in the matter.”
“You’re misunderstanding. It is none of my business. I just wanted to ask you to please keep her safe. I get anxious thinking about her getting hurt…or worse.”
“You have my word. I would never put her in a risky situation. And I’d never do anything without her consent.”
He visibly relaxes. “Good. I figured that’s what you’d say, but I needed to express my concerns in a healthy manner. At least that’s what my therapist says.”
I smile and nod. “Gotcha. Put your mind at ease. She’s safe with me.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to see that.” He glances around, then brings his gaze back to me. “Hunter told me about everything he did to you to keep you away from her. It sounds like you had a tough year.”
My shoulders tense at the thought of it all. “What all did he say?”
“He told me you had an ex and a son you lost. I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could talk to me about it.”
My heart constricts. “I didn’t talk to anyone about it.”
“I figured that much. Anyway, if you ever need to kick it around with someone, I hope you’ll consider me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m not heartless.”
“I never thought you were. A controlling asshole, yes. Heartless, never.”
He laughs under his breath. “Well deserved.”
“In all seriousness, if I ever need an ear to bend, you’ll be the first one I call.” I rub the ache in my chest .
The loss of my son will never be easy.
“Jami, that’s considerate of you after all I’ve done.”
“You’re trying to set it straight now, and that’s all that matters.”
“There’s one other thing.” His tone tells me the next issue will be weighted.
I brace myself. “What’s that?”
“Hunter told me Dori and you lost one too.”
Fuck me.
Why in the hell would Hunter tell Aiden that?
The muscles over my ribs tighten. “Hunter has a big mouth.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then how was it?”
Aiden brings the screen closer. “I asked him to explain your relationship with Dori to me. I was trying to see it from another perspective. He was defending you two to me, and we fell into a conversation about it.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Hunter was defending us? Wow, now I’ve heard everything.”
Aiden stares at me with a serious expression. “How’s Dori? I mean, with the loss. I know how hard her first miscarriage was on her, and I’m worried about her now.”
“She’s doing all right, but I think that’s a conversation she needs to have with you. It’s not my place to share.”
“Fair enough, but how are you doing? You’ve lost a lot too.”
I take a moment to consider how much I want to tell him. We’re still not in a place where I trust him one hundred percent, so I’m not sure I’m comfortable going into the details just yet.
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip. “Some days are better than others.”
He nods. “Couldn’t agree more.”
He drops the subject, and we move on to his line of work. He’s slowly gaining more clients and seems to be adjusting well to his new lifestyle.
In the end, I think he’s doing better than I hoped for, but the true test is coming up. I prepare to learn Aiden’s true motivations.
I study him through the screen. “Dori’s going to be wondering what’s taking me so long, so I need to let you go. But there’s one more thing I need to know.”
“Fire away.”
I pace the living room in our suite while ticking off mental boxes of everything I need for the ceremony. My excitement is taking up too much of my attention, so I fear I’m missing something.
“Here comes the bride.” Mel steps out of the bedroom Dori’s been getting ready in.
Mel’s wearing a simple, short, light-pink dress. It’s classy and perfect for the maid of honor.
As soon as Dori appears, my head gets light and my breathing picks up. She’s in a white slip dress, holding a bouquet of calla lilies. Her hair is in loose curls over her shoulders, and she’s wearing the perfect amount of makeup.
Not too much, but a little more than normal, so her eyes will pop in photos. At least that’s how she explained it to me when she was deciding what to wear.
“Dori, you’re absolutely gorgeous.”
She does a little curtsey and strides over to me. “Why, thank you, stud. You’re as handsome as ever in your tux.”
I want to roll my eyes at her nickname for me, but I don’t. Instead, I go in for a kiss.
She backs away. “No. Not yet. I’m saving that for the ceremony.”
I suppress a growl because she’s been holding out on me since she got her IUD taken out, saying she wanted to wait until tonight.
“Very well. Ceremony it is.” I hold my arm out for her. “Let’s do this.”
She hooks her arm with mine. “This is probably the longest aisle any bride has ever had to walk down.”
Melanie runs in front of us and opens the door. We leave and are on our way to the chapel near the casino on the main level.
As we ride the elevator down, I can’t take my eyes off her. “I can’t believe you’re going to be my wife in less than an hour.
“I know. It’s happening so fast, but I wouldn’t change a thing.” She beams and glances at Mel. “I’m so glad you’re here to witness this.”
“You need someone to take pictures.” Mel smirks. “You know I’m only kidding. I’d hunt you down and kill you if you didn’t have me here.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less.” Dori leans into me. “I never thought I’d see this day come.”
“I hope this day is everything you’ve hoped for.” My chest heats, and my nerves ramp up.
This next part she isn’t expecting, and it could end terribly. I pray I made the right decision. My hands tremble, and sweat drips down my back as we descend.
We arrive on the main level and find our way to the chapel. As we approach, my legs get weak.
I spot him before Dori does. He steps into our line of sight.
She stops as soon as she recognizes him. “Aiden… What are you doing here? ”
“Woah. I didn’t see that coming.” Mel stands on Dori’s other side.
Aiden dips his chin to me. “Jami asked me to walk you down the aisle. I’d be honored if you would allow me to give you away.”
Dori’s lips part, then her head snaps to me. “You did this?”
“I did. Aiden and I spent about two hours talking the other day. We’ve made peace with everything that was causing friction.” I gesture at Aiden to verify.
He confirms with a nod. “Jami’s my best friend, and you’re my baby sister. I’d be a stubborn fool not to recognize you two love each other. You always have. I guess that means you deserve to be together. Besides, I want to see you two happy.”
She shakes against me as she stares at her brother. “Are you saying you support our marriage?”
“I am. There’s nothing I want more than to see you in love and fulfilling your dreams. If you can forgive me for stupidly interfering in your life, I would feel more complete. I love and miss you more than words can say.” His sincerity shines in his eyes.
She springs into his arms and hugs him. “I’m so happy you’re here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“Does that mean I can walk you down the aisle?” He steps back.
“Yes. I’d love that.” She turns to me with glossy eyes. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. This is the way it’s supposed to be.” I point to the opening of the chapel. “I’ll be the guy waiting inside.”
She laughs through breaking tears. “Thanks for the clarification.”
I kiss her cheek as my chest balloons. For once, I got it right with her and Aiden.
Let’s just hope it stays that way.