Chapter 33
JARED
A s soon as Alex and I stepped off the plane at LAX, I wanted to run right back up those stairs.
Kiernan was with us, though, so I was calm. As calm as I could be knowing that I was stepping back into the viper’s den.
The airport saw a lot of celebrities moving in and out, and the paps were regulars here. They camped out, waiting for that one photo op that they could cash in on.
So, I wasn’t surprised when I heard someone call out my name, followed by a blinding flash.
Fuck, I had not missed this at all.
The only thing I was missing was Aiden.
Kiernan shielded me as Alex got our luggage organized.
Then we ran-walked through the terminal. Once we’d passed through the gates, Alex texted our driver, Dario. He pulled up a minute later.
I hopped in and heard my name being called out again. And more flashes. I was used to this. Desensitized, as it were, for the most part. But being back after so many weeks away had old anxieties rearing up again.
I was raw, exhausted, weary. Fed up, and I’d been home for less than an hour.
Then Alex and Kiernan shut the doors, cutting off the noise and the cameras. I exhaled a long breath.
“Take a look at this boss.” Kiernan passed his phone to Alex.
“Just great. Thanks.”
“What’s going on?” I asked and Alex passed the phone to me.
It was a picture of me, Aiden, and Alex at the airport in Bangkok, saying goodbye.
Our private—I guess not-so-private—moment was online. The headline made my stomach flip over. Not with fear for me, but for Aiden.
It was 11 a.m. here, so it was 7 in the evening in London.
I tapped on Aiden’s number and waited as it rang. And rang. Voicemail.
I hung up and texted him instead.
Jared: We just saw the news. I’m so sorry. Call us.
All my fears that Aiden would balk were front and center again. He didn’t need this kind of attention for his career or his life. And I was sick of being hounded and hunted. I was ready to move on.
We got stuck in highway traffic for two hours because, well, that’s life in California.
Still no response from Aiden.
By the time we reached my home, I was a nervous wreck, tapping my toes and practically bouncing off the seat.
Jared: Please text. We need to talk.
As we unloaded the van, I unloaded on Alex. “I swear to God, I will get on another plane tonight and fly to London if Aiden doesn’t respond soon.”
Alex calmly told Kiernan to check the house.
Then my lover took me by the shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. I burrowed into his warmth, his safety.
I’d never had a real home, but in Alex’s arms, and Aiden’s, this was it.
This was the feeling I’d been missing my whole life. Only…it wasn’t complete. Because Aiden wasn’t here with us.
“He’s probably putting out fires as we speak. Give him time. Meanwhile, let’s have a meal and some rest.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“For what?”
“For loving me. For putting up with my bizarre life. For always knowing how to calm me down and keep me grounded.”
“You’d do the same for me love, and it is my absolute pleasure.” Alex kissed me soundly.
Trying not to think the worst, I helped him unload the luggage and we headed inside.
The house smelled of fresh paint and lemon cleaner.
Even though I knew the intruder was long gone, it still gave me the creeps thinking about a stranger roaming through my home, invading my privacy.
My phone chimed, and I dropped my bag and quickly checked the message.
It was a group message from Dylan and Rafe.
Not Aiden.
Dylan: Saw the tabloid piece, hope you guys are okay. If you need to talk, reach out. You know I know what you’re going through.
Jared: Thanks, D. I’m worried about Aiden.
Rafe: Aiden is like you, he’s resilient. Also, he’s impervious to the opinions of others.
I agreed with Rafe—and I didn’t. Aiden acted like he was made of steel, but he wasn’t. He cared about his professional reputation.
Alex and I knew the side to him that he let very few people see. He was vulnerable too. And I hated to think that our relationship would put his career, something that he loved so much, in any kind of jeopardy.
Feeling unsettled, I walked through the living area to the kitchen.
I’d spent a great deal of time renovating the space and making it my own with indigo cupboards, white marble countertops, and copper fixtures.
The island ran almost the whole length of the space, acting as a secondary dining table. Usually, my primary one. When I did have people over, I liked to host in the kitchen and keep it informal.
Looking around at the space now, it felt so big and empty.
I’d never really noticed before; usually I was running in and out to grab a smoothie or a snack. Most of my time at home was spent in the backyard, around the pool, or in my office.
That overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over me. I reached out, opened the fridge, and grabbed a bottle of juice.
I didn’t taste a damn thing.
I set my phone down on the island, as it continued to ping.
Then it rang. It was my PR rep, Meghan. Fuck.
“Hey, what’s up?” I answered as I stood at the patio door overlooking the pool.
Another perfect, hazy California day. I took a sip of my juice and sighed.
“Entertainment news outlets are clamoring for a comment about that photo of you and Alex and Aiden. And they also want deets on the lawsuit. I can only hold them off for so long.”
I sighed. “Let me talk to them and I’ll get back to you.”
“The sooner, the better. You know how these things go, babe. We want to control the narrative, not the other way around.”
I rolled my eyes since I’d heard her spiel too many times to count. And her calling me ‘babe’ reminded me that I was truly back in Tinseltown. Yay me.
“I’ll call you shortly.”
I video called Aiden this time.
His handsome profile popped up and my relief was immediate.
“Morning, my love. Sorry I missed your call, but I’ve been busy since I got back.”
“Everything okay?” I asked.
It looked like he was in his office, but there were boxes piled up on the desk.
“Well, yes. At least, I think so. I’m leaving the firm and packing up my office.”
“What?!” I yelled out.
Alex and Kiernan came running into the room.
I waved Alex forward. Kiernan slowly slipped back out.
“Alex is here.”
“Hi, sweetheart. What’s going on?” Alex asked, his face a mask of worry.
“The firm partners saw the picture of the three of us and wanted to put me on temporary leave, at least until the so-called scandal of our relationship passed. Since I bring in most of the money, I told them to shove their leave up their arses and buy me out. I’ll be working solo from now on.”
“I knew this was going to happen,” I sighed as my chest tightened.
“I’m okay. Truthfully, I was fed up with being the only one in the firm who pushed my weight. And I’m not going to hide our relationship. This isn’t an illicit affair.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because my PR rep, Meghan, called me earlier asking for a quote. The entertainment hounds want details. I’ll have to do some interviews about the movie anyway. They also want comments on the lawsuit. Aiden, can I put you in touch with her?”
“Of course.”
“I still wanted to discuss it with both of you first.”
Alex nodded, crossing his arms. “Keep it simple. We confirm that all three of us are in a loving, committed relationship. Now leave us the fuck alone.”
Aiden’s laugh echoed in the room. “Lexi, I miss you. Let me see your scowl.”
I turned the phone so Aiden could see Alex’s face.
“You shouldn’t have given up your job, sweetheart,” Alex replied.
“Look, they weren’t entirely in the wrong in terms of my ethics on this. I have no regrets. Because this isn’t temporary. You and Jared and me, this is it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I would do anything, anything , to make that happen.”
Alex bit his lip and nodded. He looked as choked up as I felt.
I slid my arm around Alex’s waist and leaned in.
“We love you too.”
“I’ll call you later.”
“Bye, love.”
I quickly group texted Meghan to connect her with Aiden, then set my phone to silent.
I could ruminate about Aiden and his job all day, but he knew what he was doing. I would have to have faith that everything, in time, would work itself out.
Alex did a whole tour of the house, showing me where the cleanup crew had repainted and some of the items that were broken and left for me to go through. None had any sentimental value, so they all got tossed in the garage to be sorted for recycling.
He also showed me the updated codes for the house and the panic room. Then we made our way to the backyard.
The pool and hot tub had been emptied, re-painted and re-tiled. New Astroturf had been installed around the pool, and even the patio furniture was replaced.
My stomach clenched when I thought about Haley’s boyfriend wandering through my house and destroying my things. I forced myself to put it in the back of my mind, but I knew that it would linger there for quite a while.
“I should probably go to sleep, but my body clock is all over the place. Swim with me?” I asked Alex, and he nodded. “But first, why don’t you take your things out of the guest bedroom and put them in ours?”
Alex gifted me with his smile. I slid my arms around his waist and leaned up to kiss him.
“Is that okay?” I whispered.
“It’s more than okay. I need to pinch myself to make sure this is real.”
I reached down and pinched his ass, then took off running.