Chapter 13
AIDEN
“I’m so sorry, man.”
Aiden sat facing forward, ignoring the look his brother was likely drilling into the side of his head. “It’s fine.”
“I mean, I know I can’t exactly be blamed because I never met the girl, but still. I’m sorry it came out like that.”
Parker pulled into the lot where they were set to break ground. A temporary storage shed had been constructed for supplies and tools that needed to be secured.
Aiden climbed out of the truck without responding to his brother. The mess he’d made of his life was his fault and his alone. Parker had nothing to do with it. That was why Aiden had refrained from fighting.
What was there to fight about, anyway?
Parker had introduced himself. He’d spoken proudly about his brother. Aiden was the one who had turned both of those things into a problem by hiding the truth.
He sighed as he headed around to the back of the truck.
“So, you gonna come clean with your friends now?” Parker asked. “Especially since Lily knows?”
Aiden shook his head. “Not yet.”
Parker stilled, his hands hanging in the air before reaching for the first box of materials. “What? Why?”
Sighing, Aiden finally turned to his brother. “You heard Mathew. I’m not good enough for anyone in his family.”
“That’s not true—”
“It is. He doesn’t think I’m a good enough match because I don’t treat women right.” Aiden’s jaw tightened. “And maybe he has a point.”
The edge in his voice said it all.
He was bitter that he couldn’t simply have the girl he wanted. Bitter that his friend didn’t think he was good enough. Bitter that Reese had gotten to know Lily first and had every reason to feel betrayed when he learned the truth.
Aiden dragged a hand down his face. “Maybe I tell Mathew I’m dating someone, but I don’t tell him who yet. He can see that I’m serious without knowing it’s Lily. Then when it comes out, maybe he’ll understand.”
“I don’t know, Aiden. That sounds like it’s going to turn into an even bigger mess.” Parker shifted the box in his arms. “And what about Reese?”
Aiden looked away. “He doesn’t have to know yet. He isn’t even aware that I know Lily. Since he works out of town so much, I could wait until I know where this relationship is going.”
Even as he said it, the plan sounded wrong. Not cautious, but cowardly.
The shock in Parker’s eyes might have been humorous if Aiden weren’t already emotionally drained. “You really think it will go that far? Sheesh, man. I didn’t realize you were this invested. She means that much to you?”
“Yeah,” Aiden whispered. “She does.”
“And what? Is Lily really okay with keeping this from her family? Her relationship with you, I mean?”
Aiden shrugged, but the gesture felt weak even to him.
“Aiden, you can’t expect her to be okay with that. Even if she says she is, this is going to wear on her. Secrets never stay secret for long.” Parker set the box down again. “Come on. Think about this logically.”
“I am thinking logically. I know if I tell Mathew about this, then he’s going to be mad. Maybe so mad he’ll tell his uncle I’m not worthy to date his daughter. And then it’ll get to Reese because we all know who he dated. And when Reese finds out, he’ll tell Lily—”
“Wait. Hold up.” Parker stared at him. “Lily doesn’t know Reese is your friend?”
Aiden’s silence answered for him.
“Geez, man. What are you thinking? I thought you got everything out.”
Aiden scowled at his brother. “It wasn’t the right time for that. Definitely not right after she’d found out everything else.”
Parker dragged a rough hand down his face. “You’ve crossed so many lines, you’re just one giant piece of plaid at this point.”
“Not funny,” Aiden muttered.
“No, it’s not.” There wasn’t an ounce of humor in Parker’s tone now. “You have to tell your friends who you’re dating and accept the fallout. And Lily deserves to hear the rest from you before someone else tells her.”
Aiden flinched.
Parker’s voice softened. “Clearly, she was willing to stand by your side this time. I’d say she cares enough to hear you out when you tell her the truth.”
“And what if she can’t?” Aiden demanded. “What if finding out Reese and I have a past of our own is the one thing that tears us apart? I can’t lose her, Parker.”
His brother sighed. “I get that you’re nervous. I would be, too. But this isn’t just about you. This is about the girl you love.”
Love?
Just hearing the word did something to Aiden that he wasn’t prepared for. Yes, he loved Lily. The realization settled into him with startling certainty.
He loved her brightness. Her honesty. The way she saw his flaws and still expected him to be better than them.
And he’d made so many bad decisions because he’d been trying to control how she saw him. If it came down to it, he’d risk his friendships with Mathew and Reese to keep her.
But those friendships weren’t the only thing at stake.
Lily cared deeply about Reese. Their friendship had lasted even after their relationship ended, and she had always treated that connection with honesty and respect. Aiden couldn’t say the same, and it wouldn’t go unnoticed.
That was what scared him.
Not that she might choose Reese over him. That she might look at what Aiden had done and decide she couldn’t trust him to stop hiding when things became difficult.
He blew out a breath and cut his brother a look. “How about we get this stuff unloaded and drop the subject, yeah? I’m tired, and I have a lot I need to consider before I make anything worse.”
Parker opened his mouth as if prepared to argue, but then he closed it and shook his head. The disappointment was easy to read on his face.
Aiden hated seeing it.
He’d never been as good as Parker. He’d never been idolized or looked up to. He’d floated through school with average grades, then gone into a field where he’d worked hard to prove he belonged. He’d prioritized fun and avoided dealing with consequences until he absolutely had to.
It made sense that his brother was disappointed in him.
Reality had finally kicked in.
Well, Aiden wasn’t going to let Lily experience that same disappointment again. He needed to tell Reese. He needed to tell Mathew. And he needed to tell Lily the part he’d still kept back.
The knowledge sat heavily in his chest. He just had to find the courage to do it before someone else made the choice for him again.
They unloaded everything into the shed in silence. They drove back to Aiden’s place without another word about Mathew, Reese, or Lily.
But when they entered the house, Aiden called out to his brother just as Parker headed for the spare room.
“Parker?”
His brother paused and turned to face him. “Yeah?”
“Lily likes you.”
Parker smirked.
“Not like that,” Aiden quipped. “But she said she’d like us to all hang out together if that was okay.”
“Of course.” Once again, Parker looked as though he wanted to say something, but then he must have thought better of it. “I’m heading out a little later, but tell her we can plan something in the future. Maybe she can bring one of her sisters.”
He said it teasingly, his brows wagging.
Aiden rolled his eyes, then headed for his own room.
Aiden: Come outside.
Lily: What? You’re here?
Aiden: Would I be anywhere else?
Lily: Someone might see you.
Aiden winced at the reminder.
Aiden: I’ll be careful. Just come outside.
Lily: On my way.
Aiden kept to the shadows, a bouquet in hand. It was dark, but the sky was clear, and he figured they’d be able to walk around the side of the barn if they needed to. He had a blanket tucked under his other arm, and when he heard the storm door swing shut, he emerged from where he was hiding.
Lily found him immediately and hurried toward him, slowing only when she caught sight of the flowers.
Her eyes lifted to meet his, and a smile tugged at her pretty lips. “Are those for me?”
He held them out to her. “I wanted to apologize.”
She lifted the bouquet to her nose, then peeked at him from beneath her long lashes. “Sorry about what?”
Aiden drew in a breath.
This wasn’t the time for another joke or technicality.
“I’m sorry I didn’t correct you when you called me Christopher. It is my middle name, but I knew what you believed, and I let you keep believing it because it was easier for me.”
Her smile faded slightly, though she didn’t look away.
“My full name is Aiden Christopher Stone,” he continued. “And as you know, I do compete in the rodeo. But I’m not a cowboy by trade, and I should have told you that.”
Lily’s expression softened. “Thank you.”
He nodded, grateful she hadn’t let him brush it aside.
“And since I know a little about medicine…” He pinched his fingers close together and gave her a tentative wink. “I’m going to be a great conversationalist since you’re interested in medicine.”
Lily laughed. “Animal medicine isn’t exactly the same as human medicine.”
He leaned forward, his voice lowering conspiratorially. “I don’t know. Some of my patients act a lot like animals. Growling and all.”
She snorted out a laugh louder than the others.
Relief loosened something in his chest, but he didn’t mistake her laughter for everything being fixed.
He took her free hand and started leading her away. “Come on. We’re going to look at the stars, and you’re going to ask me questions.” He paused for effect. “Then I’m going to answer every single one.”
Lily turned wide eyes on him. “Really?”
“Yeah, angel.” His smile faded into something more serious. “I want you to know me. The real me. The parts I’ve been too scared to share with you.”
She tugged him to a stop, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Aiden…”
His heart stumbled.
The way she said his name did strange things to him. He held his breath, waiting, yearning for her to tell him what she thought. Had he drawn attention to something he shouldn’t have? Would she always hear Christopher first and remember that he’d held back?
“This is all I ever wanted,” she whispered.
“What is?”
“You.”
Just like that, his heart nearly burst.
Aiden stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. He held her close, but not so tightly that she couldn’t move. No one looked at him the way she did. No one gave him the benefit of the doubt the way she was willing to.
Even after he’d hurt her, she was giving him another chance. The thought filled him with gratitude.
And guilt.
Because there was still more she didn’t know. He started to pull back, the truth pressing hard against the back of his teeth.
Then Lily lifted her face to his. Their faces were so close, he could feel her warm breath on his lips. The kiss happened softly at first, almost like a question. Aiden answered by drawing her closer.
It held all the longing he’d kept restrained since the first night he’d met her. He hadn’t known how much he’d been holding back until this moment.
Maybe it had been guilt. Maybe knowing, deep down, that she deserved more honesty than he’d given her. Perhaps he had simply been scared.
Whatever the reason, he let himself be present with her now while one stubborn truth remained lodged inside him. He still owed her more.
This was what he wanted.
Someone who could accept him without pretending his mistakes didn’t matter. Someone who could make him laugh and help him forget the troubles that plagued him for a little while. Someone who made him believe he could become better than the man he’d been.
Their kiss deepened, and his hand settled gently at the back of her head while the other rested at her hip. When her fingers slipped into his hair, everything else seemed to fall away.
Aiden felt like he was floating.
Like he’d been transported into another reality where nothing stood between them.
Lily was the first to pull back, breathless. Her cheeks and nose were tinged with pink, and her lips were swollen from their kiss. But her eyes were shining just as bright as ever.
Aiden brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. Without thinking of the consequences, he blurted, “I’m falling in love with you, Lily.”
He froze when her eyes flared with surprise. The confession had come out without thought. It was true, but he wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.
What was she going to—
“I love you, too, Aiden Christopher Stone.”
Her whispered words were music to his ears. But the gentle kiss that followed was absolute heaven.
Tenderness replaced the earlier urgency, but the joy in his chest tangled with a quiet conviction.
He loved her.
Which meant he couldn’t keep asking her to love only the parts of the truth he was brave enough to give her.