Chapter 14
LILY
“Here’s the updated list.” Penny handed Lily a sheet of paper. “The baby shower is going to be for all my friends and family and his. We’re not going to make this just about the girls.”
Lily accepted the list and looked it over. “I’ll get the invitations sent out by tomorrow. You wanted them digital, right?”
Penny nodded, a look of relief flooding her face. “And if you guys are dating anyone, you’re welcome to bring them.”
A knowing smirk filled her face, but she was looking solely at Lily.
Did she know something?
Shoot.
Aiden didn’t want anyone close to Mathew to be aware. It would definitely get back to him.
Her heart tripped, then flopped, when Jasmine dug her elbow into Lily’s side. She startled and looked to her twin, who gave her a pointed look.
That was when she realized Penny had asked her a question.
When she didn’t answer, Jasmine spoke for her.
“Yeah, Lily is seeing someone, but he’s really private. He’s not going to want to come to a big family event.” Then she leaned closer to Penny. “Honestly, any guy who would want to insert himself into this fiasco is probably a walking red flag. No offense.”
Penny stared at Jasmine for a moment, then snickered. “You’re probably right. How would you explain what happened with Royce and me?”
Lily shrugged. “That it’s a real-life Romeo and Juliet story, but with an alternate ending.”
This time, both Penny and Jasmine gave her strange looks.
“What?” Lily demanded. “It kind of is. The whole Montagues and Capulets thing? That’s the Meyers and the Taylors, right? A feud as old as time where two families are always at each other’s throats?”
Jasmine gave small nod, but Penny looked thoughtful before murmuring, “Yeah, I see what you’re trying to say. Thankfully, no poison was needed to make a point.”
Then she held out another list toward Jasmine. “This is the shopping list you requested. The party will be next week. And Mateo Palmer has already offered his place as neutral territory. Make sure to invite everyone we know. The Bakers. The Keagans. And the Callahans.”
“Technically, they’re not Callahans anymore,” Lily mused as she went down the list of invitees to make sure everyone was accounted for.
“You know what I mean. I want this to be one big event.”
“Doesn’t sound like a baby shower to me,” Jasmine said with a laugh. “Sounds like you’re trying to make people feel better for missing your wedding.”
Penny shrugged, but the small smile on her face said it all.
Her eloping meant she didn’t get the dream wedding. Lily didn’t think she regretted the way things worked out, but there was probably some small part of her cousin that still wanted that piece of her story.
Lily gave her twin a little shove. “Penny can have whatever kind of baby shower-reception thing she wants. You don’t get to judge.”
Jasmine’s expression faltered.
They exchanged a knowing look.
Neither one of them had to voice the fact that Jasmine wasn’t interested in getting married. She just wanted kids. But there was no way their father would put up with her attempting to raise children alone.
To Jasmine, that was the problem with having a father who was still incredibly old-fashioned.
“We’ll let you know if we have any questions.” Jasmine held up her list. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”
They left Penny’s place and headed for town. Lily drove while Jasmine went through the list.
“Cookies. A gender reveal cake. Balloons. Party favors. Games. Sheesh, Penny thought of everything.”
“Did you expect anything less?” Lily asked, peeking at her. “Penny has always been detail oriented. You remember how surprised we were to find out she eloped. That was definitely not on my bingo card for the year.”
“Neither was you dating someone you refuse to let me hang out with.” Jasmine angled toward her. “How is Christopher these days, hmm?”
Lily tensed.
“Uh-oh.” Jasmine’s teasing disappeared. “What happened? Did you guys break up already?”
“Nothing like that,” Lily assured her.
She pulled into a parking spot outside the town bakery and shut off the engine. People walked back and forth along the sidewalk, and she busied herself with watching them as she came to terms with what she was about to do.
Telling Jasmine wasn’t like spilling the beans to Mathew. Her twin would never break her confidence.
“Okay, spit it out. What’s going on?”
The edge of concern in Jasmine’s voice warmed Lily’s heart.
She turned to face her sister and took a deep, steadying breath. “It wasn’t what it seemed.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Lily sighed, then rubbed at her temples. “Christopher’s first name isn’t Christopher.”
“What?” Jasmine stared at her. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would he tell you a fake name? Lils, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
“It’s his middle name. His alias while he competes.”
Jasmine slumped back in her seat. “Oh. Okay. Weird, but that’s fine, right? I mean I guess I could see why he went with Christopher since he does go by that when he competes.”
This was going to be the hard part.
Lily spilled everything. From Mathew’s involvement to Parker’s effect on his brother. How Aiden struggled with feeling like he wasn’t good enough and how it broke her heart.
She didn’t leave out the part where he had known what she believed and failed to correct her.
When she was done, she expected Jasmine to be empathetic like she was.
Instead, her twin’s expression burned with fury.
“That cretin.”
“What?” Lily barked with a surprised laugh.
“He lied to you, Lils. He kept things from you.”
“Yeah, but didn’t you hear why?”
“I heard everything you said.” Jasmine folded her arms. “And what? You just forgave him? That’s not like you. Lils, you deserve better than that.”
Lily’s defenses rose. “You don’t know him like I do. He’s one of the best men I know. He listens. He prioritizes me.”
“Except when honesty would cost him something.”
The words landed harder than Lily expected.
Jasmine’s expression softened, but her voice didn’t. “Sweetie, I’m not saying he’s a bad person. I’m saying you can’t let his sad story become the reason lying to you doesn’t matter.”
Lily looked away.
That was not what she was doing.
At least, she didn’t think it was.
“He didn’t walk all over me,” Lily said. “I made it clear that what he did hurt. And I didn’t pretend everything was fixed just because he apologized.”
Jasmine studied her. “Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still hiding the relationship?”
Lily’s mouth opened, but no answer came immediately.
Jasmine’s brows lifted.
“Because he wants to be the one to tell Mathew,” Lily said at last. “And I understand that.”
“For how long?”
“A few days.”
“And if it becomes longer?”
Lily frowned. “Then I’ll say something.”
“Good.” Jasmine’s tone eased slightly. “Because grace is one thing. Letting him keep you in the shadows because he’s afraid of consequences is another.”
Lily’s grip tightened around the steering wheel. She didn’t like hearing it phrased that way. But she also couldn’t deny what her sister was saying.
“I know,” she murmured. “But… I… geez, I don’t know, Jazz. You weren’t there when he told me. You didn’t see how devastated he was when he realized what he’d done.”
“You mean when he got caught?” Jasmine asked.
Lily flinched.
Jasmine sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. “I’m sorry. That was harsh.”
“A little.”
“But I’m worried about you.” She reached across the console and squeezed Lily’s arm. “You’ve spent years saying you don’t give second chances. Now suddenly you’re giving one to a man who lied about his name, his work, and why he wanted to keep you hidden.”
“It’s not about whether he deserves another chance,” Lily said quietly. “It’s that I care about him enough to offer grace. But I’m not pretending none of it matters.”
Jasmine went silent, her skeptical gaze still fixed on Lily.
“Things might be strange right now because we’re both trying to maneuver this odd situation,” Lily continued. “But we’re doing it together. And honestly? I think it’s going to be worth the effort.”
She stared down at her hands.
“I love him, Jazz.”
When her sister didn’t say anything, Lily looked up.
Jasmine looked shocked. More than shocked, she looked as though she’d been turned to stone by Medusa herself.
When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. “You’ve never said you loved anyone before.”
“I know.”
“And you really love him?”
A smile spread across Lily’s lips. “Yeah, I do.”
Jasmine sighed and slumped in her seat. Then she shook her head. “Okay. That changes how serious this is. It doesn’t erase what he did.”
“I know.”
“But it does mean I need to meet him before I decide whether or not I hate him.”
Lily laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Heck, invite his brother, too. The four of us can be in some kind of secret club until Aiden figures out how to tell Mathew without being disowned by his best friend.”
The words were teasing, but Lily felt the weight beneath them. The secrecy wasn’t funny.
Not really.
Still, it would be a relief to have someone else know. Someone she trusted.
“So, you’ve been pulled into their vortex of secrecy, too, huh?” Parker nudged Jasmine.
Lily exchanged a look with Aiden, who rolled his eyes.
Then he muttered, “Parker, enough.”
His younger brother chuckled. “What? I can’t poke fun at the situation? If we can’t laugh at ourselves, then I’m pretty sure we’re doomed.”
Jasmine plucked a grape from her plate and nodded. “I think I like your brother, Christopher—I mean Aiden.”
Parker tossed his head back and laughed.
Aiden didn’t look amused. All Lily could do was squeeze his hand. What had they expected? That they could get their siblings together and not have the whole meeting turn into one big teasing fest?
She offered him a small smile. “Just let them get it out of their system. It doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
To her relief, Aiden smiled. They had chosen to make dinner at Aiden’s place. It was private, and they could talk freely. The best part of all was that Lily could share her relationship with others. She was too much of a social butterfly, and she’d missed this sort of thing.
But even with Jasmine and Parker there, a small part of her remained aware that this wasn’t the same as being open. It was one more safe room. One more place where the truth could exist without reaching the people Aiden feared telling most.
Jasmine nodded toward Parker from across the table. “So, your brother is a nurse. Lily mentioned you work construction?”
Parker nodded. “That’s right. I’m going to be overseeing and building the new church.”
Jasmine’s eyes rounded, and she leaned forward, her palms on the table.
Lily bit back a smile.
Jasmine loved attending church when she could. They’d heard about the new church being built in Copper Creek, and she’d been thrilled. But then they realized it was going to be at least a year before it was completed, and that had taken the wind out of her sails.
“That’s amazing. So, I guess you have all the inside scoop on it?”
Parker laughed. “There’s not much to say. Most of what I know is already out there for the town to gossip about.”
Jasmine pouted, and Lily chuckled.
But it was Aiden who satisfied her curiosity.
“Town gossip is like bread and butter to these two.”
Lily’s mouth dropped open. “I like other things, too. Like volunteering.”
“Oh yeah?” Parker asked. “Where?”
“The veterinary clinic. I help out with the animals. So does Jazz.”
Parker’s eyes drifted to Jasmine. “Cat or dog person?”
Jasmine tilted her head thoughtfully. “Probably dog. I like the idea of an animal being capable of protecting my kids.”
Parker’s brows shot up. “You have kids?”
Lily laughed again, drawing a confused look from Parker. “No, she doesn’t have kids. But she wants them. She just doesn’t want to have to deal with the drama of finding a man first.”
This time, Jasmine gaped. “Hey! You make it sound so much worse than it is.”
Before she could explain herself to Parker, he spoke.
“No, I get it. Relationships can get messy. And for people who know they want to start a family, it’s hard to put your faith and trust in someone enough to build one with them when they’ve been burned before.”
Jasmine pointed at him. “Exactly.”
The speed of her agreement made Parker smile.
“Have you considered scratching that itch by volunteering?” he asked.
“Like…?” Jasmine prompted.
Lily’s focus bounced from Parker to Jasmine and back. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she leaned toward Aiden. “I could totally see them becoming something more,” she whispered.
Aiden glanced across the table, then back at her. “Don’t let them hear you say that.”
“Like Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Parker continued. “I have a little brother through the program. It helps satisfy that craving to be there for someone, even when I can’t have any of my own.”
“Why not?” Jasmine asked.
“Jasmine,” Lily admonished. “That’s personal.”
Parker waved a hand. “It’s fine.” Then he turned to Jasmine again. “I’d wager my reasons are similar to your own.”
He left it at that, not offering any deeper explanation. Perhaps he’d been hurt before. Or maybe he was tired of trying to find someone with similar values.
Either way, he and Jasmine were clearly speaking the same language. Not many people could connect with Jasmine on those views, and Lily could see how much it meant to her twin to be understood on a deeper level without being mocked or corrected.
Jasmine picked at the edge of her napkin. “Maybe I’ll look into it.”
Parker nodded. “You should.”
Lily tucked herself into Aiden’s side as she allowed the conversation to flow. It was moments like this when she could see her future with Aiden so clearly. Her twin getting along with his brother made the picture feel warmer. More possible.
But not effortless. They still had people to tell. Trust to rebuild. Hard conversations waiting for them outside this house. Lily rested her head against Aiden’s shoulder. For tonight, though, it was enough to know they weren’t carrying everything alone.
Even if her overbearing cousin still had no idea about her and Aiden.