Chapter 25
AIDEN
Aiden’s hand tightened around his drink as he tried to follow what Mathew was saying. Something about the house he was building with River. Parker was humoring him, answering questions about construction that only he would know, but Aiden barely heard either of them.
As much as Aiden didn’t want to look in Lily’s direction, he couldn’t help himself. She smiled when someone spoke to her and laughed at something one of her sisters said, but every expression looked forced.
When her gaze found his, she didn’t smile.
He didn’t blame her.
Reese, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care if Aiden knew he was disappointed.
That was the only way to describe the searing gaze he’d been getting from his friend. Much like Parker, Reese was the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. He had a steady job. He was upfront about everything in his life.
He didn’t keep secrets from the people he cared about.
Well, it was safe to say that was where Aiden had messed up. He’d gone and put himself in this position, and he wasn’t sure where things would go next. Part of him wanted to leave. Right now, he was only adding to the tension at the party.
Aiden could already tell that if this get-together wasn’t happening, Lily would be demanding they talk. She’d put him in his place and tell him exactly what she thought.
That was what he was avoiding. She’d said their talk wasn’t over. She’d made that more than clear. And when they were alone, she’d follow through. Because that was who Lily was.
He cut one more look in Lily’s direction, wondering if it would put him in more trouble if he slipped away without saying goodbye. She deserved to enjoy her birthday, and he’d messed it up. She’d been right after all—he’d made things messy, and he only had himself to blame.
Aiden blew out a heavy breath, then inched away from the group. Parker gave him a questioning look but didn’t ask where he was going. Mathew only looked mildly curious. Maybe this was a good time to get some space to think and figure out what to say when Lily was ready to finish their conversation.
He tossed his plastic cup into a nearby garbage can and headed toward the side of the house. If he was quick, no one would realize he’d stepped away. Aiden picked up his pace, and just as he rounded the side of the house, he nearly collided with the one person he didn’t want to see.
Reese stood before him, arms crossed and brows furrowed. He didn’t look angry, not really. But then what did Aiden know?
They hadn’t been close for a long time. The few opportunities they’d had to spend time together hadn’t made him feel as though they were back to being friends.
Aiden glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one had followed, then heaved a sigh. “What do you want, Reese?”
“What do I want? That’s rich.”
“I don’t have time for this. I’m trying to get some air—”
“How long?”
Aiden had taken only one step before Reese asked the question. “What?”
Reese sighed, his hands dropping to his sides. “How long has it been going on? You and Lily?”
Didn’t he already know? With how close he and Lily were, she would have surely told him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to answer.
His friend sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. “Come on, Aiden. I’m trying to figure this out.”
“What’s there to figure out? We don’t talk about relationships. I don’t owe you every detail of my life.”
This time, Reese scowled at him. “We didn’t used to talk about relationships. But I thought things were changing—you know—after we started getting back into the swing of things.”
Why did his words fill Aiden with that annoying sense of guilt? He was right. The whole point of reconciling was to get back to a place where they could find the friendship they used to have again.
Reese blew out a hard breath and started pacing. “I’m angry with you, that’s for sure.”
“Join the club,” Aiden muttered.
He huffed out a dark laugh. “But not for the reasons you probably think.”
That surprised Aiden. He wanted to know what Reese’s reasons were.
Was he just going to dangle that statement and not give Aiden anything else to go on?
Did he expect Aiden to ask? Because that wasn’t going to happen.
Aiden shoved his hands into his pockets and startled as his right hand curled around the ring box.
A reminder of everything that had gone wrong today.
“Honestly, I’m hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to talk to me. But more than that, I’m angry because you hurt Lily.”
“Well aware,” Aiden bit out.
Reese’s expression hardened. “She doesn’t put up with disrespect. Or has she told you that she doesn’t give second chances?”
Aiden could only manage a curt nod. Yes, he knew about her rules. And yes, he knew he’d already been given more grace than he deserved. But her patience was running out. Did Reese know about her willingness to forgive him? Or had she kept that part private?
“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?” Reese demanded after the silence between them stretched for too long.
“What do you mean?” Aiden muttered. “I messed up. I know that. I broke her trust, and I don’t know if there’s any coming back from that. So I’m…” He blew out a rough breath. “I might have lost everything.”
His friend laughed, but it was void of humor. Reese shook his head as he stopped pacing and pinned Aiden with a hard stare. “I know her better than almost anyone, besides her family. And there’s no denying how much she cares about you. So I’ll ask you again. What are you going to do about it?”
Aiden’s hand tightened around the ring in his pocket. Conflicting thoughts warred in his mind as he considered his options. Then he threw caution to the wind and put his faith in one of the friendships he probably didn’t deserve anymore.
He withdrew his hand and opened it to reveal the ring box. “I bought this a couple of weeks ago.”
Reese’s brows shot up as his gaze landed on the box. “Aiden…”
“I love her,” Aiden rasped. “I love her more than life itself. There is no one else I want. No one else I can see myself with. Before I met Lily, I wasn’t even sure I would ever get married, and then…
” He lifted the ring box again and shrugged.
“Then I met her, and everything fell into place. I could see a future with us. A house. The whole white picket fence. Kids.”
His friend blew out a long, slow breath through pursed lips. “Dang, man.”
Aiden nodded. “I know.” He curled his fingers around the ring box and shoved it into his pocket.
“But I messed everything up because I was too scared to risk losing her. I let my secrets fester like an infected wound. I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled when she found out the truth, and yet I continued to talk myself out of telling her. I hurt her.”
Reese studied him for a moment. “Yes, you did.”
The simple agreement hit harder than Aiden expected.
“I thought I was protecting what we had,” Aiden added. “But really, I was protecting myself.”
Reese nodded slowly. “That sounds more honest.”
Aiden glanced toward the ground. “Maybe I’m not a good man.”
“Don’t go there.”
Aiden looked up. “Go where?”
“To the place where you turn what you did into a reason to give up on yourself.” Reese’s voice remained firm. “You made a bad choice. More than once. That doesn’t mean Lily needs you standing here deciding you’re too awful to make things right.”
Aiden’s scowl deepened. “I’m not to do that.”
“Good. Then don’t.” Reese pinched the bridge of his nose. “You hurt her. Own it. Apologize. Listen to what she needs. But don’t make her comfort you because you feel guilty.”
Aiden flinched.
Reese’s expression softened slightly. “Look, clearly you love her. No one could deny that. I’m not saying what you did was right. It wasn’t. But sitting here telling yourself you don’t deserve her isn’t going to fix anything.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Fight for her. Show her that you can be honest. And when she’s ready to finish this conversation, don’t run from it.”
“But she’s so far out of my league—”
“Have you considered that your opinion of yourself isn’t shared by the general public? No one thinks you’re a bad guy. No one thinks you deserve to be miserable.”
“Mathew…”
“Mathew was being protective of his family, and he was angry. That doesn’t mean he thinks you should be miserable forever.” Reese glanced toward the yard. “It seemed like he was okay with you today…” His voice trailed off, and he narrowed his eyes. “Or does he not know?”
“Oh, he knows. And he gave me the cold shoulder for nearly a month,” Aiden admitted.
Reese chuckled. “Man, remind me never to get on his bad side.” He bumped his closed fist against his leg a few times and glanced away.
Aiden glanced at Reese, but he wasn’t meeting his gaze. Thankfully, Reese didn’t make him wait long.
“I grew up with you. I know what it was like living in your younger brother’s shadow.
I think…” He blew out a breath and met Aiden’s eyes once more.
“I think that might have shaped the way you see yourself. Unfair comparisons have been made about you your whole life, and they sank in. Maybe you need to cut yourself some slack. Stop assuming everyone sees you the way you see yourself.”
Aiden released a dry chuckle. “Easier said than done.”
“Well, I’ll help remind you if you need it,” Reese offered.
“In high school, you were always the fun guy. The person who made others feel welcome. You flitted from group to group. You were everyone’s friend.
That’s a talent not many people have. Believe me.
I wish I could walk into a room and make friends that easily. ”
Aiden nearly reminded him that being the social butterfly meant people didn’t take him seriously, but he refrained.
Reese clapped him on the shoulder. “Lean into that talent. Show people who you are. And the rest will follow.” His smile was warm, though some of the hurt remained in his eyes.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” Aiden asked.
Reese’s hand dropped from his shoulder. “Not completely.”
Aiden’s stomach tightened.
“I want to,” Reese continued. “But I’m not going to pretend none of this mattered. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth, and Lily got hurt because of it.”
“You’re right.”
Reese nodded. “For what it’s worth, I do think you can be good for her. She always needed someone to make her feel important. And you have a way of making the person you’re talking to feel like they’re the only one in the world.”
Those words hit Aiden in the chest. Hard. Reese had just put something about his life into a perspective Aiden hadn’t considered.
Was that why Lily liked him so much? Because the way he treated her came so easily? He didn’t have to try when he was with her.
“That’s because she’s everything to me,” he whispered.
Reese’s smile widened a little. “Then keep showing her that. And maybe, once I’ve had some time to cool down, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Aiden glanced back toward the side of the house and winced. “I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
“Why not?” Reese demanded.
He shrugged. “I think I need to give her a little space. I don’t want to ruin what’s left of her party.” Aiden thumbed toward his truck. “I’m going to get going. If she asks, you can tell her I went home and we can talk later.”
“You sure?” Reese pressed. “I can cause a distraction—”
“I’m sure,” Aiden said decisively. He fidgeted a little under Reese’s scrutiny. “It’s fine. I’m sure she’ll find me when she’s ready.”
Reese offered a wry smile. “I’m sure you’re right.”