Chapter 42
FORTY-TWO
AARON
Aaron brushed his sister’s hair from her face. She’d cried herself to sleep while he sat with her on Aiden’s couch, trying to figure out how to help her. He hated how much pain she was in, not to mention how scared she was about what would happen next.
That made two of them.
Carefully, he stood and laid her down, pulling a throw blanket over her. Charlie sat at the table watching them. “Aiden’s on his way home.”
Aaron nodded as he crossed the room to drop into one of the other dining room chairs. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I hate this for her. You remember how bad it was when he left us, and at least I had my mom and Aid, and your family. She doesn’t have that.”
“But she does.” Charlie scooted her chair closer to lower her voice. “Aaron, she has you and Aid, your mom, my family, and the rest of our friends. She’s not alone, and we’ll all make sure she knows that.”
Looking at her, he let out a relieved breath. “Thank you. I’m just… scared. Can I do this? Can I raise an eight year old? Will Aid want to instead? Do you guys want kids?”
He realized that was an incredibly personal question, especially so early in her relationship with his brother, but she only smiled and said, “We do, but this isn’t going to be some custody battle, Aaron.
We all want what’s best for her, and it’s clear how comfortable she feels with you.
I don’t think Aid will want to take that from either of you. ”
“But he’d probably be better at it,” Aaron said. “You both would be.”
“You’re so good with her.” Charlie rolled her eyes. “And you have way more practice than we do. You’ve helped with Lars and Mel’s girls their whole lives, and they adore you.”
“Yet, it was with me that Chloe ended up in the ER. Because I messed up.”
Charlie shook her head. “But you’ll never make that mistake again, will you?
” Before he could respond, she went on. “It was a horrible moment, but she’s okay.
You both learned from it. And let’s be honest, it was only a matter of time before that wild child ended up in the hospital. I doubt it’s the last time.”
“Don’t say that.” But even he chuckled. It was true. The girl was a walking accident waiting to happen.
“I love that girl,” Charlie said, “but one day with her is an excellent birth control reminder.”
At that, Aaron laughed harder. He glanced over, making sure he didn’t wake Bri. “Maybe I should look for my own place. Somewhere for the two of us.”
“What about Lars? What if he goes to London?”
Aaron sighed and dropped his head back with a groan. “I don’t know.” Lowering his head once more, he told her, “I’d been prepared to say I’d go with them if he asked, but Bri’s been moved around so much already. I don’t want to completely uproot her, not when she just lost Dad.”
“You’d stay for her?” Charlie asked, her gaze soft.
“I… I don’t know. I love Lars, but she needs me.
” This entire situation was exhausting and frustrating.
He needed Mel to make a concrete decision so the rest of them could move on.
“Honestly, I just want us all to live together in that same house as one big happy family, but I know that’s not realistic. ”
Charlie smiled. “That sounds so chaotic.”
“Yeah, but chaos with my favorite people.” He shrugged.
She smacked his shoulder with a, “Hey!”
“You and Aid should move to Summersville so we can all be close together. Oh, we should all buy a bunch of land and build multiple houses,” he said.
“One for me, Lars, Mel, and the kids. One for you, Aiden, and all the spawn you two eventually have. One kind of off on its own with a lot of privacy for Vi and all her sexcapades.”
Charlie laughed and nodded. “One for Harper, Colby, and Elliot, and another separated one for Wyatt and Liv, so he can disappear when he gets sick of us all.”
Grinning, Aaron added, “And a few here and there for all of our parents.”
But that reminded him of why they were here today. It instantly turned the mood somber, and he glanced at his sister again.
The front door opened, startling him. As if summoned, Aiden walked in. He paused at the sight of Bri and frowned, tilting his head a fraction. Then, he looked at Aaron. “I, uh, found something out here that I think belongs to you.”
Brow creased, Aaron stood and crossed the room toward the door to see into the hallway. Aiden stepped aside, and Aaron’s heart melted.
Three smiling little girls stood there, waiting for him. He crossed the threshold and knelt, hugging all of them. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Daddy said you sad,” Chloe said, clinging to him, even as the other two pulled away.
“And we miss you,” Allie added. “We want you to come home.”
That made him melt more. Looking up, he realized they appeared alone. “Where’s your dad?”
Lars stepped out from behind the corner by the stairwell with an understanding smile.
Aaron tried to stand, but Chloe held on to him, so he lifted her as he straightened.
Maddie had already slipped around him, running to Charlie who’d joined Aiden at the door.
Charlie scooped her up then welcomed Allie inside.
As Lars walked over, Aaron’s eyes stayed glued to him. The second he was close enough, Aaron pulled him into a one-armed hug. “This is why you left?”
Lars nodded and released him just enough to see his face. “I was reminded that the girls would probably make you feel better, and I thought maybe Bri would like some company closer to her age.”
Aaron wanted to kiss the man so badly, but he refrained while so many little eyes were on them. Chloe was still wrapped around him, holding on to him like their lives depended on it. He glanced into the apartment and found Bri awake now, sitting with Allie.
“Chloe, you want to go say hi to Bri?”
She shook her head. “Daddy said you needed snuggles to feel better.”
He chuckled, kissing the side of her head. “Thank you, Little Monster. It’s working so well.” Looking up, he saw his brother watching them in amusement. “But you know, Uncle Aiden might need some love too.”
She leaned back to see him, then she held her arms out toward Aiden. He took her without hesitation. “We’ll give you two a minute.”
Aaron thanked him just as Aiden shut the door.
“I’m sorry for leaving without telling you,” Lars said. “I just wanted to go and get back qui—”
Spinning to face Lars, Aaron cut him off with a searing kiss.