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Chapter Ten
LACEY
Normally, by this time of night, I'd usually be halfway to dreamland, curled up on Aidan's too-comfortable couch with a 90s Disney movie playing in the background—Grace's and my guilty pleasure. But not tonight.
Tonight, I'm under a blanket of stars, my sketchpad spread out on Aidan's back balcony's wrought-iron table.
The gentle night air, scented with jasmine and a hint of Seattle smog, feels serene in a city-living kind of way. Earlier, a call from Mami threw off my day—Papi's recovery from hip surgery is slower than expected.
Needing a lift, I headed over to grab a double-chocolate muffin from my favorite spot, only to stumble upon Aidan and Vanessa.
Engrossed in my sketch, the serenity of the early summer night enveloping me, I barely notice Aidan’s approach.
I look up, expecting the usual business-suited Aidan but instead, see him relaxed in a tee and sweats, looking unexpectedly human.
The moonlight softly highlights his dark hair and face, revealing a vulnerability I haven't seen before, making my stomach flip in a way that has nothing to do with the muffin.
"Mind if I join you?"
His voice is softer, less CEO-like, more real. I nod, making room for him.
"Of course." His presence changes the atmosphere, adding a subtle, charged energy.
"Don't worry, I won't distract you from your masterpiece," he jokes. I laugh.
"It's just doodles, really."
"They look impressive from here," he comments, nodding towards my sketchpad.
"Thanks. It's just the sky tonight, no unexpected muses."
"I used to draw comics when I was younger," he shares, smiling at the memory. I smile back, touched by this glimpse into his life.
"Is that where Grace gets her artistic talent?" "Oh, Grace's skills are all her mother's. My peak was stick figures and lopsided trees.” He laughs, a sound that's deep and warm.
"I think there's charm in lopsided trees. Makes them feel lived in," I say.
"Maybe I'll start a 'Lived-In Trees' collection," he grins, then grows serious. "You know, my dad never really got the whole art thing. Or much of what I chose, really. He was never involved in any of it. Baseball games, my dreams... my ex-wife Rebecca. ”
The mention of his father and then Aidan's ex-wife shifts the mood. The atmosphere feels heavier as he shares a sliver of his history with me, years of baseball playing as a kid with his best friends Marcus and Ryan. A side of Aidan that's less unsmiling team owner and more just plain him.
Swallowing, I venture. "You mentioned your best friends-slash-fellow-owners are coming to New York. Sounds like you have your hands full. Do Grace and I really need to come?"
His surprise fades to understanding. "Lacey, I want you both there. Marcus, Ryan, they're like family. And they're excited to meet you."
"And Rebecca? Is she okay with Grace coming to New York?"
There's a pause — one that stretches too long — before Aidan's expression goes slack, tinged with sadness. "Rebecca...passed away a few years back. Lupus."
I'm speechless. "I had no idea. Alton never mentioned… I'm sorry."
"It's okay. She was amazing. We don't talk about it much." He shakes his head. "But you and Grace coming with me? It means a lot. New beginnings, right?"
Caught between the warmth of his invitation and the chill of his past, I nod. The night becomes more than a backdrop—it's a canvas of shared stories.
His voice was soft, honest for the first time—heart-wrenchingly endearing. Right now, Aidan Sullivan is the star of our backyard balcony scene, the misunderstood mogul finding a heart. But my mind flashes back to this afternoon—to the laughter and the too-close touches between Aidan and Vanessa Wellington.
Clearing my throat, I dive into potentially choppy waters. "You and Vanessa seemed... close today," I say, rushing before my courage fades. "Not that it's any of my business. I mean, who you're close with."
