“So,El,”Aiden said, as he mimicked Rhett’s rocking motion.“Anything else you thinkyoushould share?”
There was nothing to share about Rhett and her.Elodie grimaced.Just thinking of them together was awkward.She couldn’t talk about this with Aiden.She could barely talk about it with Astrid.She needed an out.
“The fair started today,” she blurted.
Aiden stopped rocking and tilted hishead.
Elodie seized the moment of his confused silence.“To celebrate the Key and their success against Cerberus.”She waved a hand toward the mass of people still meandering about the Holbrook estate.“Nearly everyone is here, so the lines should be short.”
Aiden’s brow twisted.“What does that have to do with the fact that you’re engaged and didn’t tell me?”
Elodie’s stomach tumbled.“Let’s go,” she said, wringing her hands.“Let’s just leave all of this and go.”
Aiden studied her a moment before shrugging.“You know I’m always down for an adventure.”
It had taken a lot for Rhett to forgive her for sneaking out of her house the night before, even though he had been called away to a clandestine work meeting.Guilt had led Elodie to make promise after promise.She promised him that he mattered.She promised she cared.She promised he was the sun and she the small planet orbiting.
Her promises were empty.Her promises werelies.
Now Aiden was behind her, his heavy boots crushing the grass, and for the first time, she couldn’t care less how Major Rhett Owensfelt.
XXXIII
Elodie was quickly trying, and failing, to come up with a way to flee the Holbrook estate and the discomfort of both Aiden’s and her own most recent discoveries when Astrid Fujimoto’s impossibly long, high ponytail lassoed her attention.
Elodie waved at her best friend just in time to stop Astrid from slipping into the Pearl’s open door and escaping withouther.
Aiden staggered at her side.“Whoa.She looks just likeThea.”
And you look a whole lot like Blair.Funny how the whole sibling thing works.Elodie kept her snarky thoughts to herself.He wasn’t the only one guilty of keeping a relationship a secret.
She chewed her bottomlip.
Who Aiden was related to wasn’t a big deal.But being engaged...And to a guy like Rhett, who charged around saying whatever he wanted whenever he wanted...
Elodie’s stomach squeezed.
But being engaged shouldn’t matter to Aiden.Not if they were just friends.
Astrid leaned against the side of the Pearl, twirling the end of her ponytail.“El, I was literally just messaging you.I can’t stay at this...”with her free hand, she motioned toward the guests still gathered on the grounds, “...Westfall show and tell.”She tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and gave Aiden a once over.“You look familiar.”
“Astrid, Aiden.Aiden, Astrid,” Elodie offered.
Astrid straightened.“Like,theAiden?I guess the mohawk should have given itaway.”
Aiden playfully hiked his shoulder.“Aw, you talk about me?”
Astrid crossed her ankles and resumed playing with her hair.“You’re a Scott too.”She fanned the ends of her ponytail and dusted them against her cheek.“I’ve seen your mom and sister at a zillion functions, but have only seen you at, like,one.”
“He doesn’t get out much,” Elodie said, shuffling into the vehicle.“If no one is getting in with me, I’m stealing this Pearl.”
Astrid slid into the seat next to her.“What got intoyou?”
Aiden crawled in and sat in the rear facing seat opposite Elodie.“I think it’s more like what came out,” he mumbled.
Elodie gripped the armrests.“Just need a change of scenery.Can you program this thing to take us to the waterfront?”
Astrid pulled out her holopad and began typing.“Sure, but the fair’s happening right now, so—”
