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“Carly doesn’t like people stealing her food, does she?” Aiden muses, taking a one, opening it, and biting the end.
I grin.
“Oh no. She has quite a temper. Well… actually it takes a lot for her to lose it. I mean, a lot. If Carly loses her temper with you, it’s because you deserve it.” Mom starts clearing up the mess, missing the look on Aiden’s face. His eyes are on me and they’re… apologetic?
Yep, I think that’s exactly what they’re trying to convey.
My grin fades. My ears burn hot and I stare at my nails.
“Well, folks, I must hit the hay. I need to call Aunt Susan back and cousin Louise while I’m at it as well as Dad’s brothers. I’ll do that and then I’ll retire for the night. I won’t see you both until tomorrow morning. I’ll make pancakes.” She smiles and leans over and kisses my forehead. “Thank you for coming home so quickly.”
I get choked up, so Mom taps my cheek affectionately.
“The doctor said Dad’s good. Now maybe he’ll listen about all that salt and red meat and as for Caitlin, well… something this bad was bound to happen. At least she’s alive. And maybe it will wake her up, right?” Mom’s trying to be strong, but I can see past it. I know it’s killing her that my sister has let it come to this.
I nod. “Yep. Love you, Mom. Night…”
“Love you more. Night, sweetie. Aiden, I hope that bed isn’t terrible. Thank you again for getting our Carly home so quickly. Pleasant dreams.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Adler. Thanks for your hospitality.”
“Charlene. And my pleasure.” She grabs her cell phone and heads out of the kitchen and down the hall.
“Oh. I have nothing with me. Ugh.” I blow out a big breath. I don’t even have any luggage. I might have some old t-shirts and shorts in my old dresser that I never took. Maybe. I don’t want to borrow one of Mom’s nightgowns. I have my bag with some make-up and a hairbrush as well as my birth control pills and my multivitamins, and that’s it. I’ll have to sleep in my contacts. I did last night and now they’re kind of irritating me. At least Mom always has spare toothbrushes here.
“Joshua’s coming by noon tomorrow. He’ll bring your things.” He’s doing something on his phone.
“Pardon?”
“I’ll ask Jada to pack you up and pack me an overnight bag. Joshua’s gonna bring it down when he picks me up in the morning.”
“When he… oh?”
Aiden shrugs. “Yeah, he’ll leave at five, should be here by noonish and then I’ll work all the way back in the limo. It’ll be productive. And then, you’ve got your stuff here.”
“That’s… that’s awesome.” It is awesome. He could just fly home faster, but he’s doing this to get my stuff to me quickly. I’m touched.
He smiles and takes a sip of his McDonald’s Coke.
“Want another beer?” I ask.
“You’re probably tired,” he says.
“Are you?” I ask.
He shrugs.
“Um, actually, I’m not.” I say. “I’d like to wind down and watch TV or something before I go to bed. Do you want to watch TV with me?”
“Got Netflix?”
I nod. “My Dad does downstairs.”
“That 70’s Show?” he suggests.
I give him a big smile. I grab two beers and we head downstairs.
Aiden drops his leather jacket on the floor beside the bed. We climb onto it and lean back on top of the covers.
