“Ididn’t,” she says with a cheeky smile. She sips the whiskey and looks down in surprise at the glass. “This is damn good. I mean, for Prince whiskey.”
“Thanks, Em,” I say dryly.
She winks at me before she bends down to kiss Aiden on the cheek. His hand grips her waist briefly, his fingers flexing, then trailing along the fabric as she pulls away. She’s laughing at something he’s whispered in her ear.
She shuts the door with a small wave. Aiden is staring at it like she’ll walk back in if only he glares hard enough. I lean over and snap his mouth shut with a finger on his jaw.
The grin he cuts me is sheepish.
“Your tongue was hanging out of your head.”
His face reddens, and he takes a quick sip of water. Damn, I love needling my brother.
“I haven’t seen her all day.”
“You mean in the four hours since you left the house?”
“I like my wife,” he says defensively.
I grin, remembering a time when Aiden claimed toloathehis wife.
“Don’t say anything.” He circles a finger at me. “You’ve bragged about predicting our relationship enough times.”
I raise my hands palm-first, warmth spilling through my chest. “I would never.”
“Yes you fucking would.” His eyes crinkle at the corners.
“After a month on that boat, you’ll be sick of each other.”
“Nah.” His smile is private.
I snort. “I got you a value-sized box of condoms for the trip.”
That private smile grows. “We won’t need those.”
Shock pulls my spine straight. “You’re trying to have a kid? Already?” Aiden used to say he didn’t want marriage, or love, or a family.
He spreads his hands. “Wouldn’t you, Tris? If you had her, and all this? Wouldn’t you?” There’s a quiet intensity to his voice, a thread of conviction.
I swallow, my heart pounding. “What’s it like?” I ask quickly, before I can lose the nerve.
Aiden stills, his hazel gaze thoughtful. “It iseverything.She is the center of my world. The gravity that keeps me spinning. You sure you don’t want that?”
The thing is, in the darkest recesses of my heart, I think I would want it, if I could trust myself not to fuck it up. If I could know that it wouldn’t hurt me. It feels impossible.
“I might,” I say thickly.
Aiden’s brows go up, like he’s surprised I’m willing to have this conversation. “Have you found anyone you might want that with?”
I shrug, my throat too tight to respond.
His gaze softens. “At a loss for words? That’s not like you.”
I clear my throat. “I don’t really like any of the spouse candidates.” I turn the whiskey glass in my hands. “I haven’t liked anyone in a long time.”
“About three years, right?”
My head jerks up. My brother’s eyes are too knowing as he folds his arms over his stomach and leans back in his chair.
