“You said it yourself—acting like that goes against everything you believe in. It goes against what I believe in, too.”
“I’m hearing you, Lola, but you deserve to feel safe. You have the right to walk around and not get people commenting to you…or…or…” He puffed out a breath. “Coming at you.”
“Please, Aiden.”
“Okay.” He sighed. “I’ll talk to him. No fists. I promise.”
I buried my face against the soft cotton of his flannel shirt. We were still huddled in the dusty alley, hidden from the world, but the stolen, quiet moments when his thumb caressed the back of my neck were perfect.
“Aiden, what happened to Ruth? She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“More than that. She’s like a sister to me.” He chuckled. “An annoying one who always knows best.”
“You’ve been friends a long time?”
“Yeah, forever. Since I was seven and she was five. She wanted to ride her bike with me and my friends, but I told her to buzz off and go play with her Barbie dolls. She hated that. She stormed over, punched me in the gut, and then turned around and pushed my brand-new bike into the creek.” A soft laugh rumbled against my back. “We’ve been best friends ever since.”
“She sounds tough.” Tougher than me. Ruth didn’t sound like she’d be the type to cower in an alley if someone stood over her.
“She’s as tough as they come.”
“And…what Evan said?”
“Don’t listen to Evan. The only thing coming out of his mouth is filth. But Ruth…” Aiden’s sigh was heavy. “She was in an accident about ten years ago.” His arms squeezed me tighter. “I nearly lost her.”
My heart twisted until it broke. “Oh—I’m sorry—”
“None of that. You didn’t know. Ruth’s okay. And even if she weren’t, she’d never admit it, stubborn thing that she is.”
I grinned against his chest. “Sounds like someone else I know.”
“I’m trying, Lola. I want to let you in. I’m getting closer…” Another gentle squeeze tried to convince me. “What about you? Ready to brave the world again?”
“I think so.”
Scooting back, Aiden held out his hand, and when I placed my palm in his, he carefully helped me to my feet like I was lighter than air. He fussed, dusting the dirt from my clothes with the gentlest, most careful touches, and then, without any warning, his hands braced my shoulders. I nibbled down on my lower lip, not ready for the faint trace of his fingers brushing my hair behind my ears. My glasses slid off my nose and up onto my head.
“Just a couple of smudges.” Aiden’s thumb brushed under one eye and then the other. “All better.”
My feet stayed glued to the spot. The haze of the alley made his eyes impossible to read, but he dared to stroke my cheek for a second before his palm drifted away. I should have hated that touch, but without thinking, I clapped my hand back over my flushed skin to trap the sweet, soft feeling for a second longer.
Aiden dipped his chin with a smile. “Want to try again to get that coffee?”
“Y-yes.” I could do better. I was stronger. I popped my glasses down and straightened them on my nose. “Yes! But can I treat you to say thanks?”
“You have nothing to thank me for.”
“Oh, but I will.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “I need to ask a favour.”
Aiden tilted his head, eyebrows raised. I’d intrigued him.
“If Harry’s around,” I said,“apparently,if I’m a good friend, I’m supposed to kick him in the nuts. Is it a fair trade if you dothe honours? You’re the one with the fancy fighting skills, after all.”
Aiden’s chest rumbled with a deep laugh. “Is Brooke losing her mind about what happened last Friday?”
“You don’t know the half of it. What the heck is going on between those two?”
“No idea. The kid is playing his cards close to his chest on this one…”
