Ryan stumbled around the table and planted himself next to Ruth, eyes on her like a dopey puppy waiting for praise. She covered her surprise with a nervous laugh, and his jaw dropped.
Oh, brother. The man was smitten.
Brooke cocked her hip and arched her eyebrows at Aiden. “So, where’s the Ginger Ninja? Still too scared to show his face?”
Aiden smiled. “He’s grabbing a round of drinks.”
“Well, fancy that. I was just headed to the bar myself.” Brooke prepared for battle. She flipped her hair over her shoulders. “I’ll bring us back some drinks.” She winked at me. “And maybe a side of revenge.”
My safety blanket clicked away with vengeful strides. I always knew I’d have to face Aiden alone.
I could do this.
Strong.
Fearless.
There wasn’t much space in the crowded bar. I wriggled through the gap, my body skating so close to Aiden that his shirt brushed against my arm. Nerves fluttered in my chest. He was too close. Always too close. I tried to twist out of his way, but there was nowhere to go.
His hand gently cradled my elbow. “Are you mad at me?”
Strong. Fearless. “Yes.”
“Because of what happened to Evan?”
“Because you broke your promise. Remember? No fists.”
“I didn’t—”
I jerked my arm free. “Watching Ryan do your dirty work is just as bad, you know.”
I would’ve dramatically yanked out my chair to sit down if he hadn’t already pulled out the chair for me. He sat beside me. I ignored his touch on my knee. My gaze locked on the name card. Ruth had done the lettering. She was artistic. She wouldn’t craft a coffee mug that looked like a wonky poop.
“Lola, I’m sorry I broke my promise to you, but I’m not sorry for what I did.” And there wasn’t a hint of remorse in his voice, either. “Evan was never going to stop hassling people unless we did something.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“No, it doesn’t. But I’d rather risk you hating me forever than you not feeling safe for even a second. And before you jump on me, I’m fully aware of the hypocrisy of that statement. I know I’m one of the people who didn’t make you feel safe. That kills me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I want you to feel safer with me than anyone. That’s how I feel when I’m with you.”
I stared at the hands dancing nervously in my lap. Brooke had painted over where I’d chewed my fingernails to a blunt pink mess. The last week had been so hard. New messages from an unknown number I knew in my heart were from Chris. Every creak in my house made me jump, and ghosts lingered in the shadows that crept up the walls at night. Aiden worried he didn’t make me feel safe, and maybe that used to be true. But I couldn’t deny that, right now, I felt a lot safer knowing he was nearby.
His eyes locked on my wringing hands. “Lola, if you don’t want me here…”
“You have every right to spend time with your friends.”
“If Ruth’s overstepped—”
“Stop that. She’s great. She’s been keeping me out of mischief.” I thought about it a little longer. “Or getting me into mischief. I’m never sure.” I laughed. “We get along really well.”
“I’ve heard. Like a house on fire.”
Biting back a smile, I fumbled for a better fidgeting spot in the fabric covering my knees until Aiden’s big hand covered mine. A rush of warmth raced to my cheeks.
He leant closer, his voice a gravelly rumble only for me to hear. “I missed seeing you.”
