Page 59

Janae nodded. “Sure. I’ll tell him.”

Rowan didn’t wait for her to say anything else before turning around and walking back down the porch steps. Janae watched her for a moment before stepping back and closing the door. Something in her tightened. Who was that woman and how did she know Aiden? He had never mentioned any other women, and she doubted he would have ever kissed her if he were dating someone. He just didn’t strike her as that type of person, and she doubted Vini would have been friends with him if he was. She was missing something.

By the time Aiden reappeared, washed and smelling perfect, Janae had already cleaned up the mess in the living room. Aiden looked around before scowling.

“I told you not to clean things. That I was going to handle it.”

Janae swallowed hard before speaking. “Sorry. I needed something to do after having an abrupt visitor.” She closed the trash can lid, barely restraining herself from slamming it shut. “Oh, and Rowan said to call her.”

The silence that met her words had Janae glancing over her shoulder. She’d expected Aiden to be shocked, but she hadn’t expected there to be pain in his expression. That had her jealousy drying up as she turned to him.

“Are you okay? Has she done something to you? Do I need to call the cops?”

Aiden huffed out a humorless laugh before shaking his head. “It’s kind of a . . . complicated story.”

Janae could only shrug helplessly. “I can do complicated.” Wasn’t that the truth. Her own baggage was nothing but one big complication. Aiden looked at her a moment longer before rubbing a hand over his face with a sigh.

“Okay. Why don’t we take these to the porch and . . . talk.”

She nodded before following him out. Aiden set the pumpkins on the porch by the stairs before telling her to wait a moment as he ducked back into the house. Janae was settling herself on the wicker seat when he came back out with a blanket. She smiled softly and patted the seat next to her. The way Aiden sat beside her, she wondered if the blanket was more for his comfort than her own. She leaned forward when he draped it around her and then back again, letting him curl it around them to ward off the chill of the night settling, cocooning the two of them. The moment was undeniably intimate, but she forced her desire down and waited for him to explain.

“Rowan is my sister,” Aiden said. “She came to see me because Vini called her after she found out about this stuff with my dad.”

Janae frowned. “What stuff? I mean, you don’t have to tell me, of course, but if you need another ear, I’ll listen.”

Aiden leaned into her, and Janae relaxed against his side. Under the blanket, their warmth grew, and Janae was almost startled to realize they were cuddling.

Aiden’s arm curled around her shoulders. “Our dad isn’t . . . great. He’s never really been there for us like he should, so much so that Rowan left as soon as she turned eighteen and graduated high school. I pretty much did the same. It’s why I don’t really ever go back, and he doesn’t come here.”

“Oh,” she breathed out. She couldn’t relate to any of it, but it pained her because it sounded so lonely. She didn’t like the idea of Aiden being alone. “So, she came back because something happened to your dad?”

He shook his head. “She came back because he tanked my credit, and apparently it’s not the first time.” He glanced down at her, dark eyes unreadable. “It’s why I wasn’t able to find another apartment and why I was sleeping in the shop. He sort of . . . took credit and utilities out in my name and never paid them, so now my credit is . . . well, less than perfect.”

“Aiden . . .” This was heavy. Like, legal-level heavy. “That is not okay. Have you called the police?”

He shook his head. “Doing that just seems so final, you know? I know what he did wasn’t right. I’m not that naive, but . . .” He turned to look at her, and she could see some of the boy that clearly just wanted love in his gaze. It hurt her to think he still carried around that same wish as an adult. Then again, she carried a little of it too. Everyone did. Your parents were supposed to be the two people who were always on your side. They weren’t supposed to be the ones trying to destroy you.

“Am I foolish for wanting him to care enough about me that he actually fixes this?”

She shook her head and reached up to cup his cheek. “You aren’t foolish for wanting your dad to consider you.”

He nuzzled into her hand before bringing his own up to cup hers. “He kept Rowan away too. It’s part of why she left and why it took us so long to talk again. She came by a couple days ago and told me.” He turned his face, kissing her palm before looking at her, pain clear in his gaze. “I’m sure she and Vini both want me to go to the police.”

She wanted to tell him the same. Knowing someone deliberately hurt him made her chest burn. Before she could blurt something out, she leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Aiden’s eyes fluttered closed as he breathed out slowly, the sound heavy. She leaned her forehead against his.

“I think you should do what you feel you can live with.” When he opened his eyes, she tried to convey as much as possible that she was on his side. “But also, you are not a bad person for wanting to chase your own stability and happiness. You’re allowed to want better.”

Aiden swallowed hard but didn’t speak. He pressed his lips back against hers and Janae knew he was avoiding saying anything else, but she thought he deserved that. He could hide with her for a little longer and she would make sure he was kept safe while he grieved.

Chapter 24

The diner sat just off the interstate. As soon as he entered, Aiden was kicking himself for not just telling Rowan to meet him at Thomas’s in town. But he’d wanted to have this conversation away from as many prying ears as possible. Inside, the space looked like it hadn’t changed in all the decades since it opened, complete with dull-looking chrome and neon signs that shone bright even in the daylight.

“Aiden.”

He turned and walked over to where he saw Rowan sitting in a booth, sliding in across from her. They sat for a moment, both looking anywhere but at each other, until she finally took the initiative.

“I’m glad you called me.”