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“I wonder what it’s like to have a brother,” Nick mused, as she turned onto the new development where Aiden’s beach house was. “It must be kind of cool.”
“Your guess is as good as mine. We’re both only children, kiddo. Though I think sometimes you make your own family.”
“How do you make your own family?” Nick frowned.
“You build it up, person by person. First you start with the family you have, and then you add some friends. And one day you wake up and you know you can rely on those people, no matter what happens.”
“Like Ember and Ally?” he asked.
“That’s right. And Lucas and Nate, plus Max and Ellie. They’re like family, too.”
“And Uncle Aiden,” Nick added.
The mention of his name was enough to make her feel warm inside. “Yeah, though he’s your blood family as well.”
“But not yours,” Nick pointed out.”
“No, not mine.” She pulled into the empty space next to Aiden’s Audi and switched off the engine. “Right, have you got all your things?” she asked, glad to change the subject.
“Yup.”
“So let’s go.”
She wasn’t sure whether she was dreading this or desperate for it. It had been a week since the gala and almost as long since she’d last seen Aiden. Her whole body ached at the thought of seeing him again. The tightness in her chest was making it hard to breathe.
She had no idea what she was going to say to him.
“Can you stay in the car and I’ll go in on my own?” Nick asked. “That’s what Owen does when his mom takes him to his dad’s house. She said if she had to talk to that, you-know-what, she’d end up smacking him in the face.”
Brooke grimaced. Owen’s parents’ divorce was legendary in its toxicity – not exactly a model she wanted to follow. “No, I won’t sit in the car. I’d like to make sure you get in safely.” To prove her point, she climbed out, and opened the back door, grabbing Nick’s bags as he scrambled out. “And anyway, you have too many things to carry yourself.”
Nick ran ahead, his tennis shoes barely touching the steps up to Aiden’s front door. She smiled, wondering if Aiden knew what he was in for. Within a minute of Nick’s first over-enthusiastic knock on the door, the man himself was opening it, a grin lighting up his face as he saw Nick standing on the porch.
“Hey bud, how are you feeling?” He stepped aside to let Nick in, reaching out to ruffle his hair. Nick glowed at the attention.
“I’m good. Do you have any soda? I’m thirsty. Can we go swimming? I got my shorts somewhere.” He turned to look at Brooke. “Mom, have you got my shorts?” He was still barking out orders as Brooke made it up the steps. Almost immediately, Aiden caught her eye.
“There’s juice in the fridge,” he called out, as Nick ran past him into the house. Turning back to Brooke, he leaned against the door jamb. “I guess that means he’s feeling better.”
“He’s been going stir crazy cooped up at home.” She smiled apologetically. “I think you’re going to bear the brunt of it.”
Aiden shrugged. “I’ve spent the week arguing with ten angry builders. I think I can handle it.” He tipped his head to the side, scrutinizing her. “And how are you doing? You recovered from Nick’s reaction yet?”
“I’ll tell you after tonight. It’s the first time I’ve been on my own since it all went down. I’ll either sleep for a thousand hours, or I’ll break down.” She shrugged. “But I’m guessing sleep will win out.”
“You haven’t got anything planned?”
“Nope. Ember and Lucas have a date night, and it’s game night at Nate and Ally’s. They invited me but I’ll pass. They’re way too competitive for their own good.” She raised an eyebrow. “So it’s me, the sofa, and a chick flick.”
He was still looking at her with those deep whiskey eyes. “You’re welcome to stay here with us.”
“Don’t say that in front of Nick. He’s made it very clear to me it’s Guys’ Night. I believe that means there are no moms allowed.” She laughed. “I don’t want to cramp either of your styles.”
“You’d never cramp mine.”
Oh! How few words it took to light the little flame of hope inside her. He only had to offer the smallest of olive branches and her mind started to race with possibilities. She needed to stop speeding ahead.
“Aiden, can we go to the beach now?” Nick reappeared, a small carton of juice in hand. “I can see some of my school friends out there. I wanna tell them about the hospital.” Nick came to a stop beside him. “Oh, hey, Mom.” He looked surprised to see her still there.
