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“Babe,” Aiden growls, and I look at him.
“If he thinks we’re not together, you won’t be in danger.”
“You don’t know that.” He leans back against the counter behind him and crosses his arms over his chest. “And you and I aren’t even going to pretend we’re not together.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” I grit my teeth, then look at his friend. “Please tell him I’m right,” I say, as his gaze pings between Aiden and me. A smile cracks his face, making him a whole lot less intimidating… and seriously handsome.
“I get it now, bro.” He chuckles, shaking his head before taking a sip from his mug. “Do you got any sisters?”
“Four, actually.”
“Are any of them single?”
“No.”
“That sucks,” he mutters, and I bite my lip, then look at Aiden, finding him smiling.
“Whatever,” I grumble, stepping up to the counter and setting down my cup so I can take the bagel Aiden hands over to me.
“With the shooting last night and the text today, you should get a detective on your case, and with any luck, they’ll be able to find out some information about this Mike guy,” he says quietly as Aiden places a soft kiss against the side of my head and all I can think is I hope he’s right.
LOOKING AT MYcell phone, I read the text that just came in from Aiden telling me that Noah just showed up at my house and the two of them are going to be putting up cameras and setting up the security system he purchased. Something I really wish he didn’t have to do, but with the police being no help because we have no idea who Mike is, and him refusing to stay away from me, it needs to be done. Not that I think I’d be able to stay away from him for very long anyway. In just a few short days, I’ve gotten way too used to starting and ending my day with him.
After tucking my cell away I step out of the room I was changing in and my eyes go to where my mom is going through a rack of dresses, then to my sisters, who are all seated on a low couch in the large dressing room of the boutique we came to in Nashville. I didn’t plan on having to find a dress today on such short notice but when I tried on the bridesmaid’s dresses I already owned this morning none of them fit, leaving me no choice but to try and find something to wear for the gala tonight.
“Do you think our family is cursed?” I ask my mom, and she immediately stops looking through the rack of dresses she’s in front of and turns to face me. Just this afternoon over lunch, I told my mom and sisters everything that has happened since meeting Aiden, even though I hated the idea of worrying them. And the thing that struck me the most when I was done is that they all got it, because each of them had been through something similar.
“Why would you ask that?” Mom stops what she’s doing to focus on me.
“Is that a real question, Mom?” June asks from where she’s seated.
“We are not cursed.” She looks around at my sisters and me, planting her hands on her hips.
“It seems like we are.” I look at myself in a blue dress that April picked out for me to try on, one I will not be getting, because it’s too much of everything, too tight, too showy, and too blue.
“Well, we’re not,” Mom says, sounding upset.
“Don’t get mad. I’m just asking, because any time one of us with the Mayson last name finds someone they’re really interested in, drama starts to take over like a plague.”
“Right,” July agrees, nodding. “It’s like you aren’t allowed to just experience the goodness of a new relationship and falling in love. You have to suffer a little before you get your happily ever after.”
“Or maybe that’s just the world we live in today.” Mom goes back to flipping through dresses, and my sisters and I share a look of disbelief, because we all know that’s not true.
“So when do we get to meet Aiden?” December changes the subject, and I bite my lip. If he had gotten his way, he would have been here when it was time to pay for my dress today, but I refused to tell him which shop I was going to, because that is not happening. I don’t even like that he’s purchasing the cameras and security system for my place, but I didn’t have much of a choice, since he’s ignored me every time I’ve asked how much it will cost and made it clear it’s not something I need to worry about because I’m not paying for it.
“You’ll probably meet him this afternoon. He and his friend Noah are installing a camera system at my house, so they’ll be there when you guys help me get ready for tonight,” I tell them as I walk back into the dressing room to try on another dress.
“Your dad would have done that for you!” Mom shouts at me through the thin curtain as it falls closed behind me.
“When you and Dad started seeing each other, how would he have felt if you went to Grandpa instead of trusting him to make sure you were safe?” I hear July ask as I wiggle out of the blue dress and grab a black one off its hanger.
“He would have been fine,” Mom tells her, and I roll my eyes at my reflection, because that’s a flipping lie.
“That’s such a lie.” I listen to April laugh. “Dad would have been pissed.”
“Fine, he would have been pissed, but he would’ve gotten over it,” Mom says.
“No, Dad would have bulldozed over Grandpa,” December says, and I know she’s not wrong. Even now, our dad’s first priority is making sure our mom is okay, and he will trample anyone he thinks is getting in the way of him doing that.
“That’s the one.” April stands and walks toward me when I come out of the dressing room a second later.
“I completely agree,” Mom says, smiling at me while April helps me zip up the back. Then she takes my hair and wraps it up to sit on top of my head, using a clip to hold it in place.
“You look gorgeous,” April tells me as I turn to look in the mirror. The dress is simple but so flattering with the tight bodice, ball gown skirt, and sweetheart neckline that has straps that fall softly off my shoulders.
“I love it on you,” December adds, while June and July both come to stand behind me and fluff the skirt. “Do you have shoes to wear with it?”
“I have a pair of black heels that should work.”
