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I look down and wince. “Oh crap, yes,” I blurt out.
Aiden takes my hand, and I stand. Flicking a single glance at Tim, Aiden walks me to the other side of the table where the porch shadows it. To be honest, I’m glad Aiden came over when he did. The awkwardness between Tim and me was becoming unbearable. I look back at Tim, who stands and steps over to the grill seemingly annoyed that our moment was cut short by Aiden.
Things at work are going to be so damn uncomfortable now.
“Why aren’t you at the grill with the guys?” I ask Aiden.
“I saw you were with Tim, and things seemed a little, well… strained between you two.”
I laugh nervously while Aiden studies me intensely. “You have no idea.”
He looks over at Tim standing with his arms crossed, watching us. “What was he saying to you?” Aiden asks curiously.
“It doesn’t even matter. It was a conversation I’d rather not have had.” I let out a sigh.
He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. “Was he hitting on you?” Now Aiden’s annoyed.
“Aiden, it’s fine. Leave it. Please. I’ve set him straight.”
“So, he was hitting on you?”
I take Aiden’s hand in mine. “Please, leave it. He knows how I feel. He’s harmless. No need to worry.”
“If he touches or makes one advance toward you, I swear I will—”
“Aiden! That’s enough. Let’s enjoy the party. I’m with you, remember?”
Leaning in, I kiss him gently on the lips as he relaxes at my touch while Tim huffs walking past us and into the house.
The rest of the party goes on without a hitch. The food’s good, the music is great, and the atmosphere is fun, an all-around enjoyable party, except for the Tim incident. The guests slowly start to leave as the day turns into evening, and only a few of us are left sitting around. Aiden and Chris are inside playing pool with Bob and John, while the sisters, Mel, Sarah, and I are out back nibbling on cheese and crackers and sipping our bottomless wine glasses.
“Great party, Mrs. Starke,” Sarah announces.
“Thanks, Sarah, and please call me Mel.”
The girls chatter among themselves until Skye speaks up, “Jeni, has Aiden got any younger brothers?”
I smirk. “Yes, he has one, but I don’t think he’s… available.”
She tilts her head. “Oh, he has a girlfriend?”
I suppress a laugh. “Not quite… he’s gay.”
They pout their bottom lips out as Mel, Sarah, and I begin to laugh.
“Sorry, girls.” I take another sip of my wine as we all listen to the guys trash-talking each other in the entertainment room.
“Aw, you bastard, I can’t believe you got that in,” John grunts at Chris, making us laugh.
I think all the wine we’ve consumed is making us giggle like schoolgirls.
“More wine, girls?” Mel asks, standing and stumbling across to the outside refrigerator. We laugh as Sarah, who’s giggling uncontrollably, snorts. She puts her hand up to her mouth as we all pause, then crack into hysterics.
The men stride out and sit with us at the table. Mel dallies back over with another bottle of wine. Luckily, it’s a screw cap, so it is easy to open as she proceeds to pour the girls another half glass of wine each.
Aiden asks as he sits down next to me, leaning in next to my ear, “Miss Taylor, are you drunk?”
I laugh and hiccup at the same time as some sort of retort comes to mind which I think is hilarious, but I go with it anyway.
