AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Clearly,” I say with a grin. “You know they have a box mix.”
“A box mix goes against every fiber of my being,” Aiden scoffs.
I keep my expression serious, pointing to the soaking dishes in his sink with my fork. “Yes. Clearly this is better.”
“Cassie has to make all the pancakes from now on,” Sophie says matter-of-factly.
Aiden shares a grateful look with me, and it takes a lot of effort on my part not to let my gaze linger on the clashing brightness of his eyes.
“I think for the safety of your dad’s kitchen, that’s best,” I deadpan.
Aiden stifles a laugh. “Everyone’s a critic.”
When the plates are empty and the forks are clattering against them, Sophie pats her belly with a satisfied sound, a content little smile on her face. “You’re all right, I guess,” she tells me, quickly masking her smile into a more stern expression. “But you can’t come into my room.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I assure her. “You can come into mine, though, if you want. I have board games coming with my stuff tomorrow.” I look back over at Aiden. “Where is my room, by the way?”
“Oh. Yeah. Of course.” He slides from the barstool, pulling his apron over his head as the muscles in his biceps roll and flex against the fitted cotton of his sleeves. It’s not something I’ve ever found myself noticing on a man, biceps against sleeves. “It’s back downstairs. I can show you...?”
“Awesome.” I hop down from my own stool, grabbing the bag I left by the stairs and slinging it over my shoulder. “Lead the way.”
“So the whole first floor will be yours,” Aiden tells me when we’re near the bottom landing. “The bedroom has an attached bath, and there’s a TV in there, so you should have everything you need, but you can just ask if there’s something else I need to get you.”
Aiden gestures to the door right off the entryway so that I can open it, and beyond is a room nearly bigger than my entire apartment. The queen-sized four-poster is covered with thick, gray (shocker) bedding; the chest of drawers and end tables are a sleek black that matches the rest of the house decor. I gape around the room in awe, trying to think back to a time when I’ve slept in a bed this nice. If ever.
“If you want to change something,” Aiden says quietly behind me, “we can—”
“It’s perfect. Seriously, this is nicer than my whole apartment.”
I hear Aiden sigh in relief. “Good. I want you to be comfortable here.”
“Really struck out in the nanny department, huh?”
“You have no idea.” Aiden leans against the doorframe. “She’s been through a lot. I think that’s why she acts out sometimes. I’m always trying my best to get her to open up and talk about it, but she’s...” He breathes in through his nose just to blow it out his mouth, shaking his head. “It’s like we speak a different language, sometimes.”
“Did something...” I drop my bag to the carpet, reaching to scratch at my neck awkwardly. “I hope I’m not overstepping, but I thought I should... Just so I don’t say something insensitive by accident, you know. Sophie’s mother... is she...?”
He doesn’t answer for a moment, chewing at his lip as if trying to decide how to broach the subject. I know there has to be a story, and I hate asking on my very first day, but I hate the thought of accidentally putting my foot in my mouth at some point because Idon’tknow even more.
“She passed away,” Aiden says finally, half whispering. “Almost a year ago. Stroke.”
“Oh God.” I had expected a bad divorce or something. Notthat. “That’s terrible. I’m really sorry for your loss.”
“It was... sudden. None of us expected it. She was so young, after all.” Aiden sighs, running his fingers through his hair. “She was great,” he tells me. “An amazing mom. She was a lot better at this than I ever was. I’m still figuring out how to do this without her.”
I suddenly feelsomuch worse about all my lingering thoughts of his catcher’s mitt hands, voluntary or not. “I really am sorry,” I say lamely. “How long were you married?”
Aiden’s eyebrows scrunch together. “What? Oh. No. We weren’t. We weren’t even together.” I must look confused. That must be why Aiden chooses to clarify. “Sophie was... ah, unexpected. Rebecca and I met at a party during our senior year in college and were seeing each other casually for a little while. When Rebecca found out she was pregnant, we attempted an actual relationship, but it was pretty clear early on that it was never going to work out between us. We did our best to co-parent as smoothly as we could though. For Sophie’s sake.”
“Oh.” I look down at my shoes, still feeling awkward. “I’m sure it’s been rough for Sophie.”
“It has,” Aiden agrees. “Sorry for dumping this on you. I thought it might help you understand her better. If you knew.”
“No, I’m glad you told me,” I say honestly. “Thank you.”
“Truth be told, I could have been there more these last few years. When I was promoted to executive chef everything got so hectic, and I... I didn’t make the time I should have for her. I’m paying for it now.”
I feel a twinge of sympathy for Sophie then, knowingexactlywhat it’s like to come second to a parent’s career. Still. Aiden seems to be trying now, at least.
