AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Those first two years of marriage were perfect. If only I’d understoodwhythey were perfect. Because Ben was never home.
Tammy’s cell rang. “That will be Dalton asking when I’m coming home to save him.”
We hugged again and I climbed into my Pilot and headed to my apartment, where I knew I’d have to face the music. I hadn’t really talked to Aiden since I’d woken up on the sofa in his arms. The urge to snuggle into his chest had been one I had to fight off. I did my best to sneak away without waking him, but I had a feeling he’d been awake already. Maybe he wanted to save me from the embarrassment of falling asleep on him.
Ugh. My cheeks burned just remembering it. Other than church, he’d avoided me since, and I couldn’t blame him. What type of woman falls asleep in the arms of her boss?
The drive out to Aiden’s place wasn’t very long, but it was peaceful. The weather had gotten cooler, and I couldn’t wait for the snow to cover the mountains. I was told it would be any time now.
When I pulled into the driveway that was meant for the apartment, I saw Aiden and Hadley stepping outside.
“How was the circle?” Aiden asked, a smirk on his face.
“Interesting group.”
He laughed.
For some unknown reason, I wanted to know if Lisa had been a part of the group. Asking Aiden was out of the question, though. I would find out from Tammy. It was still strange to me that Tammy and Lisa hadn’t been close, especially since their husbands were best friends and worked together, not to mention their daughters were best friends.
Walking over to me, he shook his head and answered the question I was afraid to ask. “My mother could never get Lisa to join, much to Mom’s disappointment. When you walked into itlike a lamb being led to the slaughter, I thought my mother was going to jump with joy.”
Why did a small part of me like that Lisa wasn’t a member of the group? That there was something involving this family that I could claim as my own, that she hadn’t done first? Did that make me a bad person? It was childish of me to feel that way, but I did. There was no denying it.
“I enjoyed myself. They’re a very sweet group of women.”
Aiden stared at me; his blue eyes locked on mine.
“What?” I asked, looking down to make sure I didn’t have anything on me.
“Nothing. It’s just that you’re a breath of fresh air, Emma.”
My chest panged with an unfamiliar feeling.
“Emma! Are you going with us? Please say you are!”
Diverting my eyes from Aiden to Hadley, I asked, “Where are you going?”
“Daddy and I are going for a hike before the snow comes and we can’t go no more. Please come!Please! He said you wanted to come.”
Before I had a chance to respond, Aiden said, “You mentioned you wanted to last night. Come with us. Let us show you our favorite trail.”
Chewing on my lip, I asked, “Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt your time together.”
“Positive. Go change into some jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. Bring a jacket also,” Aiden said.
Excitement filled every part of my body. I’d been longing to go for a hike since moving here but didn’t feel comfortable going alone. “I’ll be right back,” I said in a voice that was probably a little too excited.
Hadley jumped and yelled, “Yay!”
“We’ll pack up and meet you at my truck.”
“Okay, it won’t take me long,” I called out as I raced up to my place, more excited than I’d been in a long time.
Part of me wasn’t sure if it was because of the hike, or the company. Another part of me knew the answer though.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AIDEN - OUR PARK
