Page 10

Ten

Luna

He’s been vibrating with energy from the moment I came out of the bedroom.

Something I definitely didn’t want to do, believe me.

I could have hidden there all day.

But as I slowly dressed, his family didn’t show any sign of leaving and anyway, my conscience couldn’t handle hiding in the bedroom and leaving Aiden to handle the mess of them finding us indisposed all alone.

So, I made sure all my pertinent parts were covered, fixed my orgasm hair as much as possible, and summoned the courage to make my way out into the front room.

Where I introduced myself.

But that hadn’t been necessary—because Kathy remembered me.

“Oh, my God, Luna Maybelle!” Her eyes had lit up. “Evie Maybelle’s granddaughter. God, it’s been an age since I’ve seen you!”

And I can’t lie that it felt good to be swept into her arms, wrapped tight in a welcoming hug, that Carrie and Ralph, Dave and Matt had all done the same…and that each insisted that I join them at Molly’s for a joint birthday breakfast, no matter how much I tried to demure.

Now, we’ve all gone over to Molly’s and I’ve eaten my body weight in carbs.

I even smoothed things over for Aiden on the whole girlfriend front, making an excuse about running into him and reconnecting yesterday—so while his family might think we moved to horizontal fun time too quickly, at least no marriage contracts were mentioned and neither was my internet stalking or middle of the night visit.

But when she finishes telling us about her cruise and focuses back on me, asking a truly dreadful—though, she doesn’t know it—question I feel my carefully held together facade begin to crumble., “How is Evie? How is your grandmother?”

God, I miss Grams.

She sees that—or maybe she sees the way Aiden reacts, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and drawing me back against his side, tucking me into his strength.

“Oh honey,” she murmurs. “I’m sorry.”

But she doesn’t go further than that.

Just squeezes my arm and changes the subject to Carrie and the girls—who are about as opposite as two people can get. “And Leslie had three goals last game, but her favorite part was checking the girl on the other team and getting away with it.”

Aiden chuckles.

Matt nods approvingly.

“And Simone,” Kathy goes on. “Luna, honey, you would not believe what she can play on the piano. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

“I bet.”

Kathy takes my hand. “Now, sweetie pie. I want to hear more about you. Tell me what you’ve been doing.”

Nothing. Everything.

Still, I’m not ready to talk about it, Grams and my family, the will and how it’s messed with my life, so I keep my explanations carefully vague, not missing the looks Aiden shoots me, telling me he knows precisely what I’m doing.

“And so,” I say a tad nervously as I finish up my very glossed over explanation of the last few years, “I get to have Aiden and his gorgeous smile”—I touch his cheek and add, even though I shouldn’t because it goes against all those middle of the night promises again—“in my life again.”

His face—God, his eyes.

They make me both want to run screaming from the bakery…and lean closer to explore all the unsaid things in their deep green depths.

Can’t do that.

Shouldn’t be here.

And yet…I can’t tear myself away.

Can’t leave him, leave this family who I already closed myself away from once.

Just…a little more.

I just need a little more time.

“What just went through your mind, sweetheart?” Aiden murmurs, lips brushing along my earlobe as he forms each of the words.

It feels so nice that it takes me a minute to process what he’s said.

What I’ve revealed…and what I further reveal when I go stiff against him.

His brows drag together, eyes flashing with concern. “Luns,” he warns.

Thankfully, his family—or rather, his siblings—can’t be on their best behavior, not for long anyway.

“Come on, Luns,” Ralph teases. “You know it wasn’t his smile that got you”—a long trailing look along Aiden’s frame—“it’s that gorgeous body he works so hard for.”

“Shut up,” Aiden growls.

“Who are you trying to kid?” Ralph says, ignoring him. “We’ve all seen your abs, bro. We all know the long hours you pull in the gym. You’re not going to convince us otherwise.”

“It’s my birthday,” Aiden groans. “Do I even get one day without teasing?”

“I think technically it’s Luna’s and your birthday,” Carrie says. “So…” She taps a finger to her nose. “That’s a no.”

“Exactly,” his mom says, leaning over and smacking a kiss on his cheek. “That’s not how the Blacks do it. Though,” she adds when he begins to protest further, “we can find a new victim for said teasing. Like,” she stage whispers, “why your brother got dumped.” A beat. “Again.”

“Mom!” Dave snaps. “That’s not cool.”

“Oh, no,” Carrie murmurs. “It’s very cool. Mostly because you managed to piss off the most patient woman I’ve ever met with your special brand of bullshit.”

He throws up his hands. “All I said was I didn’t want to get married.”

“ After you put a ring on her finger,” Carrie says, tossing up her hands in turn. “Will you marry me to…oh, doh”—she smacks her forehead, a la Homer Simpson—“I guess I changed my mind.” She glares at her brother. “Because seriously. You’ve lost your damned mind. Roxie was the best ever.”

“Not to mention that you told her two months before the wedding,” Kathy exclaims and my eyes go wide. Two months? The man had lost his mind. “You really couldn’t have sorted out your head before all those deposits were put down?”

“His brain doesn’t work like that,” Ralph chimes in.

Dave’s face has gone from bright red to pale, anger morphing into something that looks a little like…

Regret.

Damn. I know that feeling.

“Right,” Aiden says, always empathetic, always kind, always knowing when things have gone too far. “I think Dave’s had enough, so let’s talk about more important things—like why Carrie got so mad at Ralph that she threw out his Han Solo action figure.”

Carrie glares. “He deserved it.”

“I accidentally dropped one makeup thingy,” Ralph cries. “One!”

“It was a Chanel compact,” Carrie says. “And it was worth more than your stupid action figure.”

“She’s got you there, buckaroo,” Kathy says.

“Dad!” Ralph complains. “Control your women.”

“Seriously,” Dave mutters.

Matt looks up from his cup of coffee, shaking his head at his family’s shenanigans. “You’d both do better to know there’s no such thing as controlling your women.”

“Exactly,” Kathy says.

“You just learn to ignore them.”

“Hey!” Kathy and Carrie say at once.

“And mission accomplished,” Aiden murmurs, lips brushing my earlobe again, making me shiver.

When I glance up at him in surprise, he winks, and God, it hits me hard.

Because I missed this, missed sitting next to him, the silent language we developed, the silliness between his mom and his siblings, even his dad just sitting on the sidelines, letting them get their tease on, while only occasionally joining in.

And Aiden, stepping in. Navigating the personalities, carefully making sure that no one takes it over the line.

I don’t have too many moments like this—most of my and Aiden’s free time was spent at the rink—but the handful of family meals I got to attend with the Blacks were this.

Boisterous and loud and a bit overwhelming.

But so much better than the silent meals I shared with my brother and dad, the quiet only punctuated by talk of the business or extolling my brother’s accomplishments.

Eating with Grams wasn’t like that, and it wasn’t like this.

It was…cooking interrupted with bites taken bending over the stove, the spoon’s contents steaming because we’ve stolen those bites directly from the pan, “just so we can make sure it tastes right.” It was learning new skills, holding tight to the memories of my mom, my sister, making new ones with Grams. It was leaning against the kitchen counter, plates in hand, downing homemade mac n cheese or Seven-Up Cake or cookies so hot out of the oven their chocolate chips were melted, smeared on the corners of our mouths, threatening to drop onto our shirts.

“You’re a million miles away,” Aiden murmurs.

I blink, realize the conversation has turned to other topics—thankfully for Dave, not about his ability to be a good fiancé. And thankfully for me, Kathy is regaling the table with tales about her garden club instead of shoving pastries down my throat.

They’re delicious, yes.

But my stomach is so full I want to unbutton my pants.

And they have an elastic waistband so I won’t get any relief there.

“Luns?” he asks, expression growing concerned.

I blink again. “Sorry,” I say softly. “Food coma.”

He studies my eyes, doesn’t say anything. But I have the feeling he knows I’m lying—or at least that I’m not giving him the full truth.

And it’s his birthday.

His family’s here.

I’m a complication at best. At worst…

I close my eyes, shove that down, but somehow the words still slip out, “She would have loved to be here.”

Gentle green eyes, fingers lacing through mine. “She’d put them in their places easily enough,” he murmurs lightly.

I grin. “I think you did pretty good yourself.”

“It’s wrangling cats.” One big shoulder lifts and falls in a shrug. “Evie would have done it as easily as breathing.”

Maybe.

She always did better with managing people who weren’t my brother and father.

The business. Me. Our friends.

But them?

I don’t know if it was because she loved them that they had so much hold over her. Or if it was just a blind spot.

Maybe that’s why she put what she put in her will, why she managed to both bequeath a gift and a nightmare.

Why desperate has been the defining feature of my last months.

And why I can’t seem to find my footing or figure out how best to move forward—should I go against everything I promised I would never do for the greater good or just…let go of what I wanted to do with my family’s business and hope to do good elsewhere?

Neither seem like good options.

But only one tugs at my heartstrings…and only one propelled me onto Aiden’s doorstep with a marriage contract in hand the night before.

“I should leave,” I murmur, “let you enjoy your day with your family.”

His eyes lock onto mine again, searching. “I think we have more to talk about.”

“It’ll hold,” I prevaricate.

He tilts his head, not breaking eye contact. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“I really should go,” I whisper, desperation bubbling back up.

His fingers tighten around mine. “I’m not so sure I want you to.”

“Aiden.” It’s another whisper. Or maybe a plea.

“Stay,” he says. “Please.”

“I shouldn’t.” But just the word please from him has me wavering, an addict ready for her next hit.

“The universe brought us back together,” he says into my ear, the hot puffs of his words glazing my skin. “We shouldn’t waste that.”

My heart starts thudding. And God, I want that so bad.

But…I shouldn’t .

“Aiden, I?—”

“Oh, Luna!” I jerk, my eyes jumping from Aiden’s to Kathy’s. “I forgot that since Carrie’s husband was called into work and couldn’t make it, we have an extra ticket to Aiden’s game tonight! You’ll come with us, right?”

“I—”

Aiden’s fingers tighten around mine again. “Of course, she will.”

“Oh, great!” She starts chattering about details and I turn to glare at Aiden.

But he touches my cheek, murmurs, “Come watch me tonight, Luns.”

My expression softens, and I nod.

So much for all those shouldn’ts .