Page 13 of Unmasking Love (D.C. Renegades #1)

The hangover should be fixed with some electrolyte water and a high protein breakfast.

The heartbreak should be fixed with a healthy dose of work and romance movies.

Like usual.

It is a little disheartening to find myself here again, but, familiarity breeds contempt and predictability so I can’t say that I’m surprised I’m in this situation.

Discarded.

Alone.

Again.

I slowly sit up and stretch. The good news is that I expected this. Well, not walking in on Crispin getting head, but the breakup. And, because I’ve been through it before, the situation feels manageable.

All I have to do is get back into my routine.

I don’t remember washing my face last night so I’ll start there.

Then I’ll body shower, get dressed, and go to work.

I’ll have to start searching for another home for Aiden since this one is tainted.

My calendar is already full today with meetings and showings and a photoshoot at a new property I’m the listing agent on.

I won’t need to add work to my plate today but I need to keep my schedule booked for the next several weeks at least.

Bang.

Wha t the fuck? I jump to my feet and open my eyes wide. The first thing I see is a blur of hastily cleaned up dirt, like someone knocked over my plant.

Someone is in my apartment.

I grab my hardcover, sprayed edge, special edition of Fifth Flame and creep to my bedroom door on tiptoe.

I raise the book over my head as I tip toe down the hall to the kitchen.

I hear cabinets and drawers being opened and closed and different items hitting the counter.

I smell food cooking but I’ve heard adrenaline can make you smell maple syrup so I carry on.

My stress response must be the scent of eggs and toast.

One more step will get me around the corner. Should I spy and try to aim or just throw the book and run?

When I hear a knife getting pulled out of the block the decision is made.

I scream like a banshee and whip the book in the general direction of the kitchen before running for the door.

I hear curses and clangs behind me. I can taste sweet freedom ahead of me as my hand reaches the handle but then a strong arm bands around my stomach and I get pulled back, my feet lifting off the floor.

“Where are you going?!” My home invader demands.

“Get off me! I’ll scream.” I yell as I flail my limbs anywhere they can go. I’m sure there’s a method to follow and I promise I’ll remember how important practice is tomorrow but right now I can’t remember what to do besides going for the junk.

“You’re already screaming. And why are you still naked? Jesus, Harper!”

I freeze.

“Aiden?”

“Yes! Go put on a robe or something. And, shit, I think breakfast is burning.” He drops me to the ground and hurries back to the kitchen.

“You made me breakfast?”

“ I’m trying to.”

The headache returns the moment I leave the kitchen to put on my robe. I have so many questions because nothing is adding up.

“When did you get here?” I ask.

“I stayed after I brought you home last night.” He shrugs. He brought me home? A vague memory of my Uber driver helping me inside my apartment surfaces. Except, that wasn’t a stranger, it was Aiden.

I blink trying to recall anything else from last night but it’s blank.

“Yeah.”

“Where did you get the eggs?” I ask because I definitely didn’t have any left after I used all the eggs I had left to make lemon bars for Crispin two nights ago.

“I had some groceries delivered.” He shrugs as he plates up breakfast sandwiches.

“Okay.” I pull the plate towards me across the counter. He slides a coconut water in my direction too.

“I couldn’t find your vitamin D. Wes said you needed it last night, so I guess this is your reminder to take it now.”

“What?” I ask around a bite.

“Wes was very clear about me reminding you to take your vitamin D last night and you weren’t really in a state to figure that out before bed so I was going to give it to you this morning but…

” Aiden trails off and I look at him. I have parts of my life together, well certain parts, I have a good job, and own my own home, but I’m not on the supplement train.

“What?” I ask, starting to feel a little worried at the look on his face. Should I be taking vitamin D? I’m not even sure what vitamin D does but the look on Aiden’s face tells me that not getting enough could be a grave mistake.

“Nevermind.”

“ No, what. Tell me. I’m a little sluggish this morning but if vitamin D is some vital nutrient I want to take it!”

If I’m not mistaken, Aiden blushes a little as he stares down his breakfast sandwich. “I just realized what Wes meant.”

“Huh?” I ask, as I take a bite of my sandwich.

“Vitamin D …” Aiden looks at me like I’m supposed to fill in the blank.

“Is… probably good for you?” I hazard a guess.

“Jesus, nope, I can’t.” He stuffs half the sandwich in his mouth and starts chewing. He rinses his plate and puts it in the dishwasher. “I’m gonna go.”

“Okay, thanks again for breakfast. I’ll umm, send you a house link when I see one you’ll like.”

“Yeah, thanks Harper. Have a good day.”

“Yeah, you too.”

And with that he lets himself out. I walk over and lock the door behind him and then watch out the window as he waits for a rideshare to pick him up. I finish my sandwich, shower, and it isn’t until I’m driving to the office that it hits me.

I throw my palm into my forehead and could die of embarrassment.

Wes wanted Aiden to give me his vitamin D.