by London Casey
“I sort of am,” Aiden said. “I take him to… learn.”
It looked like Aiden was afraid to say my name.
That’s when my interested was piqued. I had to see who the woman was. Not that I thought she and Aiden had anything going on. But if they did… and he was with me…
I stepped from the room and started to walk toward them.
“Well it would be nice if I could get a book or something,” the woman snapped. “He’s my son, Aiden. I have the right to…”
Her voice trailed off when she saw me.
I gave a quick wave.
Aiden turned sideways and looked guilty as sin.
I looked at the woman again and did a double take. She suddenly looked familiar.
“Lily?” she asked. Then she looked at Aiden. “Is that… Lily? This is why you haven’t been around me… because you found your Lily.”
“Alice, don’t start anything,” Aiden said.
“Alice,” I said. Then it hit me. “Alice. As in Gabe’s Alice…”
“Yes,” she said. “Sorry I don’t look like I used to. That’s what happens when your husband dies and your life is thrown for a loop.”
I looked at Aiden as the pieces started to fall into place.
Alice and Gabe were married. Gabe died. Gabe was Aiden’s brother, and if Alice was Felix’s mother…then that meant Aiden and Alice…
My eyes went wide.
“No,” I said.
“Lily,” he said. “Hold on a second.”
“You and Alice,” I whispered. “Felix…”
“Jesus,” Alice said. “You never told her what happened? You’re a fucking prick, Aiden. I hope you know that.”
“I have to go,” I said. “Right now.”
“Lily,” Aiden said.
I ran and Aiden came after me. He grabbed for my arm. I spun and swung, slapping him across the face.
“You slept with your brother’s wife,” I growled. “And had a baby with her? And you didn’t tell me? After everything I told you. Everything I did for you.”
“It’s not that fucking simple,” Aiden said, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, it is that fucking simple,” I said. “You just speak the truth.”
“The truth? You’re saving Felix’s life right now. And mine. That’s the truth.”
I shook my head. “I should have known. It’s always the same with you, Aiden. Forever the same with you.”
I hurried to grab my bag.
Aiden tried to block the doorway but I punched him in the chest. I was pretty sure that hurt me worse than him.
He stepped back and let me out.
“My fucking brother died in my arms,” he said.
I paused. I looked back. “So, you went after his wife?”
“It’s not like that.”
“You had a kid with her.”
“I told you the truth already.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” I asked.
Aiden swallowed hard. Pain swept across his face. I was so torn up inside it hurt. We were forever bouncing off one another. Lovers one second, fighting the next. I exposed myself to him and I thought he was doing the same to me. Telling me everything that had happened.
But he didn’t do that.
He didn’t tell me his darkest secret after I gave him mine. And what was my darkest secret? That I loved him and forever would love him.
“Tell me,” I said. “Tell me what that means… that you told me the truth already.”
“About Felix,” he snapped.
“What?”
Aiden shook his head. “I don’t know if Felix is actually my son or not… I’m just raising him like he is…”
Chapter 20
(I’ll Take Those Tits… to Go)
FIVE YEARS AGO
(LILY)
There was an eruption of cheers. I couldn’t help but look back at one of the three million TVs in the sports bar. Someone had apparently just caught a pass that should have been impossible to catch. Guys were high-fiving each other with their greasy, hot-wing-stained hands, then reached for their beers to chug and order again.
Whatever.
Each order was another increase on the bill and my tip.
God, I hated the fucking job so much. But it was a job. It paid the bills for me. It kept me going until I could figure out what was next. Plus, I only had to work a few shifts to make a decent paycheck. Having three to four days a week off was nice, and it gave me a chance to pick up extra work here and there to stash some cash away for emergencies. Or for what I really wanted. Which was my own bakery. Insane, I know. But the idea came to me after working a bake sale. Watching people throw money at baked goods. I went home and made up some cakes, brownies, cookies, and took it to another bake sale and sold everything.
But to open a business and run a business required a lot of money. That was something I was short on for the moment.
I walked to a table of four guys and four women with a tray of drinks. The guys were on beers three and four, and their second order of wings. Their eyes were glued to the screens. The women sat there, looking tired and bored.
I smirked at them and they gave a little head nod.
They were in no better position than I was.
As I walked back to the bar, my butt vibrated.
I snuck behind the bar and looked around. Our manager, Dale, was a fucking dick about cell phones. I snuck my phone out of my pocket and saw it was a text from Darryl. He was my sort-of thing going on. We really weren’t dating, but we were. We hung out here and there. Kissed a lot. Fooled around once or twice. Nothing serious. Which was perfect for me.
Can we have a real date? Tonight? Start things over?
I rolled my eyes.
See, this was the problem with hookups. Eve insisted I go out with Darryl. She wanted to set me up so bad. And Darryl was a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. One of those things. We all hung out one night at a bar, had some drinks, exchanged numbers, and that was that. Eve felt good. Then I had Darryl texting me. I had no reason to not want to date him…except last night.
Drunk, he called me to confess some weird stuff about himself. Stuff about his ex. Stuff about his heart. Personal stuff which then ended with him calling me a “traitor bitch” who was after his car and auto shop business.
This morning he apologized.
I took it more jokingly, actually putting my phone on speaker as he droned on the night before.
He said he was angry and shouldn’t have directed it at me.
He brought me coffee. He brought me roses. He talked to me.
I was a sucker for a damaged guy. It was sort of my specialty in life.
I couldn’t say I liked Darryl all that much, yet, but he at least had my full attention.
It took me all of four seconds to make my decision on his text message.
So, I wrote back.
Yes. Tonight. I’ll call you when I leave here. GTG
He texted back a smiley face.
I smiled.
Somewhere inside me I always envisioned myself finding that one true romance where I least expected it. Either a random meeting, a stupid set-up date, or through a mess like Darryl had created. That just seemed to be my fate and I was okay with accepting that.
Funny part with Darryl was that he wanted to hang out tonight and he didn’t know that tomorrow was my birthday. Which meant there was a good chance wherever I was, Eve would be close by to do her hippie midnight birthday kiss thing. Then she’d make me envision my year, dream big. And then get crazy drunk.
That would be a nice test for Darryl. See how he reacted to my birthday.
I tucked my cell into my back pocket again.
“Excuse me, can I get a drink?”
I jumped when I heard the voice. As long as it wasn’t Dale busting me with my phone. He was notorious for embarrassing waitresses. And sending them home, no matter how busy the place was. That meant you lost money and you were on everyone else’s shit
list because they had to pick up all your tables.
I turned and plastered a big smile on my face.
Only three hours left on my shift.
Nothing could break me.
Nothing could get to me.
“A drink…”
My mouth remained open.
There, standing at the bar, looking messy, sweaty, and sexy…
“Aiden,” I whispered.
I hadn’t seen him in five years - not since he was taken away in cuffs.
Little did I know, it would end the exact same way.
Another guy joined Aiden. I wasn’t supposed to be working the bar but the bartender - Andy - was flirting with a group of guys. She knew how to work the bar to leave you hanging just enough that you were pissed but then she’d flirt, laugh, and you’d forget all about being pissed.
She would get pissed that I poured Aiden and his friend two beers, but whatever.
It was Aiden.
I still saw him in the hallway, trying to fight the cops, being tackled by EMTs. Screaming, clawing, wanting to get away from it all. All because we were arguing over stupid shit. That was the same day I got fired from my first and last real job, too. For the last five years, I’d worked the restaurant scene like an old pro. The sports bar was the worst but paid the best.
I put two ice cold mugs on the bar.
Aiden grabbed for a twenty and slid it at me.
“I’m not bartending,” I said. “Andy is. She’ll get you squared away.”
“Hey,” Aiden said.
I froze at the corner of the bar. I had to get away from him. But I couldn’t just run when he called for me.
Aiden turned and stood up. His shirt was covered in what looked like grease and sweat. His hands were beat up and black. He was bigger than before, if that were possible. There was a ruggedness about him. He didn’t match anyone else in the bar. And I knew Aiden didn’t like sports at all.
“It’s good to see you,” he said. “Are you… when is your shift over?”
“I have a date tonight,” I blurted out like a fool.
Aiden raised an eyebrow.
His arms were slightly open, making me wonder if he wanted a hug.
I’d hug him in a heartbeat.
But I had to go.
“Enjoy your date,” Aiden called out.
I walked away rubbing my forehead, my face red.
As I passed a table I heard a whistle. I looked to my right and saw a guy reaching for me. He was far off, meaning I was safe from his grasp.
“Can I help you?”
“A beer,” he said. “Cold beer.”
“Sure thing,” I said. “I’ll go get your waitress…”
“And I’ll take those tits… to go,” he said and quickly broke into laughter.
I stood frozen, shocked, embarrassed, other people looking at me, wondering what I was going to do. The guy’s friend reached into his pocket and took out money.
They’d bet on it.
The guy was going to get money for what he said to me.
“What did you say to me?” I asked.
“Easy now, babe,” the guy said. “Unless you’re serious. Then, yeah, box that ass up and come for a ride in my truck.”
I broke the first rule - engaging an asshole.
Now I was approaching him.
I went right to the table, secretly wishing he would touch me so I could douse him with ranch dressing and his wannabe hot sauce, which was nothing but glorified ketchup.
“You should pay your tab and leave,” I said. “Before I get the manager.”
“Oh yeah? Go get the fucking manager. I’ll tell him how you’re being a stank ass bitch to me and my buddy.”
I gasped.
“Jesus, Manny,” the other guy said. “Sorry, babe, he’s just drunk.”
“Stop calling me babe,” I yelled.
Now I had even more eyes on me.
“You’re all pent up,” the guy said. “You need relief.”
He put his hand to his face, opening his pointer and middle finger. He darted his tongue between his fingers.
“Lily,” someone said from behind me. “It’s my table. I’ll…”
I felt my hand close up into a fist. I was going to hit him. I was going to hit the guy.
I knew if I did that I would get fired, no matter what.
Before I could hit him, the guy disappeared.
I mean, literally disappeared.
One second he was there, the next second he was gone.
I blinked and looked down.
The guy was on the floor.
And Aiden was on top of him, beating him.
Chapter 21
(Roses and Wine)
FIVE YEARS AGO
(AIDEN)
Christ.
Of all the places Bill could choose to grab a beer, he chose some fucking sports bar because of a fucking football game. But whatever. I needed a goddamn drink. We had pulled an early morning start to finish up a custom engine job. At the last hour, the guy who owned the shop - Reggie - decided to give a discount to the customer after he bitched about the job taking so long. The discount came out of mine and Bill’s pay.
Nothing like getting fucked by your boss.
I was used to that. It wasn’t a surprise.
But what was a surprise was walking up to the bar and seeing a familiar figure from behind. Her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Her shoulders, waist, hips, the way those curves worked together and held my attention the way Bill’s was being held by some guys in helmets chasing each other down some fake grass field.
I said excuse me knowing damn well my life was about to explode.
And sure as anything, it was Lily.
My Lily. My flower. Our paths crossing once again.
She was shocked. Rightfully so.
She got me a drink and walked away.
I couldn’t blame her for holding everything against me. Last time we were together I got arrested. Charged with assault and had to do a month in jail. Then I was on parole for a year. I shipped my ass south with a judge’s approval to take a job fixing motorcycles at a custom chop shop. That gig burned out just as my year of parole came and went. Then I cashed everything in and headed to Texas. There I drank, fought, ran from the cops, and almost got myself killed in a wild poker game. So, I came back west and settled. I had an apartment. I had a truck that ran on most days. I had a steady job that paid in cash. So, I just lived. And by living I also kept away from Lily. Time twisted and turned, leaving us behind, and I figured after what happened the last time, it was better to keep distance and time.
Anytime we got together, shit seemed to get wild. And wild, way too quickly.
When Lily blurted out she had a date and then stormed away, I followed her with my eyes.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Bill said, shaking my shoulder.
I knew I looked like hell. A mess of sweat and grease. But I wasn’t on the prowl. I just wanted to have a couple beers, some wings, and then go home and drink whiskey until I passed out on the couch.
“What do you want?” I growled at Bill.
I watched Lily as she walked. That ass. Those jeans. Cut-off jeans. Black cut-off jeans. Little strings dangling, touching the back of her legs the way my fingertips used to do.
“Third and long,” Bill said. “This is a huge play.”
“Yeah, sure,” I mumbled.
Then something happened.
Some asshole reached for Lily. And he said something that stopped her in her tracks. When she turned and I saw the look on her face, I knew this wasn’t going to end well. Even from my distance it wasn’t hard to put two-and-two together. The atmosphere of the place was a woman’s nightmare. A bunch of half-drunk assholes grabbing ass, thinking they had a chance at waitresses who were hardly wearing any clothes.
“Shit, here we go,” Bill said.
“Yeah, here we go,” I whispered.
I broke away from Bill and walked toward the scene.
Lily looked ready to hit the guy.
I watched him and his buddy looking like two fucking pricks.
Not to my Lily. My flower.
Maybe I could never give her that forever white knight bullshit, but when I was there, I knew damn well I could and should protect her.
So that’s what I did.
I grabbed the guy by the back of his shirt and pulled him out of his chair. It all happened so fast it took everyone a few seconds to realize what I was doing. Which meant I had the chance to get two good punches in.
Then I heard a barrage of yells, cries, and people flocked to me to break up the attack.
“Jesus, Aiden,” Bill yelled in my ear as he grabbed my arm.
Someone had my other arm.
The guy’s asshole friend jumped out of his seat and lunged at me. He swung, hitting me in the gut. He got one cheap shot because that’s when Bill let me go. I pulled my other hand free and went after the guy. He fell back, tripping, hitting the floor, put his hands up, shaking his head.
I planned on smashing his face into the floor but then there was a hand at my chest.
I looked down. Then to my left.
“Lily,” I said.
“Aiden. Please. I can’t get fired.”
“Nobody should talk to you like that.”
“Go. Right now. I’ll tell my manager you were drunk and took off. Meet me out back in ten minutes. Okay?”
I grinned.
I nodded.
Some women needed roses and wine to get won over.
All Lily needed was me defending her honor…
“Are you insane?” Bill asked me as he shoved me.
I grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him to his pickup truck. I threw him against it.
“Get out of here,” I said.
“What are you doing?”
“I have to stay for a bit.”
“Stay? You’re lucky they didn’t call the fucking cops on you. What were you thinking?”
“You didn’t hear what the guy said to her,” I said.
“Yeah, because I came here to watch a goddamn football game. Not toss my nose into some business where it doesn’t belong.”