by Lynn Stevens
But did he want to risk his heart again?
I didn’t know that answer. The only way to find out was to push it. That was the last thing I was going to do. If Aiden was only willing to be my friend, I was going to take what I could get. Even if it hurt me in the long run.
After parking in a lot three blocks away, we walked on the crowded sidewalk toward the arena. Aiden shoved his hands in his pockets, and I put mine behind my back, weaving my fingers together.
“Sorry about Eve,” I said as sincerely as I could.
Aiden grunted. “I’m not.”
“Why?” My shock must have matched his. “Sorry. I mean if you don’t mind me asking. Friends ask, right?”
He nodded and stared at the sidewalk. “Eve wasn’t… she wasn’t… Sometimes she wasn’t very nice. She tore me down a lot. It just took me a bit to realize what was going on. Too long, really.”
“Dr. Hale says people tear others down for a lot of reasons. One is to build them into the person they want them to be. Another is to make themselves feel better.” I shook my head. “You’re a great guy. Nobody should ever make you feel like less of a person.”
He didn’t say anything for a beat. “You still talk to Dr. Hale?”
“Once a month.” I glanced at his concerned expression. “After my breakthrough last year, I’ve really started to heal.”
“Breakthrough?” He stopped and put his hand on my arm. I turned to face him, not caring that people bitched as they had to go around us.
I took a deep breath. “The sleeping pills. I did it on purpose. Subconsciously on purpose.”
“Do you still talk to him?” Aiden asked softly. There wasn’t an accusatory note in his voice.
I shook my head. “Not since that night at the theater.”
Somebody pushed me from behind. With my hands behind my back, I wasn’t able to brace myself as I fell into Aiden’s chest. His arms wrapped around my waist, keeping me upright. My hands landed on his hips. I closed my eyes, inhaling his clean scent and enjoying the warmth of his body. It didn’t last long enough.
“You okay?” he asked as he pushed me away.
I nodded and started walking. We didn’t really talk again until I had the tickets. It was loud around us, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I stepped off to the side of the box office and handed him the ticket as I looked at the backstage passes.
“Jesus,” Aiden said as he stared at the tickets. “These are front row.”
I smiled and put my pass around my neck, tucking it under my shirt. “Cool.”
“How did you get these?” he asked. His eyes widened at the pass in my hand. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Nope.” I could’ve handed it to him. Instead, I put it around his neck, stepping into his personal space to do so. I pulled his shirt forward and dropped the pass under it. “I’ve got connections.”
“Lily’s going to be pissed she missed this.” Aiden glanced at the tickets again.
“She’s met Cami before. Last summer during my sister’s wedding.” I smiled at his shocked face. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“We don’t talk about last summer,” he said, his eyes darkening for a moment.
“Aiden,” I said softly.
“Let’s go find our seats.” He stepped back.
I nodded, but I let him take the lead. We walked through the metal detector and had our tickets scanned. The arena was packed. Aiden reached back and took my hand lightly. I relished the feel of his skin on mine. It wasn’t like he was holding my hand. He was just keeping us together. By the time we found our gate, his fingers had woven between mine. I didn’t react, but I wanted to squeeze his hand. I wanted to pull him closer. I wanted so much in that moment. Maybe I wanted too much.
We got to our seats, and Aiden let go. Neither one of us sat down. I did a Lily bounce beside him, my hip brushing against his. Aiden laughed. We didn’t talk about anything other than the stage and the atmosphere. Then the lights dropped, and Cami appeared onstage with Dylan by her side holding an acoustic guitar. Her voice filled the arena as she started the song about revenge on an ex-boyfriend. After the first verse, the band took it up to the fast-paced song it was.
I danced and sang along, Aiden doing the same beside me. We just existed in the moment. No drama, no conversation. Just us and the music. Halfway through the show, Cami introduced the band.
And introduced me.
“I just want to give a shout out to one of my best friends, Miranda Reynolds, who’s with us here tonight.”
My face burned as the crowd cheered, and Aiden nudged me with his elbow. I leaned into him. Aiden’s arm went around my waist. I relished the feeling. His thumb drew circles, and I felt ever touch despite the shirt. It was perfect, and damn me, I wanted more of this.
“Miranda, this is for you.”
It was just Cami and Dylan on the stage. The first notes were new. I didn’t know this song. Aiden’s arm slipped away, but I stayed pressed against him. Fear coursed through me. Why? I had no idea, but I felt my life was about to be exposed to the world.
Cami’s voice haunted the arena as cell phones lit up. Aiden tensed beside me as he listened to the words. She sang about a girl who loved the wrong guy and almost paid the ultimate price. It was my life, except for the end. The girl had found her happily ever after. I was still looking for mine although I hoped he was beside me. When Cami’s song finished, the crowd erupted but I was frozen.
Aiden turned me toward him. His fingers squeezed my shoulder, then his hands moved up my neck until he cupped my face. His thumbs wiped away the tears sliding down my cheeks. “You okay?”
“I am now,” I said so softly he probably didn’t hear it. “I’m so sorry I fucked everything up between us.”
He nodded, but he didn’t let go. My hands covered his.
“Aiden?”
“What do you want, Miranda? What do you really want?” he asked over the next song.
“Your forgiveness.”
“You have that.”
“And just one chance to show you what I didn’t understand last year.” More tears slid down my cheek. “One chance, Aiden. One chance to show you I’m yours. I always have been even when I didn’t realize it.”
“When you know, you know, duchess,” he said.
“And I know.”
He leaned down and kissed me. I held onto him as if he might evaporate, but he didn’t. Somebody bumped him and shouted for us to get a room. Aiden pulled back first, and he grinned.
For the first time, my life was on the right path.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Three and a half years later…
I tossed my cap in the air, but not so high I couldn’t find it again. My green graduation gown was too hot, and all I wanted to do was find my parents for quick photos so I could take the damn thing off.
“We did it,” she shouted before throwing her arms around my neck.
I laughed. “You said that last time.”
“Repeat performances are worth it sometimes,” she said. In the last few years, Lily had changed. She still had her positive attitude, and she still had her bounce. Miles had grounded her.
He put his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, kissing her neck. “You look edible in green.”
“Gross,” I said, turning from them to search the crowd.
“You’re just jealous you didn’t tap this when you had the chance,” Miles said behind me. Lily laughed, and so did I.
Shaking my head, I glanced over my shoulder to them, but Miles was already kissing her like they were going to start making babies, which was exactly what Lily wanted. They’d gotten married at Christmas. Lily King was now Lily Green. Much to her parents’ chagrin. Lily and Miles flew off to Vegas. And they didn’t tell anyone. I was just as shocked as everyone else. With the help of Malcolm and Telia, I managed to organize a reception in two weeks. Their parents may not have been at the ceremony, but they got the reception and photos.
“Mi
randa,” Dad said to my right. He grinned like the proud papa he was. A smart two-year-old boy snuggled against his chest. Carly and Gracin’s son looked like his father, but he had Carly’s reckless spirit.
“You’re spoiling him,” Carly said, taking Cooper from his grandfather. “That’s my job.”
“No, that’s mine,” Mom said as she took Cooper from Carly. The boy rarely had to walk anywhere.
I laughed and pulled them all into a group hug. Carly may have missed my high school graduation, but she refused to miss this one. Gracin was back in Nashville working on his next album. And I only had so many tickets.
“Don’t I get a hug?”
I spun around to tackle Aiden. He laughed as we stumbled back.
“You’ve been around my sister too long.” He kissed my cheek. Aiden preferred to keep his affections behind closed doors. Major PDAs weren’t his thing. Well, not around people anyway. We could be anywhere alone, and he’d show me how much he loved me. “Congratulations, Miranda Reynolds.”
“Thank you, Aiden King.” I kissed him quickly.
“Miranda,” Carly said, and I turned around. Then her eyes went wide as her gaze shifted down and behind me.
I spun around, and Aiden wasn’t standing in front of me. He knelt with a black ring box opened to reveal a large teardrop ruby.
“Diamonds are pretty, but you’re the fire in my heart, duchess.” He shrugged with a smirk. “Marry me.”
I shrugged back at him. “Give me a minute to think about it.”
“Miranda!” Mom’s shriek echoed, but I smiled.
I dropped to my knees in front of Aiden and pulled out a black ring box. Laughing, I popped it open to show him a simple band. “Only if you’ll marry me.”
“Deal,” he said, kissing me quickly before helping me to my feet. “Wedding!”
“Let’s get married,” Miles shouted loudly.
I dropped the nasty green robe and tossed it to my dad. His eyes widened when he saw my dress. It wasn’t anything crazy, just a simple beaded white cocktail dress. Something dug into my scalp, and I put my hands up to feel the tiara.
People parted around us.
“Oh my god, it’s a pop-up wedding,” somebody said.
“Miranda, what’s going on?” Mom asked as Lily moved her to stand by my father.
I just smiled. Aiden took my hands, and Miles began the ceremony. The world around us quieted as people stopped to watch our wedding. It wasn’t hard to organize. Aiden asked me to marry him over Easter, and I hadn’t wanted to wait. Getting Miles and Lily on board was all it took. Miles become ordained online, and the rest fell into place. It was perfect. When Miles asked if anyone objected, the chatter around us quieted even more.
“Do you, Miranda Reynolds, take Aiden King to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Miles asked.
Aiden squeezed my hands as I said, “Always.”
“Do you, Aiden King, take Miranda Reynolds to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Miles asked.
“Always,” Aiden said.
“Oh my stars,” Mom said with tears clearly in her voice.
“By the power vested in me by the great state of Texas and the internet, I now pronounced you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The auditorium erupted around us, but I only saw him. Aiden’s hazel eyes said it all. They were bright with hope and love. Everything I felt in my soul. Aiden cupped my face and kissed me gently.
“Duchess,” he whispered against my lips. “When you know.”
“You know,” I finished.
He kissed me again like I was the only person on the planet. He was definitely the only person on the planet for me. And he always would be.
Also by Lynn Stevens
Girls of Summer Series
Extra Innings
The Rebound
On Par
Westland University Series
Full Count
Game On
Stealing Home
Just One… Series
Just One Summer
Just One Song
Just One Chance
Roomies
Rebel Princess
Lynn Stevens flunked out of college writing her first novel. Yes, she still has it and no, you can’t read it. Surprisingly, she graduated with honors at her third school. A former farm girl turned city slicker, Lynn lives in the Midwest where she drinks coffee she can’t pronounce and sips tea when she’s out of coffee. When she’s out of both, just stay away.
Find me online
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