Page 91 of Done with You

He also had newfound respect for Rayma. For all the Young sisters. They got out from under their parents’ controlling thumbs and made enormous successes of themselves.

The sound of a key sliding into a lock made both of them turn toward the entryway. Jordan was up out of his seat and opened the door for them, his eyes wide as he took in the disheveled, but smiling and puffy-eyed state of his future bride. “What happened over there?”

“A lot of bonding. A lot of crying. A lot of wine, a lot of donuts, a lot of Indian food, a lot of … sisterliness,” Rayma said, stepping into Jordan’s arms. “I’m going to have a shower then crawl into bed. I’m not that drunk, but I am pretty tired from all the crying.”

Jordan turned a worried eye to Oona. “Why was everyone crying?”

“It was good crying,” Oona assured him. “Catharsis. Therapeutic. Trust me, it needed to happen.”

“Okay,” he said, still unconvinced and returning his gaze to Rayma, regarding her carefully. The love and concern in his eyes as he watched his future wife was practically tangible. Aiden had never felt that kind of love from someone before, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt it for someone, either.

Jordan and Rayma were something to strive for.

He just wasn’t sure he was worthy, or if he’d ever be.

“I’m not going to let my parents ruin my wedding day, Lassie. I’m just not.” Rayma ditched her boots and hung up her coat. She spied the bowl of salt and vinegar chips on the coffee table and walked over to grab a handful, dropping her gaze to Aiden. “How did your chat go with Joy?”

Aiden swallowed. “It went well, I think.”

“Yeah? Did she fix you?”

“Rayma,” Jordan said slowly.

Rayma swatted her hand toward her fiancé. “I know. I know. One therapy session does not fix a person. But it’s the drop of Elmer’s glue needed to start putting the pieces back together, right?”

All Aiden could do was nod.

Rayma popped a chip into her mouth. “We ate so many donuts and so much Indian food. My butthole will probably be angry with me tomorrow, but my tastebuds were so happy with me today.”

Oona snorted and rolled her eyes from where she stood in the kitchen.

Aiden’s gaze pivoted toward her.

He saw her differently now, too.

Stronger. More resilient. And he understood a bit better why she was so reserved and cold in certain circumstances. It was a product of her upbringing. A form of self-preservation. But also, an ingrained conservativism she was probably fighting tooth and nail by adopting her alter ego, Luna.

“Come snuggle me in bed, Lassie. I can’t guarantee sex, but maybe.”

Jordan rolled his eyes and turned to Aiden. “You gonna be okay out here? Or do I need to put a strip of tape down the center of the apartment, you each get a side.”

“We’re adults,” Oona said. “I think we can manage.”

Aiden nodded. “Not going to do anything to ruin your special day, bro. I promise.”

Jordan yawned and bobbed his head, then followed his fiancée into their bedroom and shut the door.

Aiden glanced back up at Oona who was standing on the far side of the island watching him.

He stood up and cleared his throat. “I uh … I owe you an apology.”

All that shifted was the height of her brows on her forehead. She hiked them up ever so slightly, but otherwise, her facial expression never changed.

“I’m sorry for the way I reacted when you declined seeing me as a patient. I understand why you had to. It was for reasons greater than just what happened between us. And I get that now.” He was staring down at the granite island, gripping it tight enough to make the tips of his fingers turn white. He released it and cleared his throat again, lifting his gaze to her face. “I also never should have said that you were bad in bed. You’re not, for the record, and that was just mean.”

She was quiet for a very long minute.

Aiden shifted back and forth awkwardly on his feet, alternating between staring at the counter and her. Was he supposed to say something else?

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