Page 23 of My December Darling

“Why on earth would I be mad about that?” He turns to face me with crossed arms.

“Well, Catalina isyourex.”

“So? I’m in love with her sister. Plus, Catalina and I were hardly together. At least in that sense.”

“You dated each other.”

He casually lifts a shoulder. “And during that time, she was traveling around the country for work. We might have talked every day, but it was more platonic than anything else.”

“Got it,” I say with a finality to my tone.

He chuckles to himself.

I take a few more bites of my food before talking. “You really wouldn’t be upset if I—I don’t know. Talked to her more?”

He laughs to himself. “I swore I’d never say this aloud.”

Nowthatmakes me curious.

I place my elbows on the counter and lean forward. “What?”

“I always thought you two were better suited for each other.”

“Really?” And he kept this to himself for exactlyhowlong?

“Yeah. It’s one of the reasons I broke up with her, but I never told her that of course. Especially since she didn’t seem to like you very much once you met.”

Oh shit. I thought the only reason Aiden called it off with Catalina was because he started being interested in her sister as more than a friend.

Aiden continues, “There were little things you said or did that always reminded me of her. That’s probably why I took to being her friend so easily.”

“How did you even become her friend?” Aiden might have told me once before, but I don’t remember.

“You of all people know she isn’t the kind of girl who lets people get too close, too fast.”

“Tell me about it.”

“It took me some time to wear her down, but she’s a great girl who just needs people to take the time to get to know her.”

“So I’m starting to realize,” I say with a sigh.

“I will say that whoever earns her trust and loyalty better do everything possible to protect it or else they’ll have to deal with me.”

My last bite tastes like ash in my mouth. “Are you going to be an overbearing ex?”

“Worse. A protective brother-in-law.”

“That’s supposed to be worse?”

“Yup, because anyone who hurts Catalina is guaranteed to upset my future wife, which will instantly piss me off.”

Based on the glint in his eye, I hope no one ever crosses Gaby’s path.

“Watching you fall in love like this is fascinating,” I say.

He shoots me a smile. “I look forward to saying the same thing about you one day.”

“I never said I was falling in love with anyone.”

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