Page 2 of Aiden

“Are you two close? Why is he coming here?” I ask curiously.

“Aiden is his own thing. We’re as close as he will let me be. You’ll see what I’m talking about. He’s coming here because he doesn’t want to go home during his move.”

His move?

“Why? I love your mom! She was so funny that time she came to visit and brought us both fuzzy pajamas and made us have a full-on girl’s night, like a middle school throwback. Braided hair and all!” I laugh at the memory.

Ashley looks at me uneasily. “Look, don’t say anything because it’s a sore subject, but that’s not his mom. He lives with our dad, sort of. If you can even call him one.” Her lips twist into a frown. “But he’s all Aiden has. He’s been away the past four years at university and hasn’t been back home since. He’s looking for his own place, so he’s staying here until then. Shouldn’t be more than a couple of weeks.” She shrugs.

“Your dad? The asshole that left you?” The astonishment is clear in my voice.

“Yeah, Aiden and I are half-siblings. I don’t really want to get into that. Just please don’t bring it up.” She gives me a crooked grin as we step out of the car.

“Of course, I wouldn’t.” I smile reassuringly at her.

My thoughts go toward the little I know as Ashley doesn’t talk much about her childhood. Her dad left her at a young age and isn’t involved in her life. I just assumed they were full-blooded siblings.

Unlocking the door, I step inside. I whistle while walking to the kitchen, feeling ecstatic about my day. That’s when I see him, leaning against the counter with his elbows on the bar top.

I can’t help but stare, taking in the thin material of his T-shirt which showcases his inked and tan skin underneath. He looks up at me, his striking green eyes piercing mine. I feel my cheeks begin to heat but I can’t pull my eyes away.

A cough interrupts my thoughts and I look over to find Ash looking back and forth between us. I assume they would hug after Aiden being gone for so long, but she simply waves.

“Hey Aiden,” She greets with a smile.

“Hey Ash.” His deep baritone fills our tiny kitchen. He straightens and makes his way over to her in long strides, ducking his head to miss the ceiling fan overhead. He is tall, so tall.

Muscles flex underneath his shirt, and when my eyes pan back to his face, he’s already looking back at me. His full lips slightly curve upward, leaving the faintest trace of a smile.

I look away to keep from gawking.What is wrong with me?I shake my head to clear my mind.

Mine and Ashley’s eyes simultaneously land on a tool bag, its contents laid out on the counter.

“What’s this?”

A smirk creeps up on Aiden’s face.

Dimples.

Then, as if something ruined his day, the smile is gone and replaced with a flat line.

He shrugs as he places everything back into the bag. “I used the key you left me to get inside. I went to wash my hands, but the hot water didn’t work, so I fixed it.”

Ashley’s smile is evident, so is mine. The tap on our hot water has been broken since we moved in, but we’ve been too broke to fix it. Living off campus takes every dime we have, and while our house is cute… it needs some work.

We thank him numerous times until silence stretches through the small room. I can feel Aiden’s sharp gaze traveling up and down my body.

Ashley speaks up then, gesturing my way. “Anyway, this is Emma.”

“Hello.”

His voice is smooth like velvet, sending a chill through me. Maybe I’m worked up because I know what I’m doing tonight with Ian. That must be it. Hormones and all.

I awkwardly nod back at him, with a short smile. “Hey. I’ll let you two catch up.”

I turn on my heels to escape his piercing gaze and head for my bedroom.Maybe I’m just being paranoid.Back to the very important matter at hand; it’s four and I’m exhausted from the finals today. With the party starting at ten, I can get some sleep in before we go. Plopping down on my bed, it takes slim minutes of my head resting on the pillow before I slide into a dreamless sleep.

“Em!” Ashley’s slim hands wrap around my shoulders, gently shaking me from my slumber.

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