Page 35 of Pucked and Pregnant

“I really appreciate you, Aiden. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing you wouldn’t do for me.”

“I do have one more overprotective favor to ask of you though.”

“What is it?”

“Could you invite her over for dinner? And maybe let her stay with you? I know it’s still me being overbearing but I really need someone I trust to lay eyes on her, make sure she didn’t get murdered in a back alley somewhere.”

The universe is setting me up for failure, I just know it. Why else would he ask me that?

“Look, I’ll ask her to dinner but?—”

A chirp from my intercom disrupts my thoughts.

“Hold on, Max.”

I head to the front door and press the talk button. “Yes?”

“Mr. Campbell, I’ve got a Ms. Winters here claiming she knows you,” my doorman says.

“It’s fine, I know her. You can send her up.”

“Very good, sir.”

“James, while I have you, go ahead and add her to the cleared visitors list. She can come see me whenever she likes.”

“Will do, sir. Goodbye.”

I put the phone back up to my ear. “Did you catch that?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s going to be up in a minute. Do you want to stay on the phone so you can talk to her?”

“No. She clearly needs a break from me.” Max sighs. “Thanks for being such a good friend.”

“I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thanks.”

The second we hang up, Liv knocks on my door.

I can tell she’s been crying, but she holds her head high as she sweeps into my place. That’s Liv for you—always strong and proud.

I have no idea how to play this so I go for the safe option.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

Real smooth, Aiden. Real smooth.

“Max called and explained what happened, didn't he?” she asks.

“Yeah, he did.”

She drops down on the couch, a heavy sigh escaping her.

“Good. I was hoping he would. I really don’t have the energy to relive all of that again.”

---