Page 47 of Skylar

As she thought of him, she felt nothing. Apparently, a family health emergency was the cure for the breakup blues.

“No.” She didn’t tell him that recently she’d had one. Or that the guy had broken up with her because she hadn’t let him get close.

Aiden looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to expand on her answer. He could wait from then until eternity because she wasn’t going to. The last thing she wanted to do was tell him that she’d just been dumped. Again.

She could only hope that he would move on or allow himself to be guided in a new direction for their conversation. “Have you met any of Cole’s girlfriends?”

Aiden gave a huff of laughter. “A couple.”

“We haven’t met any of them.”

“That’s because he would only bring someone home that he was really serious about.”

“And he hasn’t felt that way about any of them?”

“Nope. He said he didn’t really have the desire to commit to marriage while he was at the height of his career.”

“So why bother dating?”

“It looked good, I suppose,” Aiden said with a shrug.

“Did he lead them on?”

“No. They know what the score is. The relationship lasts until the ladies call it off.”

“So weird,” Skylar said with a shake of her head. “I’d have never imagined that Cole would end up like that. The pair of you and relationships. So messed up.”

She waited for him to defend himself and Cole, but he didn’t.

“You’re probably right,” he said. “But hopefully it’s not too late to change our ways.”

“Even though Cole is still at the height of his career?”

“Maybe he’ll meet someone who’ll make him reconsider his stance.”

“Mom would like that,” Skylar said. “She’s determined to get all her children married.”

“Even you?”

“Oh, I think Mom’s given up on me.”

“You’ve never brought anyone to meet the family?”

And now they were back to her dating life. “Not a chance. Never got serious enough about anyone to risk bringing them home to Mom.”

This time it was Aiden who redirected the conversation, asking about the grandkids in the family. Though Skylar didn’t spend much time with any of them, she still knew who belonged to who and their relative ages.

“Cole didn’t tell you about them?” Skylar asked after she’d given him the rundown.

That got a laugh out of Aiden. “I think the guy has trouble remembering the spouses of his married siblings, let alone all the kids.”

“Yeah, Cole wasn’t here for most of the weddings.”

Aiden’s expression turned sad as he stared out the window. “Having lost my one sibling, I wish Cole had more appreciation for what he has.”

Skylar had to admit that she wasn’t as appreciative of her siblings—beyond Charli—as she could have been. But distanceand lack of communication wasn’t conducive to building strong relationships.

As she took in Aiden’s profile, Skylar had a momentary thought, wondering if she’d be attracted to Aiden if this was the first time they were meeting.

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