Page 51 of Beautifully Complicated

I still haven’t mentioned it to Aiden—I don’t want to get his hopes up—but I’ve reconnected with the man who wanted me to start a new venture with him several years ago, and we’re chatting about what that might look like now. Though I have a few stipulations regarding the mission and the work, the primary one is that Aiden be included, which I’ll bring up when the time is right.

As we exit the venue both Aiden and I thank a somewhat glum Daniel for a nice evening, and when Aiden mentions the need to order an Uber, I offer to take him home, so he doesn’t have to wait. But really, we need to talk.

“I can’t believe you texted me while I was sitting right next to Daniel,” I admonish when we get in the car.

“Well, he’d basically just confirmed he wanted the night to be a date, and you weren’t saying anything. What else was I supposed to do? Besides, it’s not like my name came up on the screen.”

“That was still an unnecessary risk.”

“Calculated,” he objects. “And it worked. Now he knows you aren’t available so he can move on, although you still might want to talk to him.”

“And say what?” I balk as I pull out of the parking lot.

“That once you arrived you got the impression he meant the evening to be a date, which you weren’t aware of, and if that’s the case you apologize for the confusion.”

“That’s—" I change course once his words register”—actually sort of perfect.”

“Yeah, well, I told you I had some experience with this. It won’t make him feel good exactly, but hopefully it’ll make him feel better. Eventually.”

“He did seem a little glum when you mentioned Conor. Thanks for the heads up on my boyfriend’s name by the way,” I quip sarcastically. “I hope I can remember it.”

“Just substitute Leanbh if you get stuck.” I see him smirking from the corner of my eye.

“You are so lucky I never changed it to your name.”

“That wasn’t luck. I knew it didn’t say Aiden.”

“How?”

“Because I’ve always been Leanbh to you.”

Chapter sixteen

Aiden

“Aiden Sinclair it is the day after Christmas, you can’t possibly be serious about going back to school.” My mother stands in the doorway of my room as I pack, almost as if she intends to block the exit.

“I have so much to do, I’ll be behind if I don’t leave today.”

“Behind on what? Classes don’t start until January.”

“I still have all my research work.” I stuff my folded sweatshirts into my suitcase, smooshing them down so there’s room for my jeans.

“That professor you work for is forcing you to give up time with your family to be his free labor?”

“He isn’t making me come back from break early, I’m choosing to. I want to finish this project before graduation because it’ll be a big deal to have it on my applications going forward.”

“Applications for what? School or work?” My mom puts her hands on her hips, a telltale sign she’s losing patience.

I’ve gone over my future options with my parents, and the fact I’m wavering on what to do concerns them since that’s out of character. I told them I’m exploring both options because while I want to do grad school, it’s possible any company I go to work for would foot the bill for that, in which case it’d be silly to pay out of pocket.

Too bad they know my grades would most likely make me eligible for significant scholarship money, rendering the whole work versus school argument moot, if the extra degree is what I want.

“Both. The stuff I’m working on is cutting edge. It’s like a golden ticket, if I can finish.”

Just then Conor, my brother-in-law, comes to check on things, and my mom throws her hands in the air with a littleyou talk to himgesture and stomps away.

“You’re really gonna leave early and make me deal with her moping by myself, A?” he asks.

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