Page 48 of Liberating Love

While he’s enduring the bear hug, Chet whispers at my shoulder, “Okay, with that blush, he couldn’t be any cuter. I see why you have it so bad.” He giggles—fucking giggles—and brushes by me. “Jack, let that poor man go. You’ve been working in the kitchen all day and you reek of garlic. You smell like you’re warding off vampires or something.”

Dwayne stands and gets in on the action. “He probably is. You know how into vampire movies he is. He probably has himself all freaked out.” He tugs on the front of Jack’s T-shirt. “You gotta a string of garlic under that shirt? You can tell us; we’re your friends.”

Aiden’s bewildered gaze takes in my friends’ antics as they tease Jack about the vampire obsession he’s had since middle school, and I watch Aiden’s body unwind and his shoulders relax as he realizes my friends are just as big of dumb asses as his own. Once a small smile tickles at the edges of his lips, Chet gives him a quick, warm hug. “Hi, Aiden. We’re so glad you decided to join us today. This one’s been going on and on about you, so I’ve been dying to officially talk to the man who could put that smile on my old friend’s face.”

Aiden’s hazel eyes twinkle as he glances over at me. “On and on, huh? And when did this start?”

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath. Pulling out the chair I usually sit in, I say, “Why don’t you sit down, Aiden?”

He shakes his head, but there’s a fond grin on his face as he approaches me. “You really meant it, didn’t you? You’ve considered this a real thing for awhile now?”

I nod. “Are you mad I told them about you before…”

“When it was supposed to be a secret?” I nod again. “No, I like knowing you wanted to talk about me. Besides, I did tell Drix.” We both chuckle. Poor Gavin is going to use it against that boy that he knew about us before he did forever.

Right as Aiden’s butt is about to hit the seat, Chet says, “Aiden, please sit by me. I really would love to get to know you better.”

Jack fakes an affronted expression. “Hey, that’s my seat.”

“Not today,” Chet says tartly. “You can sit on the side.”

“But Delaney was supposed to sit there,” he whines.

Dwayne shakes his head sadly, then says to Aiden, “You see what I’ve been putting up with all these years?”

As Aiden stands and moves around the table to sit next to Chet, he says, “You poor thing. I understand, though. I’m the sensible one in my friend group, too.”

Dwayne shrugs. “Someone has to do it, am I right?”

We all settle into our seats with Chet across me, Dwayne next to me, and Aiden catty-corner from me. The conversation flows easily between us, and it’s like Aiden’s been coming with me every week. Throughout the couple of hours that we spend together, Chet lowers his voice and engages Aiden privately. If it was Jack or Dwayne it might concern me, but Chet’s friendship and mine has always been different and it warms my heart to see him making such an effort to welcome my man.

We’ve eaten our appetizers and are finishing the last of our drinks when Dwayne says, “Hey, Aiden. I have to say, I was a little worried about you and Foxy when I first heard about you.” A low growl rumbles in my chest at the immediate panic that springs into Aiden’s hazel orbs after such a pleasant afternoon. “I mean, this guy has turned into a beast and I thought, ‘How can anyone keep up with him?’ but I’m happy to say, after spending this time together, I believe he’s met his match in you. In fact, I think you’ll give this old son-of-a-gun a run for the money he needs.”

“Agreed,” Jacks says, laughing. “Foxy needs a good man, and as soon as I found out he was seeing you, well, I stopped worrying about him like I had been.”

Aiden’s concern clears as a slight flush works its way up from his neck to his forehead. Chet elbows him teasingly. “They couldn’tnotembarrass you and Laney when they gave their seal of approval. It’s just not their way. They did the same thing when I first introduced them to my husband. It was so mortifying.”

“It’s okay. Honestly, I was worried you’d think I was...”

“He thought you guys would think he’s too young for me.”

Chet reaches up and throws his arm around Aiden’s shoulder and pulls him down close. “Sweetheart, the only people of a certain age that actually care about age, are the ones who think they’re old themselves. The date on the calendar we were born is exactly that, a date. You can be twenty and the burdens of life have you acting and moving like you’re one hundred. Or, you can be our age and still be youthful. The only difference with us is hopefully, we’re a little wiser. Your personality compliments Laney perfectly, and even more importantly, the way you look at him makes my heart sing.”

Jack says, “He’s absolutely right. In fact, you have problems with him, let me know. I’ll kick his ass into shape if you need it.”

“Hey.” I raise my arms in protest.

Dwayne smiles smugly. “Sorry, man. You had to know we were going to like him better than you.”

The good-natured ribbing continues all the way out the door as we leave Jack behind to keep working. Dwayne gives me a fist-bump before hugging Chet and Aiden and taking off for his own car. When it’s only the three of us, Chet says, “Aiden, I’d really like you two to come for dinner soon. I want you to meet my husband.”

“I’d really like that,” Aiden says sincerely. The two men hug goodbye, stopping to whisper to each other one last time.

As Chet hugs me, he says in a mock-whisper, “I absolutely adore him, Laney. I couldn’t have done better if I hand-picked you someone myself.”

“Thanks, Chet,” I say as I pull away. He gives us a jaunty wave while rushing to his own car.

“I like your friends,” Aiden says, lacing our fingers together while we stroll at a leisurely pace to my truck.

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