Page 128 of The Puck Stops Here

Over the next couple of hours, he joined his brother in the dying corner, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him while his mother regaled Astrid with tales of their childhood…whollyunnecessarytales.

No one, and he meantno one, needed to know he sucked his thumb until he was four.

‘I get that Astrid needs a handle on our childhood, Mom, but can we steer away from shit like – sorry,stufflike…?’ He waved a hand, unwilling to repeat it.

And she beamed at him, looking younger than her years. ‘Nonsense. The embarrassing stuff is always the best.’

‘For you maybe.’

‘Your mum’s right,’ Astrid said, very much in her element and loving every word.

‘If you two are going to stick with this road, I’m going to clear the table for dessert.’

‘I’ll help!’ Astrid quickly volunteered.

‘Oh no, darling, you’re a guest,’ his mom said.

‘But I’d like to help. You’ve been so kind to welcome me into your home and the meal was delicious. It’s the least I can do…’

His mother reached out to rest her hand on Astrid’s arm. ‘You’re doing plenty already, my dear.’

He spied Astrid’s throat bob, a look passing between the two women that didn’t need words. ‘I hope so.’

Jesus. He was choked up. He didn’t get choked up. But knowing they were talking about him, looking out for him…

‘You’re gonna catch a bug, bro.’

He turned to find Aiden watching him and promptly snapped his mouth shut. But his brother had seen enough. Blake hadfeltenough. And that was a problem. A great big head-screwing problem.

And you honestly think it’s your head getting screwed?

Fuck, yes. No girl had found their way into his heart before, and he wasn’t about to let one now. Especially when she didn’t want him in return.

* * *

Astrid watched Blake leave, wondering what Aiden had said to make him dart off. She looked to the man in question, but he was giving nothing away. Other than a smugness.

Though a smugness in all that orange – oh my God, she couldn’t wait for the girls to see this. She’d forgotten about the switcheroo with his tan, her memory of that morning dominated by that kiss. But now she was seeing, and she was remembering, and she felt the smallest hit of triumph for Sissi. And maybe just a smidge of guilt.

But it had given everyone a hoot.

Everyone save for Aiden.

‘I’d best go and finish off the custard,’ Cynthia said, getting to her feet.

‘It’s okay, Mom, I can sort it.’

‘You think I’m going to entrust my special custard to you? You’ll add some weirdje ne sais quoito it.’

‘Would I dare?’

‘Yes!’

She was gone before Aiden could say another thing and as he turned that smug smile back on Astrid, she couldn’t hold the question in, ‘What did you say to Blake?’

He considered her for a long, tummy-squirming moment.

‘I don’t think it’s what I said, more what he was thinking all by himself.’

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