Page 113 of One Time in Paris
But their argument last night had worried him, too. If they were a team,partnersin this—or at all—telling Callum without her wasn’t fair either.
“Actually, you caught me at a bad moment,” he admitted at last. He cleared his throat. “I was planning on coming over and stealing you away from the women for a while later this morning while they get ready for the party. Just trying to finalize the plans.”
Before Callum could respond, he added, “But let me grab my trainers. We’ll run first, then we can go afterward.”
Congratulations, Camden. You’ve officially hit rock bottom: hiding your best friend’s sister from said best friend in your own bloody bedroom. What’s next—tax fraud?
He headed down the hallway and slipped into his bedroom, locking the door behind him.
Elle, Kyle, and Isla all hung by the bathroom door, close to the door to his bedroom, watching him. Isla was dressed, thankfully, and he held out her knickers. “These are yours,” he whispered.
A faint blush lit her cheeks, and she took them. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault.” He moved past them and went toward his closet.
“Geez, you guys,” Elle breathed with a shake of her head.
“Eh, this isn’t my first sibling scandal. But it’s definitely the most naked one,” Kyle hissed.
Isla gave Kyle a look of indignation. “What the hell are we going to do?” Isla whispered as Aiden reached for his trainers.
“I’m going for a run,” Aiden said simply. He glanced at Elle and Kyle. “How did you know to come warn me?”
“Callum’s mom called me,” Elle said with a grimace. “I called Kyle and got him to delay Callum, then ran out of the house. Quinn has already texted me twenty times.”
“My mum knows?” Isla asked, eyes wide.
Elle nodded with sympathy on her face. “I think Liddy told her last night.”
This was completely, utterly out of control.
Aiden closed his eyes, trying to think. At last, he said, “I think we should tell him.”
“No!” Elle hissed. “Not before the party. It might ruin the day.”
“I agree,” Kyle said with a wince. “I mean, not that I want to be in the middle of this, but maybe just wait until tomorrow?”
Aiden rose, his heart thrumming at a quickened pace. He went over to Isla, then kissed her gently. “We need a plan.”
That did nothing to erase the worry from her face, but she nodded wordlessly, as though afraid of being overheard.
He turned to Kyle and asked quietly, “In the meantime, can you all call some places and make a brunch reservation for us and Callum? Call my brothers. Maybe the fathers, too. Liddy had asked me to last night, and I...forgot.”
He saw the flinch in Elle’s face.
Yes, I know I’m a terrible friend.
“I can ask Quinn?—”
“No, I’ll handle it,” Kyle said, nudging his sister with his elbow.
Aiden nodded his thanks, then slipped back out the door.
If Quinn knew about Elle being here, it would only be one more thing his elder brother wouldn’t want to forgive him for. He’d pulled Elle and Kyle too deeply into this now.
This day was one giant disaster waiting to happen.
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