Page 132 of Perfect Storm
“Yes,” Riley said cautiously. Aidan heard him open and close a door, and he had a feeling Riley had just gone out onto the screened-in patio they’d added to the back deck last year.
Good. He’d finally taken Aidan’s concerns about Landry overhearing seriously.
“You know I was bummed about Mo. I’d finally told him how I felt, and it didn’t go well.”
“We were there. We saw how upset you were.”
“You weren’t the only one who noticed. Levi noticed too. We . . .well—”
“Oh my God,” Riley interrupted. “Do not tell me Levi hit on you.”
Aidan was not going to go into all the pact details because every time he told someone, it sounded stupider and stupider. “I guess we could call it that. And I hit on him back.”
Riley sucked in a hard breath. “And then he went to Toronto. And you’relivingwith him. Aidan, don’t tell me you’re fucking with Landry’s little brother while you’re in love with someone else.”
“Am I in love with someone else though?” That was the real heart of the issue. The most important question.
“I don’t know, are you?” Riley’s snark could be relentless. Aidan tried to remember a time when he’d admired that about him.
“I wasn’t even thinking about it, we were just having a good time. And it was a really good time. I like him, and you know I don’t like many people.”
“I know,” Riley said dryly.
“Anyway, it was good—”
“Please don’t tell me any details,” Riley interrupted again.
“It was probably heading towards more than a hookup, honestly, I could feel it going there, though I was understandably . . .nervous, about that.”
“Of course you were,” Riley soothed. He’d known Riley would see it, the same as Aidan felt it. “You’d just had your heart broken.”
“Exactly,” Aidan said.
“But then Mo got traded back.”
“Right. I thought it wouldn’t change anything, at first, and itdidn’t, because Mo hadn’t felt the same back in June, and so why would anything be different?”
“He did not.” Riley didn’t sound so soothing now. Now he just sounded really fucking pissed. “Mo didnot.”
Aidan winced. “I mean, I get where he’s coming from. Sometimes you don’t know how you feel about someone until they’re not there anymore, and I hadn’t talked to Mo since June. He was giving me space.”
“Please tell me he didn’t pull that wholeoh, but fate made sure I was traded back to Toronto and now we’re reunited and that means I should love you.”
Aidan couldn’t tell Riley that, because thatwasthe sort of thing Mo had said.
“I guess it comes down to, I’m torn. IlikeLevi. Three months ago, I was in love with Mo. But whenever I think about telling Levi it’s over, I feel fucking sick to my stomach.”
“Huh.” Riley paused. “Tell me what it’s like with you two—not the details,please—but like, how is it? What are you two like together? I can sort of picture it, but I don’t have a firm grasp on it, not yet. You two have been around each other, sure, but other than July, I’m trying to remember the last time you two actually hung out.”
“God, he’s so great. Funny and chill and doesn’t take my shit. Teases me, but not in the way that would’ve pissed me off before. I don’t know . . .it’s like he helps me relax. Pulls me out of my own head. Keeps me from overthinking everything, and it doesn’t even seem like it’s hard for him. He justdoesit.” Aidan hesitated. “I like seeing him in the morning. I like how he’s in my bed at night. I don’t want him to leave.”
Riley hummed under his breath.
“But for so long, Mo even considering returning my feelings . . .that was everything I wanted. It feels crazy to turn him down without even trying. Like, what did I feel if I don’t want him now?”
“Bro, I’ve got a really simple answer for you,” Riley said.
This was exactly why he’d called Riley. Riley would see through his bullshit and boil it down for him.
