Page 39 of Other Side Of Never
At that, Aaron’s smile disappeared beneath a heavy frown.
“Yeah?”Audrey tilted her head to the side and studied Kian.“Where’ve you been?”
After a rather pregnant pause, Max murmured, “We’ve learned it’s best to answer Audrey’s questions as succinctly and honestly as possible.”
Kian gave a short nod, opened his mouth, and promptly closed it.
She narrowed her eyes.“Were you lost?”
“No.”Kian shook his head and took a breath.“I lived far away for a long time but now I’m here.To stay.”
She stepped closer and looked up into Kian’s face.
Wren held her breath, her eyes wide with surprise.
“You have a nice face,” Audrey commented.“I’m glad you’re here.”She considered him for a moment longer, her brow furrowing.“Are you my dad, too?”
A choked grunt escaped Wren’s throat.
“No,” Kian replied softly.“But if I was, I’d be happy.”
She shook her head and stepped back.“Sorry.My Max is my dad now.”
Max gulped audibly, his voice as strained and tight as Kian’s was as he rasped, “That’s right.She’s my Audrey, you can’t have her.”
Tears burned the back of my eyes.I wasn’t going to make it through this godforsaken party.Daire needed to blow out his damn candles before I turned into a weepy puddle on the floor.
I was about to make a joke when Aaron spun on his heel and stalked away, Nadine’s hand clasped tightly in his.
Kian watched as Aaron led her to a small table apart from the rest of us and pulled out her chair before dropping down across from her.
Nadine reached for his hand, and he held on tight, his head bowed as she leaned close, talking quietly.
Max sighed.“He reminds me of Hunter in so many ways.”
Kian turned toward Wren to find Max standing right behind her, his hand cupping her shoulder.
“He does,” Wren murmured.“So full of fun and mischief, but when he hurts, he hurts big.”Turning to Kian, she explained, “Hunter was Hawk and Harley’s brother as well as Max and Noelle’s best friend.I still have the teddy bear he bought me when I was pregnant with Aaron.Hunter died in a car accident a long time ago.”
“He was the life of the party,” Max added with a wistful smile.“He got us into the best kind of trouble and then charmed his way out of it.”He met Kian’s eyes.“Aaron will come around.He just needs time.”
Wren nodded and leveled Kian with her gaze.“Audrey’s father was the only dad Aaron knew until he walked out when Aaron was 10.My father was his only male role model, and he wasn’t always the best.Aaron has suffered a great deal of loss in this department.Max is here for him, you don’t have to worry about him, but I need to know you’re going to stay.”
Surprising me, he reached down, his fingers splayed, asking for my hand.After I slipped my palm across his, he gave me a squeeze.His face resolute, he promised, “I’m not going anywhere.”
I breathed a mental sigh of relief.Him staying in Sage Ridge was a huge step in the right direction.
But where would I be?
10
Monkeying Around
Overthepastfewweeks, our Sunday routine had expanded to include Saturdays and quite often a weeknight or two though I was careful not to insert myself into their lives too often.
Holding back was difficult.
From the beginning, I recognized in Kian a kindred spirit, one whose single fatal mistake spun him slightly out of sync.A step and a half behind and to the left of everyone else.Set slightly apart by an invisible ankle bracelet of shame that forever after hobbled his steps.
