Page 6 of Absent Without Leave
That’s the second time Aiden’s made a pointed reference to his ex, and Jake’s wondering if he missed something. Well, hell. Rick had said Aiden had recently ended a relationship and to show the guy a good time. But he’d left out the details, which Jake supposes are really none of his business. He’s still not sure what the deal is, but the tic of his eye that tells him to watch his back has started to twitch.
“I know what I’m doing. Now go home and get some sleep so I can just get some.”
“Aw, hell, Aiden, that’s…that’s…” Sean’s eyes dart to Jake’s, drop to his groin. Red suffuses the other man’s face again. Jake shrugs but refrains from baiting him. Never corner an angry animal unless you’re prepared to properly subdue it.
“Too much information?” Aiden asks faux-sweetly, batting his lashes and turning Sean toward the door.
“For starters.”
“You knew what you were going to find when you got here, so tough fucking shit.”
“How would I know that?” Sean sputters.
“Stop the fucking bullshit and go home.”
Sean stops at the door and turns halfway. He glances at Jake again and his expression hardens just enough for Jake’s radar to start pinging. Hard. Fuck. Here it comes.
“Oh, by the way, Aiden…Jake’s married.”
Sean disappears down the stairs, his footsteps pounding on the wood, followed by the metal clacking of the fire door handle. Jake’s stomach drops as Sean makes his escape.
Aiden pivots. Pissed doesn’t even begin to cover his expression. Hurt and disbelief factor in there too. Kiss-swollen lips have become a thin slash across his blanched face, and those huge brown eyes are shooting RPGs at Jake.
“Joe cheated on me over and over and over, and I forgave it over and over and over. But when I kicked his ass out for good, I swore I would never ever be the other person in a relationship. Get your clothes and get out.”
Aiden rushes past Jake, and Jake reaches out. “Aiden, wait—”
“Don’t fucking touch me,” Aiden snaps, jerking out of range and continuing into the hall. A door slams a moment later.
Shit.
Fuck.
Dammit all to hell.
As soon as Aiden had mentioned that his ex had cheated, Jake should have spoken up. If he’d known his status as not-quite-divorced was going to be an issue, he would have said something.
A few swift strides later, he stands outside Aiden’s bedroom door. “Aiden, let me explain.”
“There’s no explanation that makes infidelity okay. Get out, Jake, or I’ll call my best friend, Kent Shaffer—the sheriff.”
Fuck. Jake’s forehead thunks against the door.
“I’m not a cheater, Aiden. My wife left me six months ago and we’re getting divorced. She’s already back in Germany.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. You didn’t break up my marriage. It’s been over for more than a year.”
“Don’t care. Get out.”
“My divorce will be final in less than a week. Three days, in fact.”
“Call me in four.”
“Aiden…”
“I mean it, Jake. Just get the hell out.”
