Page 12 of A Little Luck

Aiden

It’s for Cass. Alex bought out the place and wants us there.

That explains it.

Why didn’t he do it at the distillery?

Aiden

He wants it to be low-key. Doesn’t want her to know.

I really can’t get over what a romantic Alex has become since Cass entered his life. He was always such a closed-off tight-ass in his Armani suits and Italian leather loafers.

Out of my two older brothers, he was the one I figured would be single for the rest of his life—mostly because he wouldn’t deal with the messiness of another woman. Not to mention his daughter Pinky, who is such a headstrong little tornado, I wasn’t sure any woman would be able to handle her.

Then along came Cass…

I’ll be there. Just closing up the food bank.

I don’t expect another text from Aiden, but a moment passes, and the words appear out of nowhere.

Aiden

I’m really proud of you, bro. You’ve come a long way.

It’s the closest we’ve ever come to discussing what happened that night. The night he appointed himself judge, jury, and sentencer in my case, sending me away to the military to get my shit straight.

Pausing a beat, I think about what I want to say to him. I’ve thought about it so many times when I was off in country, calculating all the things I was missing.

I’d think about it every time Piper sent me a video of Ryan saying a word, his little face as serious as hers. When he took his first step, so focused and intentional—just like her… All the big moments in his life, and I was far, far away.

What did I want to say to him now?

Thank you.

As much as I hated him for it, without Aiden, would I even be here, at the edge of possibly deserving a second chance?

Gray dots float, and a cheeky reply is my reward.

Aiden

Whatever happened to your idea of becoming a pastor? Realized you’d have to clean up that mouth?

“Fuck you,” I chuckle under my breath, but I deserve that.

Before he met Britt, when I was freshly back from being overseas and still pretty raw, I’d give him shit for all the things he claimed he no longer believed, including God and love and happily ever after.

I knew all it would take was a sassy little bombshell to blast him out of that bullshit. I didn’t expect it to be my old buddy Britt, but I like it. She’s really good for him.

That life isn’t for me. Too many things I want to do.

Piper tops the list of things I want to do, and a sly grin curls my cheeks.

Doesn’t mean I can’t do good in my community. Make up for all the other shit I’ve done.

Aiden

I’ve created a monster.

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