by Lynn Stevens
Oh my god. I looked like a clone of the girls I hated at school. The rabbit hole of conformism, yeah, I fell down it.
I was an idiot. A major fucking idiot.
There wasn’t anything I could do about it until after dinner. I had to live with the humiliation and self-doubt. It was just for a few hours. I tugged the sheer tan kimono tighter. Like that was going to do anything.
Mom stepped in front of me and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “You look beautiful, Miranda. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“You’re supposed to say that. You’re my mom. It’s required.”
“True, but black washed out your face and your hair was uninspired. This suits you, baby.” Mom put her arm around my shoulder and led me toward the front door. “And if other people can’t see how beautiful you are, screw them.”
I laughed. Mom never said anything harsh about anybody. “Thanks, Mom.”
We stopped next to Dad. He grinned and gave me an approving nod. “That hair looks good on you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I matched his smile.
He pulled open the door, waiting for me and Mom to enter before following us inside. Bella Roma’s was packed as usual. The Italian restaurant was popular among the locals, but when the tourists hit town, reservations were required, or you’d wait up to two hours to eat. Dad stepped around us to the hostess. I looked around while we waited. Dark paneling and low lighting gave it an intimate setting. It was the normal pre-prom destination.
“Right this way, sir,” the hostess said.
We followed her through the dining room, snaking our way toward the stairs and the larger second story dining room that overlooked the lake. My feet hit the steps when I heard my name.
“Miranda?” he said quietly.
I turned to see Eddie eyeing me from a nearby table. He stood, dropping his napkin on the table beside his plate. His parents smiled at me. I waved back.
“You look amazing,” he said when he got to me. “This,” he motioned up and down, “is … wow.”
“Thanks,” I said, but I wasn’t sure I wanted his praise. He’d had his chance. And he was leaving. “I… I have to go. My parents are waiting.”
“Yeah, okay.” He glanced over his shoulder for a moment. “Wait, just a sec.”
I didn’t want to, but it was Eddie, so I waited.
“That rumor you heard, about the girl I knocked up.” He leaned in so only I could hear him. “It wasn’t me. I swear it wasn’t me. There was a test that proved it. Paternity or something.”
I stared at him, but I didn’t feel relief or anything really. “Okay.”
“I just… I know what you think of me, and I deserve it.” He shook his head and sucked his lower lip. “I’m sorry, okay? You’ve always been there for me and I don’t think I really appreciated that until now.”
That broke the carefully locked emotions inside me. It took a lot of my inner strength to not jump into his arms and forgive him. Then Aiden’s face flashed in my mind and I held my ground. “Okay,” I said again. “I really need to go.”
“Can I call you?” he asked, a desperation in his voice I’d never heard before.
“I don’t know.” My heart raced in my chest. This was what I’d always wanted. “Maybe.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Eddie smiled, and the world lit up. “I’ll call you.”
Before I could think to take back the maybe, he’d turned and walked back toward his table. This was not a good idea. So not a good idea. Bad decisions, my forte in life. I opened my mouth to call him back and tell him no, but Mom’s voice stopped me.
“Miranda?” Mom said from the top of the stairs.
I turned and hurried after her. My mind was preoccupied with all things Eddie that when I stepped to our table, I failed to see what was in front of my face.
“Oh my god, I love your hair,” my sister screeched as she rushed me. Carly pulled me into a bear hug. I fell into her embrace and started crying. “I missed you too, Meerkat.”
I squeezed her so tight that I thought I might break her. Carly pulled away, tears filling her eyes. She looked tired with dark circles under her eyes. She brushed back her blond locks. I caught sight of the tattoos on her wrists. One was a Trinity knot she got in high school, much to my mother’s chagrin. The other was the yin yang Chinese symbol. I knew without asking her that it represented her and Gracin, just like the knot represented her, Nena, and Ivy.
“Girls, you two are going to make your mother cry,” Dad said as he wiped his own face. He beamed at both of us.
“Get over it, Dad,” Carly said. She let go and stepped back against Gracin Ford, her soon to be husband. His natural brown hair was longer than the last time I’d seen him in person, and I still couldn’t get over his eyes. For years, he’d worn blue contacts to cover up his natural hazel. His dad had made him, and he’d done it for his career. I’d had a huge crush on him when I was nine and he was a singer for Accentuate. At least my musical tastes had improved since then. Not that it didn’t stop me from singing “Surrender 2 Me” whenever it was on the radio. “I’m always going to miss my little sister.”
I wanted to hug her again just to make sure she was real. “I thought you weren’t going to be here until the week of the wedding.”
“And let Mom have all the fun? No way.” Carly reached out and squeezed Mom’s arm. “She’d go overboard, and we all know it.”
“Easy,” Gracin said before kissing my sister on the top of her head. She gazed up at him, totally his. He looked at her like she walked on water, the sun, and could save him from the depths of hell. I wished someone would look at me like that.
Mom just laughed and swatted her hand. “Have you seen your brother yet?”
“At the resort earlier. Too bad he couldn’t join us tonight.” Carly moved toward her seat. Gracin pulled out her chair, then one for me. “Heard he’s got a new squeeze. What’s up with that?”
“Wait, I thought his was so we could meet her?” I glanced between Mom and Dad.
“You already know her.” Dad rolled his eyes. “She’s the HR intern. One day Luke will settle down.”
“Blondie with the big boobs?” I didn’t hold back my shock, and nobody really acknowledge it either. Well, except Gracin who snorted quietly.
“Doubtful. Tonight’s surprise is all about me,” Carly said. She turned her attention toward Mom. “Chloe and Tagg will be here the week of the wedding. Dad’s got Tagg and Gracin set up at a cabin. Is Chloe okay to stay with us still?”
“Of course,” Mom said, and they fell into wedding talk.
Gracin and Dad started talking about Nashville and Gracin’s new single. He wasn’t on the top of the charts yet, but he had a duet with Cami Ann Harris releasing soon. I tried not to let that affect me in any way. I knew Cami had reached out to Carly when she moved in the early spring after her Mom and brother were settled, but I hadn’t realized the extent of my sister’s involvement in her career. Apparently, it included my future brother-in-law. The last thing I wanted in my world was more of the past biting me in the ass.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and I gladly took it out for a reprieve from my negative thoughts.
It was from Aiden. He’d snapped a selfie with Lily, and my kimono-clad back and new hair was in the background. I turned around, catching his gaze. What were the chances of that happening? He came over, along with Lily.
“Hey,” he said, his gaze settling on my hair. He pulled out his phone and sent me a quick text. That’s hot. “Funny running into you here.”
“That’s a terrible line,” Carly said. She turned to Gracin. “I never would have fallen for something so ridiculous.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I recall a very heated conversation about grapefruits and tangerines.”
Carly’s laugh echoed around us, and I wanted to sink into the floor. She offered her hand to Aiden. “I’m Carly, Miranda’s favorite sister.”
“You’re my only sister,” I poi
nted out as Aiden shook her hand then Gracin’s. “This is Aiden and Lily.”
After introductions were complete, Carly stood and pulled Lily into a hug. “Thank you for standing by her.”
My face burned, but I knew Carly didn’t mean to embarrass me. She’d never met Lily before. And her gratitude was overwhelming. After my overdose late last summer, Carly had called me every day to check on me. It was too much at the time. Now I was glad she was there. The OD was accidental, but it was still an overdose. Every day I hated myself for putting my parents through all of that. For putting Carly and Luke through it.
“You’re welcome,” Lily said as she let go. She reached down and squeezed my shoulder.
“Did your family just get here?” Dad asked as he tucked his napkin onto his lap.
“Yes, sir,” Aiden said. His fingers skimmed along my neck and I fought the shiver it brought.
“Maybe we could join the tables? We are celebrating after all. The more the merrier,” Mom suggested in a way that made it sound like a question, but it was more of an order. She stood and went over to Aiden’s parents, then she motioned to the waiter.
Once everything was arranged, Lily sat on one side of me while Aiden sat on the other. Carly stared at him, then glanced down at his hidden lap like she knew he was holding my hand under the table.
“So, Aiden,” Carly began with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “You’re in college?”
“Yeah, in Texas. I stay with our grandmother in Houston.”
“What’s your major?” she asked as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
“Don’t answer that,” I said, leaning around him. I stared at my sister. “No.”
“No what?”
“No interrogation.”
She raised her eyebrows then dropped her voice to a whisper only Aiden and I could hear. “You’re together, right? I want to know he’s worthy of my sister.”
“Stop it, bug,” I snapped, knowing she hated Dad’s nickname for her.
“Never, Meerkat,” she snapped back.
“Girls,” Dad said as he pointed to the waiter behind Carly. “Order then argue please.”
Carly laughed and ordered the same thing she always ordered: Chicken Parmesan. Aiden ordered the same, and I went with the fettuccine alfredo. Lily joined me in overindulging on dairy. Bella Roma’s alfredo was the best and totally worth every single calorie. Lily got sucked into a conversation with our mothers about Texas, and Carly turned her attention to Gracin.
“This is weird,” Aiden said as he sipped his water. “And kinda cool.”
“Cool how?” I glanced around the table. With our parents here, it felt like a celebration of us. “Weird definitely defines it better.”
“Cool because your parents can get to know my parents so when you move to Houston, it won’t be a big deal for you to stay with Grandma.” He raised his eyebrows. “Weird because … for the same reasons to be honest.”
“You want me to come to Texas, too?” I asked quietly.
“Yeah, I think I do.” He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
“Even if this doesn’t work out between us?” I asked because I had to know. We hadn’t been going out for very long and, quite frankly, I was bound to screw it all up. “Even if we decide to go our separate ways?”
Aiden’s smile fell. “Yeah. Lily loves you like a sister. So even if you decide we split, you should come to Texas.” His hand loosened around mine and he pulled it away. “She’d love to have you there.”
I felt like I’d screwed everything up by being honest. And that wasn’t fair. “For the record, I don’t want us to not work. I just… I’m just being real. We’ve only known each other for two weeks. And that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone.”
Aiden stared into my eyes. “When you know, you know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked harshly.
“Aiden, tell Mr. Reynolds about your internship last spring,” his dad said, beaming like Aiden had won the lottery.
“Yes, sir.” Aiden’s face lit up as he began talking about the landscaping he helped design on the campus of a community college in Houston. His hands came alive motioning the shapes of topiaries and layout of the design. I was mesmerized.
“And you’re in laundry?” Dad asked, totally shocked at Aiden’s accomplishments.
“Yes, sir.” Aiden glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes.
“That’s going to change tomorrow. Stop by my office and we’ll move you to where your talents lie.” Dad smiled and lifted his glass. “I have work that needs to be done at the resort and we’re short on staff. Perhaps you can help figure out the best course of action.”
“I would love that, sir,” Aiden said, grinning like he won the lottery. He leaned closer and whispered, “When you know, you know.”
The conversation drifted over dinner. Lily talked about school with Carly. Gracin’s new single became a huge topic of conversation. Carly beamed at him as he told stories of Nashville’s country music scene and shared what songs he’d written that were now on the radio. His popularity as a songwriter had far exceeded his expectations, and he was finally getting his shot at his own record deal.
I loved that my sister was happy. She’d been hired by one of the larger theaters in Nashville. Fortunately, they were fine with her starting in August. While at school, she’d gotten involved in the musical theater department and fell in love. Her path had veered a little, but she still wanted to run Mountain View Theater in the end.
“Hey, you okay?” Lily asked while Aiden was in an intense conversation with Carly about football. Apparently, my sister was now a fan. “You seem out of it?”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” I said, because this was not the conversation I wanted to have right now.
Lily poked me in the side. “Who doesn’t? Now, what’s up? Aiden’s kind of tense.”
“I screwed it up already.” I shook my head. “I keep screwing it up, but he’s moving so fast.”
“Texas?” she asked. After I nodded, she sighed. “That’s my fault. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked him to talk about it.”
It wasn’t like I didn’t want to go to Texas. I kind of did. But I wanted to go for me and not for a guy or even for Lily. She was the best person in my life. I just didn’t want to be pressured into it.
“Forgive me?” she asked with wide hazel eyes. I nodded, and she threw her arms around my neck. “I’ll talk to Aiden for you.”
I cringed at that. “No, I’ll talk to him myself.”
“You sure? I don’t mind.” She sat back and cocked her head. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Fine.” I reached for my water glass and took a long drink. “Don’t worry.”
Lily nodded and turned when her mom said her name. I met Carly’s curious gaze. This was her party, and I wanted her to be happy. I offered a fake smile, but she wasn’t biting. I knew the minute she got me alone all bets were off, and she’d demand answers. It was only a matter of time.
And I was going to make it hard to get me alone.
Chapter Fifteen
I parked next to Aiden’s car at the resort, hoping to see him before my shift. The housekeeping manager had called me early in the morning, begging me to cover a couple of hours before I had to be at the theater.
If I was going to Texas, I’d need every penny I could save. Even if I wasn’t going, I still needed the money until I got accepted somewhere. Mom and Dad supported me, but they were big believers in earning your own way. Our grandparents had set up college funds for each of us when we were born so that was covered. I couldn’t touch it for anything other than school though, and if I didn’t use it, the money passed to my kids for college. If I did use it for school, then anything left over was available. Sneaky, right? Until then, I needed to save.
It was almost nine, and summer was showing itself. The air was already hot and the sun bright in the sky. It was humid, but not as bad as July and Aug
ust would bring. I strolled through the parking lot, enjoying the sun on my face. A couple of guys worked on the outdoor garden near the gazebo. They’d taken off their shirts and their skin glistened in the morning light. Dad would’ve been pissed if he’d seen them, but I could still appreciate a naked torso like any other living, breathing female. One of the guys straighten, and his muscles in his back were well defined, sweat traveling along the panes of his flesh. He was the kind of guy women fantasized would slam them against a wall in a fit of passion. I almost blushed, but I didn’t stop staring.
When he turned around, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Aiden smiled and jogged over. I’d seen him shirtless before, but he’d been laying down and I’d been severely hungover. This was totally different. His abs were a real life six pack. His shoulders were broader than I’d realized, and his chest tapered to a narrow waist. Aiden was the kind of guy superheroes were made of.
Oh, this was so not a good idea at this moment.
“Hey,” he said as he stopped in front of me. Sweat rolled down his forehead. I reached up and wiped it away. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”
I could hardly talk as my finger traced the sweat track along his jaw.
“Miranda?” he said softly. “What’re you doing?”
“Do you want me to stop?” I asked as I traced over his lips.
“God no, but I’m on the clock,” he glanced around, then stepped against me, walking me back between a large van and an SUV. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re dangerous?”
“Did anyone ever tell you you’re gorgeous?” I asked, my finger making its way along his neck.
Aiden grabbed my hand and pressed me against the van. His lips came down hard on mine. I opened for him, kissing him like it was our last day together. That wasn’t about to happen. I wanted to blow off work, take him to the lake, and see what his tan lines looked like under those shorts. Aiden let go of my hand, and I pressed it against his racing heart. His skin was hot, smooth, and damp from the work in the sun. His fingers dug into my hair, pulling me closer. Then he broke off, pressing his forehead to mine.
