Page 43 of Reclaimed

“He is. I think he just wants to feel like his old self and not be constantly tied to the thought of what could have happened, you know?”

I hope I’m saying the right things. We didn’t discuss this part of our deal, but this is his side of it, right? To get his family to back down? No matter what happens when we leave here today, I need to try to ease this burden for him. It’s the least I can do.

Frankie sits down in the chair to my right. “You’re right. I didn’t even realize we’ve been doing that.”

“You went through the same thing he did, but the difference is you have Jude. Aiden now has me. If anything seems off, I’ll tell you. But in all the time we’ve been spending together, he seems fine. I don’t think you have to keep worrying.”

“It’s not just us who worry.” Juniper turns to watch the discussion in the other room. I follow her eyeline to Lee and Jude on the couch. Lee’s attention is locked on Aiden like he’s studying him.

“They’ll probably come around. But it wouldn’t hurt if you two give them a little nudge,” I reply.

“I’m done talking about this!” Cortney marches out from the other room, her path veering as she sees us sitting at the table. She drops into the chair on Juniper’s left. “Please help me.”

“Here.” I push the container of bars in her direction. “Best cure for annoying brothers. Not that I would know. I was an only child.”

“You’re lucky,” she growls and pops one in her mouth.

Corjan’s wife Bree and Jack’s fiancé Whitney, cautiously join our group.

“I think it’s best if we give them some time alone,” Whitney says with a grimace.

“Are you okay?” Bree asks Cortney as both of the girls take seats at the opposite end.

“I know they’re my brothers and they’re just on their same annoying brotherlybullshit, but I need them to know that I’m happy with Sebastian. And I’m going through with this wedding.”

Happy,she says. But I clock the absence of the word love. If I can pick up on it after five minutes of conversation, I’m not surprised her family isn’t convinced in this romantic match.

But it’s not my place to say anything, considering my own relationship is fake after all.

12

Aiden

“You didn’t haveto cover for me like that!”

We just got back to Isla’s after spending most of the day with my family, and after a silent car ride, this is the first thing out of her mouth. I flip my ballcap around and cross my arms over my chest, bracing for what’s about to come.

“From where I was standing, it felt like the right thing to do.”

“From where I’m standing, you just made this into a cataclysmic problem.”

“How so?”

She widens her eyes at me and drops her hands to her hips as she kicks off her shoes. I tense, wanting to steady her so that she doesn’t take herself out and fall on her ass but know the move would be unwelcome.

Not while she’s this riled up.

“You aren’t the father.”

“Yes. And?”

She blinks. “And you just told your entire family that you are.”

I raise my eyebrows at her. “Yes.And?”

She throws her hands up and moves to the kitchen. “You’re being obtuse.”

I’m hot on her heels. “I fail to see how this is cataclysmic. Enlighten me, starshine.”

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