Page 70 of Patio Lanterns

“Wait a minute. This went down the night before her wedding? Is that why you weren’t there?” she said, recalling that she’d expected to see him amongst the well-wishers. “I thought I heard you came down with a stomach bug.”

“No, I wasn’t there because Lark uninvited me. Said it’d ruin her day if I came.” He looked down into his beer. “After that, she cut me out of her life. I was sure that I’d lost her.”

“I’m so sorry,” Robin said. “You were only trying to do the right thing.”

“I’d sent her flowers after your dad died. I’m not even sure she got those. But when I heard about your mom passing, I knew I had to try again,” he said. “I sent her a message expressing my condolences, and that got us talking again. We’ve been texting and video chatting with one another constantly ever since. It’s been like old times.”

Robin exhaled. “Wow.”

“So, when she invited me to the Blue Canoe to see all of you, I was pretty stoked. Your family always meant so much to me,” he said.

“And now you have your dad back. It must be nice to get a second chance with him too.”

“We’re getting there,” he said. “It’s weird, you know. Rick’s my dad, and I love him, but at the same time, it’s like he’s a stranger to me. I hardly know him.”

Oh, but you do. Because you two are more alike than you know, she wanted to say. “I’m sure you two will figure it out if you keep working at it. You’ve got to believe it’ll be worth it.”

Aidan smiled at her. “I’ve missed this. Just being able to talk to you.”

“I don’t remember us talking all that much with Lark always hovering,” she said with a smirk. “This might just be the longest conversation you and I have ever had.”

“True.” He rested his elbow on the tabletop and leaned in closer. “But I have thought about you over the years too, you know.”

She snorted. “You’ve thought about me? Why? Because you’ve missed having someone follow you around everywhere you go?”

“Aw, it was cute the way you were always trying to get my attention. Sort of like when you strutted through the kitchen in your bikini yesterday.”

That wasn’t purely for his benefit, but she let it slide. “You noticed, did you?”

“Oh yeah, you were poppin’. Even my old man took a long look, the thirsty bastard.”

Robin burst out laughing. Your old man’s done a lot more than look, my friend.

“I wasn’t sure he still had it in him, to be honest. He’s been a loner since he sold his business and moved back. He just mopes and works around the yard, so I figured he’d pretty much given up on wanting anything more,” he said, waving his hand. “But I just found out he’s got himself a lady friend on the down low.”

She gulped. “A lady friend?”

“Yeah, she’s in his phone as frickin’ Miss July, if you can believe it.” He cackled. “I accidentally saw a hot pic she sent him. I’ve never seen my old man move so fast trying to shut it down.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. “Uh… what did he say about her?”

“Only that she’s no one I know.” Aidan shrugged. “Hey, whatever. Good for him. I’m just glad he’s not hurting for a little companionship.”

It was impossible to reconcile Aidan’s sad, brooding version of Rick with the charismatic and energetic man she knew. He was strong, virile, and still very much a sexual beast, with an appetite that matched her own.

“So, if your dad is in your old place, where do you live now?”

“I’ve got a trottage about ten minutes from here on Echo Beach.”

“A what?” She smirked.

“You’ve never heard of a trottage before?”

“Nope. Because I’m pretty sure you just made it up.”

“I didn’t, I swear.” He laughed. “You wanna see it? We could swing by, and I’ll show you around before taking you back to your place.”

Robin hesitated. Was it merely a friendly gesture, or was Aidan actually asking her to go home with him? She couldn’t help but wonder again if this was Lark’s doing. Had she convinced Aidan to lay it on extra thick tonight? It did seem like a trap. The kind of trap that she would’ve very willingly tumbled into stark naked not that long ago. But things were different now. Rick was in her life, and she’d seen the sun set on her feelings for Aidan.

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