Page 26 of Married to Number 22
Can’t leave him, leave this family who I already closed myself away from once.
Just…a little more.
I just need a little more time.
“What just went through your mind, sweetheart?” Aiden murmurs, lips brushing along my earlobe as he forms each of the words.
It feels so nice that it takes me a minute to process what he’s said.
What I’ve revealed…and what I further reveal when I go stiff against him.
His brows drag together, eyes flashing with concern. “Luns,” he warns.
Thankfully, his family—or rather, his siblings—can’t be on their best behavior, not for long anyway.
“Come on, Luns,” Ralph teases. “You know it wasn’t his smile that got you”—a long trailing look along Aiden’s frame—“it’s that gorgeous body he works so hard for.”
“Shut up,” Aiden growls.
“Who are you trying to kid?” Ralph says, ignoring him. “We’ve all seen your abs, bro. We all know the long hours you pull in the gym. You’re not going to convince us otherwise.”
“It’s my birthday,” Aiden groans. “Do I even get one day without teasing?”
“I think technically it’s Luna’sandyour birthday,” Carrie says. “So…” She taps a finger to her nose. “That’s a no.”
“Exactly,” his mom says, leaning over and smacking a kiss on his cheek. “That’s not how the Blacks do it. Though,” she adds when he begins to protest further, “wecanfind a new victim for said teasing. Like,” she stage whispers, “why your brother got dumped.” A beat. “Again.”
“Mom!” Dave snaps. “That’s not cool.”
“Oh, no,” Carrie murmurs. “It’sverycool. Mostly because you managed to piss off the most patient woman I’ve ever met with your special brand of bullshit.”
He throws up his hands. “All I said was I didn’t want to get married.”
“Afteryou put a ring on her finger,” Carrie says, tossing upherhands in turn. “Will you marry me to…oh, doh”—she smacks her forehead, a la Homer Simpson—“I guess I changed my mind.” She glares at her brother. “Because seriously. You’ve lost your damned mind. Roxie was the best ever.”
“Not to mention that you told hertwomonths before the wedding,” Kathy exclaims and my eyes go wide. Two months? The manhadlost his mind. “You really couldn’t havesorted outyour head before all those deposits were put down?”
“His brain doesn’t work like that,” Ralph chimes in.
Dave’s face has gone from bright red to pale, anger morphing into something that looks a little like…
Regret.
Damn. I know that feeling.
“Right,” Aiden says, always empathetic, always kind, always knowing when things have gone too far. “I think Dave’s had enough, so let’s talk about more important things—like why Carrie got so mad at Ralph that she threw out his Han Solo action figure.”
Carrie glares. “He deserved it.”
“I accidentally dropped one makeup thingy,” Ralph cries. “One!”
“It was a Chanel compact,” Carrie says. “And it was worth more than your stupid action figure.”
“She’s got you there, buckaroo,” Kathy says.
“Dad!” Ralph complains. “Control your women.”
“Seriously,” Dave mutters.
