Page 140 of Playing the Game
I slide the lettuce and cucumbers toward me from across the counter. “While I do this, talk to me about your call with Aiden.”
“He overreacted and said by being with you, I’m ruining everything.”
“Yeah, he said something like that to me too.”
She kneels down to get a pan out of the cabinet. “He’s acting like a spoiled brat.”
“I agree, but I’m not surprised.”
“You’re not surprised he’s acting like a spoiled brat?” She rises to my level and places the pan on the gas stove. “He can be a dick, but I’ve never seen him act so immature.”
I stand and walk to the sink to wash the vegetables off. “I’m not sure what that’s about, but I knew he would hate the idea of us being together.”
“How does us being together ruin anything for him?”
“Maybe he thinks it will ruin our friendship and your relationship with him.” I turn on the water and wash the salad items.
She’s quiet as I finish up. Once I’m done, I return to the island and assemble the salad.
She seasons some chicken breasts and places them in the pan. “I think there’s more to Aiden’s reaction.”
“He’s been warning me for years to stay away. He’s throwing a tantrum because he’s not getting his way. It’s as simple as that.”
“I don’t think that’s it.” She puts a lid on the pan to cover the chicken. “His reaction seems like a personal offense. Like we did this to hurt him.”
I consider that while I chop up the cucumber. “I don’t know if we’ll ever figure out his motive. The only thing we can focus on is not letting him get between us.”
“Do you think he’ll try?”
“I do.” I glance up at her.
She’s staring at me with concern filling her eyes. “How would he do that?”
“I think he’s going to put a lot of pressure on you.”
“He’s not even talking to me right now. How do you thinkhe’s going to convince me to break up with you if he won’t take my calls?”
“Give him time. Once he calms down enough, he’ll call you and try to get you to cave to him. He’s done things like this to you all your life.”
She turns and checks on the chicken. “And what am I supposed to do when that happens?”
I stop what I’m doing and try to gauge where her thoughts are. If Aiden gets under her skin and she finds out she was reinstated, I could very well lose her.
She asked me not to keep her in the dark about things, but Hunter said if she figures out his plan, she could react and put herself in danger.
What should I do?
Tell her and pray she doesn’t get hurt in the process.
Fuck, I hate this.
She finishes flipping the chicken breasts and then faces me. “Why did you quit talking?”
“I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“Aiden. This issue could end up being irrelevant.”
