Page 88 of Perfect Storm
“Good news is you’re a pro at dealing with that.” Even a year ago, Aidan didn’t think he could’ve made that joke, but the shame crawling up his spine when he thought of how he’d acted—and how Riley had tolerated it and endured it and then finally snapped over it—felt less pressing than it had back then.
“True.” Riley’s voice was wry. “So you’re on friendly terms, then?”
Of course Riley was digging. Gently, in a very Riley-like way, but still digging. Aidan experienced a momentary fear that he was only doing it because he suspected something. But how could he?
“Ri, he’s living in my guest room.”
Riley chuckled under his breath. “I know. Iknow.But you two have never been close. You gotta forgive a younger bro for looking out for other younger bros.”
Riley wouldn’t be Riley if he didn’t—not because he needed to. Aidan reminded himself that Riley knew that.
“We’re doing good,” Aidan said, hoping that would be the end of it.
“No details? Just ‘we’re good’?” Riley still sounded playful but the intent was there. Aidan knew him too well not to hear it.
“You know how it is,” Aidan said. “We’re at the practice facility twelve-plus hours a day. Putting in the work. He did . . .uh . . .we’ve been playing some games. He finally got me to get a new gaming system.”
“Oh yeah?” Riley asked brightly. “Good work, Levi.”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “Maybe I’ll even get one for the Michigan house.”
“You better, bro.”
Before Aidan could change the subject, Riley continued, “You know it was awesome when he came with us this summer. Only a bummer he couldn’t stay longer.”
Aidan told himself for a second time that Riley couldn’t know anything. They’d been careful and Riley had been, as usual, totally distracted by Landry. Besides, the last personal development he’d told Riley was that he was trying to get over Mo.
“For sure,” Aidan said. What else could he say? He couldn’t demand Riley tell him what he knew—or what he suspected.
“You talk to Mo?”
Aidan let out a frustrated sigh. “Why don’t you just come out and ask, Ri?”
“Ask what?”
Aidan growled, but Riley only laughed.
“I’m not sure what you want me to ask? I’m just trying to figure out where your head’s at,” Riley said.
“My head’s at—” Aidan broke off. He and Levi hadn’t discussed what they were doing. Not recently anyway. It didn’t seem like whatever the definition was, it still fell under the sex pact umbrella. But he wasn’t going to say anything to Riley before he’d even talked to Levi about it.
And he was totally okay leaving it undefined for now. Things felt delicate and new, and he washappy.Why would he want to fuck with that?
“What?” Riley asked. Kindly. Gently.
“It’s good. I’m . . .I’m good.”
“So you’ve talked to Mo, then.”
Of course Riley was not going to drop it. It would be ridiculous to assume he would. Maybe Riley had never been in the running for the Overprotective Brother of the Year award, but he was a Flynn all the way through.
“Actually, I haven’t.” He’d thought about texting him, though. More than once. Maybe in a few weeks, he might. It wasn’t just because of Levi, though that was part of it, too.
It just felt weird to be starting a season and not talk to him at all.
A few years ago, Mo was in the passenger seat next to him and there’d never have been a need to text him.
“Bro,” Riley said earnestly, “that is so good. I’m so proud of you. I know it probably wasn’t easy to take the time you needed to move on.”
