Page 35 of Stained Hearts
I was stunned. Generally Brian only opened up to close friends. To know that he’d talked—andlaughed—with Aiden was a pleasant surprise.
I glanced up at Lincoln’s chicken clock and groaned. The diner was already closed, and I was keeping Noel and Lincoln up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so late. You need sleep for work tomorrow, and I need to get home.”
Noel stood and stretched, his T-shirt riding up, showing off his stomach.
“Pup.” Lincoln’s voice held a note of warning. When I turned to him, I could see his flared nostrils and wide eyes.
“Yes, sir?” If Noel was going for an innocent look, he failed. Even I could see the devil in his eyes.
“Don’tyes,sirme.”
“Oh! I’m sorry.” He lifted his shirt up a little higher, showing off some wispy blond hair. When he reached down and ran his fingers over his tummy, Lincoln threw down his spatula and stormed out to the dining room, huffing like a bull. He grabbed Noel, who squealed with delight, then took his lips in a blistering kiss. When they stepped apart, it was impossible to miss their erections.
“Upstairs. Be ready.”
Noel winked. “Yes,sir!” He grinned at me. “Night, Tom.” And with that, he practically flew up the stairs.
I thought Lincoln would go back to the kitchen, but instead he took the spot Noel had occupied.
“Is Aiden okay?”
“I think so. Or at least I hope so.”
“Can I say something?” Lincoln rubbed a hand over the back of his head. “Brian would be proud of you, you know.”
I did, but it was good to hear it. “Oh?”
“When he was sick, he went to everyone and asked—begged—them not to let you wallow. I’m not sure if there’s anything after this life, but I have to believe if there is, he’s smiling at you right now.”
And I knew he wasn’t wrong. Being with Aiden, wanting to get to know him, felt right. And kissing him? That had definitely been damned fine.
“Okay, I’ll get out of your hair. And thank you for your help this morning.”
“Anytime. You know you’re family, right? Like a brother-in-law or something.”
We slid out of the booth, and to my surprise, I found myself crushed in Lincoln’s embrace.
“Family trumps everything. Remember that.” He let go and gave me a cheeky grin. “Now get out of here. I’ve got an unruly whelp to deal with.”
He locked the door as I left and waved as he flipped the sign to Closed. I walked down the street, and when I got to the car, I opened the door and slid in. As I was about to put the key in the ignition, my phone rang. I slipped it out of my pocket and smiled when Aiden’s name came up on the display.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
He sighed. “Like an idiot.”
“Aw, no. Why?”
“When I got home, Livvy asked me what was wrong. I told her what happened, and as I did, I started to realize how it looked. Me, lying on the floor, and you having to pick me up and carry me. I’m sorry I put you through that.”
“All right, you listen to me and make sure you hear me. You. Did. Nothing. Wrong. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
I heard his words, especially the ones he wasn’t saying. “What’s wrong?”
“You know the saying about getting your hopes up? I’m trying not to do that right now.”
That I could understand. He’d had more than enough disappointment in his life. I refused to be the next one in line for that job.
