Chapter 65
“Hey,” he said, leaning against the wall and sliding down just enough so he could be eye level with me.
“God, Aidan, how tall are you now?” I asked.
“Six, six,” he said.
I took a deep breath. “You always did have those big puppy hands and feet.”
He smiled and cocked his head. “Are you doin‘ okay, Cass?”
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“I’m fine. Good… yeah, good.” I swallowed and forced myself to look at him. He was almost as gorgeous as Carter… almost. “How are you?”
Aidan crossed his arms and continued to study me. “I’m good, Cass.”
“How’s Carter?” I rasped. A darkness covered his face and I shook my head. “You don’t have to tell me, it’s okay.”
“He’s different, babe. But that’s not entirely your fault,” Aidan said.
“Right.” I folded my lips between my teeth and blinked back tears. “I’m sorry, Aidan.”
“You got nothin‘ to apologize to me about, Cassidy. I love you like a sister, always have, always will. I had Ace’s back because he’s my brother, but that didn’t change how I felt about you.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Well, that’s sweet, Aidan. Thank you.”
“I don’t do sweet, Cassidy.”
1 let out a quiet snort. “Oh, you absolutely do sweet.”
He grinned. “We’ll keep that between us.”
I nodded, crossing my arms just to have something to do with my hands.
Aidan stood to his normal height again and I craned my neck to look up at hiin. “He’ll come around.”
“I just want him to be okay,” I admitted.
“He will be.” Aidan kissed my forehead, gave me a hug, and then led me back to Dani and Payton.
We headed upstairs to where the private bedrooms were. Dani unlocked a door and led us inside, flipping on the light and closing us in. “Make yourself comfortable, Cass. I’ll grab some water.”
I flopped into an easy chair by the window and Payton handed me a box of tissues before sitting in the chair beside me. I gave her what I’m sure was a pathetic smile and set the Kleenex on my lap. As Dani pulled waters out of a mini fridge in the corner, I took in the room. It looked like a pretty normal master bedroom, with a king–sized bed and a sitting area with television. I wondered how often they stayed here considering they had an amazing apartment overlooking the Willamette
in downtown Portland.
“So you know Ace and Knight,” Dani said, and handed me a bottle of water.
I nodded. “Since I was six.”
“Wow,” Payton whispered.
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Chapter 65
“Is he Maverick’s father?” Dani asked.
I shook my head and groaned as the tears flowed again. “Do you know how long it’s been since I cried? Gah!”
“Well, you’re obviously due,” Payton observed.
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As I pulled another tissue from the box, I filled these two virtual strangers in on everything. My life before Maverick and after, leaving no detail out. It was surprisingly cathartic, but it left me drained.
“Do you still dance?” Payton asked.
“When I can, but mostly in my living room nowadays.”
Dani smiled. “Why was Ace so upset about you naming Maverick, Maverick?”
“Because in my heart, he’s Carter’s. Carter always had this weird obsession with flying, and could probably quote Top Gun beginning to end. He made me watch it more than a dozen times, until I said no more.” I grimaced. “It was a given that he’d – go into the Air Force, and when I was in the hospital giving birth to this beautiful little boy, all I could think about was how he should have been his, you know?”
“He kind of looks like him,” Dani said. “Sorry.”
I sighed. “Don’t be. He does look like him, but that’s not a surprise. Pierre looked a lot like Carter at the time. It’s probably why I let him manipulate me.” I groaned again. “I don’t understand what Carter’s even doing here! Last I heard he was in the Middle East somewhere.”
“I think he’s been part of the club for a while,” Dani said. “But I don’t know for sure. He does different stuff than Austin and Hawk.”
Payton grimaced.
“What?” Dani asked.
Payton shook her head. “Nothing.”
“No, if it’s about Carter, tell me,” I said.
“He’s got a reputation,” Payton said. “Like a bad reputation. He sleeps with a different woman every night, rarely repeats…. Lisa’s the only one he’s kind of kept around, but they’re not exclusive or anything. Plus, he likes to fight.”
“Women?” I asked, horrified.
“No!” Payton rushed to say. “Well, at least, I don’t think so. Alex said he’d never hurt a woman, but he warned me to stay away from him because of… well, Alex gets jealous. He gave me the same speech about Mack, but for different reasons. Mack’s a lover and sleeps around because he’s charming and sweet and women thank him, even when he’s showing them the door. Mack doesn’t have an enemy on the planet… Ace, not so much. He’s kind of a dawg and doesn’t care who he hurts.”
I groaned. “Great.”
“Sorry, Cass,” Payton grumbled.
“I should probably get out of here before he comes back.”
“I think you should stay,” Payton countered. “At least until you feel okay to drive. Eat something and get a little energy back in your body.”
“I am kind of hungry.”
Dautan smiled “Well it’s a good thing you’re here then. There’s always more than enough food.”
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Chapter 65
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“Thanks for being so… I don’t know… un–chick–like. Ever since I moved up here, I don’t get to see my sisters much and I miss them.”
Dani waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not a problem. We’ll grow your girl mob, just wait and see. Kim will be here later and she’s a hoot.”
“Your best friend?” I asked. Dani had talked a little bit about her best friend’s exploits over the last year, so I had an idea of who she was.
“One in the same.”
I smiled. “Sounds fun.”
Payton pulled her phone from her pocket and glanced at the screen. “Food’s up. Hawk’s got the kids.”
“Is there somewhere I can freshen up?” I asked.
“Yeah. Use my bathroom,” Dani offered.
I rose to my feet and headed through the door Dani pointed to.
