wrong with her. I’m happy she and James found each other.”
“You don’t have to explain it,” I said with a smile that hopefully assuaged his guilt. “Let’s just say she and my mom are a lot alike, and it makes sense that you got the wrong impression. I don’t exactly feel like myself this weekend. The hair and makeup…it’s not me—”
“May I cut in?”
It was Darren. Darren, the nice guy I’d been seeing for two months. Darren, the guy I’d felt wishy-washy about even before meeting Aiden. What a deflating moment to have to step out of Aiden’s arms and let Darren take over. Did Aiden have to be such a gentleman? Couldn’t he threaten bodily harm while refusing to unhand me?
The rest of the night was boring. I swore I saw Aiden leave with a beautiful girl from Jolie’s sorority days, but I couldn’t be sure. After that, I ate two slices of cake and sat in a corner listening to my aunt ramble about conspiracy theories she’d read on the internet.
You really shouldn’t be using microwaves! And for heaven’s sake, if you do, make sure you stand clear across the room. Those waves will nuke your brain!
Sunday morning, after the send-off breakfast, I stood outside the hotel, waiting for Darren to bring his car around, trying to work out a way to break things off with him gently. Not because of Aiden per se, but because things had been slowly going downhill for a while and I didn’t really see a future with him.
I heard someone call my name, and when I turned back, I was surprised to see Aiden coming out of the lobby, rolling his suitcase toward me, eclipsing the early morning sun at his back.
“Headed out?” he asked, like we were old friends.
“Yup. Back home.”
I was terribly excited to see him again, especially because I’d resigned myself to the alternative. Now we had another chance! Couldn’t we be friends? Exchange numbers? Fall in love forever and ever?
“Where’s home?”
“Here—Dallas. Though I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay here. I just graduated from TCU and I’m interviewing for jobs in Austin.”
His brows shot up. “Really? That’s where I live.”
“No way! That’s awesome.”
He grinned. “Yeah, if you end up coming down and need a place to stay, let me know. My roommate just moved out, actually.”
A few weeks later, I called him.
Chapter Two
Maddie
The morning after Pillowgate, I’m eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch at our table and doing the maze on the back of the cereal box when Aiden walks out of his room shirtless.
I hate that he does this.
It’s loathsome having to take in his hulking male physique. It’s like, Enough already! We get it! You have ABDOMINAL MUSCLES. Some of us don’t, so please stop rubbing it in.
My pink pillow is under his arm.
He’s making a show of it now, really salting the wound.
“Sleep well?” I ask.
“Like a baby,” he says, scratching his scruff. In a bit, he’ll go shave it off. Internally, I plead with him to leave it. Just for a day. Just for me. “I’m actually glad you gave Kelly my pillow. It needed replacing, and this one fits the bill perfectly.”
He pats my pillow like he’s thankful for its service.
“Well, I hope you enjoyed it, because the second you leave for work, I’m stealing it back.”
“That’s fine. If you do, I’ll come swipe it again while you’re sleeping.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, tone deadly serious.
“I would. Dare. Are you almost done with that maze? It’s kind of taking you a while.”
I glance back at the cereal box. “It’s hard. I think it’s meant for teenagers.”
“It says right there it’s intended for children between three and five.”
I squint like I can’t see the big bold letters. “Does it?”
He swipes the cereal box away from me so he can fill his own bowl. He’ll supplement it with egg whites and some sort of protein smoothie slurped through a straw. I will not.
“What’s on the docket for today?” he asks, taking the seat across from me.
And so begins my heroic task of keeping my eyes off his naked chest.
I focus down on my cereal. “First I have to lead a seminar about appropriate dress code in the workplace, and then I’m going to try to have a meeting with my new boss about my future at the company. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck. You’re an asset at that agency, and they’re lucky to have you.”