the six-year-old little boy who lost his dad and the young man who lost his sister. But I’d give him this. Just this once.
“What happened to Harmon?” I asked.
Aero scowled. “Don’t fuckin’ give a shit.”
I cupped his face. “But he lived?”
“Yeah. Fucker.”
I couldn’t imagine living with the guilt of killing someone you cared about, even if it wasn’t your fault, but I kept that opinion to myself. I didn’t know Harmon, so maybe he was a fucker. Or maybe he was a man who’d fallen for a girl who died on the back of his bike because he knew he shouldn’t be riding in the rain. I couldn’t even fathom what he might be going through.
“Is that really why you came here?” I asked.
“Partly,” he admitted. “I was havin’ a hard time back home.”
“Memories,” I guessed.
“Yeah.”
I fisted my hand in his shirt. “Thank you for telling me.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“Next time, I’d prefer you tell me in the moment. I’ve been going nuts for hours.”
“You have?”
“Yes. I have been trying to figure out how to hide your gigantic body. Your dick alone will need a separate hole.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me, carrying me to the sofa. “I’ll show you exactly which hole I’m gonna put my dick in, Letti.”
I giggled, looping my arms around his neck. “Mmm, yes, please.”
Before we could get to anything fun, however, he knifed off me just as I heard a key in the lock. The door opened and Raquel and Orion walked through the door, laughing at something.
Raquel stopped moving so suddenly, Orion walked into her back. “Razz,” he complained wrapping his arms around her.
“Hi Aero,” Raquel said, and Orion finally looked up.
“Hey, Raquel,” Aero said.
I shifted in my seat and tried to look disinterested.
“You lookin’ for me?” Orion asked.
“Yeah,” Aero said. “Got a few?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s head up to the cabin.”
Aero nodded.
Orion kissed Raquel, his back to me, and Aero waved his pinky finger toward me. I smiled, waving mine back, then he walked out with Orion and my sister-in-law set the alarm, then crossed her arms.
“So, it’s Aero.”
“What’s Aero?” I hedged, standing and heading to the kitchen.
“What you wouldn’t tell me yesterday. The reason you were upset.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh my god,” she breathed out, pulling a mug from the cabinet and pouring coffee into it. “When did all that start?”
“When did what start?”
“Woman, I’m the queen of keeping secrets from her big brother. You can’t fool me.”
I sighed. “If you tell Ori, I will deny all of it.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “He’d believe me over anyone, but I promise, I won’t tell.”
I studied her for a few seconds, then I spilled. Chalk it up to needing someone other than Everly to know everything, or just needing a sympathetic ear, but I told her everything.
“Wow,” Raquel breathed out when I was done.
“I know, right?”
“I can’t believe you’ve been able to keep this from your dad and brothers,” she mused. “I mean, Orion hasn’t said a thing, so I know he doesn’t have a clue.”
“They’re distracted,” I said. “Ori with you and Dad with club stuff and Wyatt. If this all happened a year ago, I might not have been able to keep it on the downlow.”
“Well, it’s definitely working. Ori thinks you’re pining for Snowcone.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew. No.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. He loves himself way too much. He seriously thinks his shit don’t stink and talks about all his areas of expertise. He’s gross.”
“I haven’t gotten to know him well enough, but I could see that,” she agreed.
“It works for me if they think I’m into him, though. Because Dad knows Snowcone won’t act on it. He’s pretty much made it clear none of the brothers can go there, and I’ve made it clear I don’t want a biker, so for the moment, we’re okay.” I sighed. “The problem’s going to come when Dad finds out. He’s going to kill Aero. Or worse, make him fight.”
“Well, your secret’s safe with me,” she said.
“I appreciate that.”
“I kind of hope you figure it out soon, though. I want to be first on your list for a double date.”
I chuckled. “I can do that.”
“Right, let’s figure out what I’m making for dinner. We’ll start with wine and then maybe end with tequila.”
I grinned. “That sounds perfect.”
Violet
SUNDAY DINNER ARRIVED and I’d spent Saturday night at Aero’s. I found it hard to leave him on Sunday, kissing him multiple times at his door as I tried to walk out