Stay With Me (She's With Me #2) - Jessica Cunsolo Page 0,63

how intense his gaze is; it’s almost scaring me.

“Aiden—”

I’m cut off when he suddenly gets up and strides toward the mayor like he’s on a mission, a palpable hate heavy in the air. I stand up, too, taking a couple steps to follow, but not going after him, instinctively knowing that this is something he wants to do alone. Everyone else notices, too, all conversation stopping as we watch Aiden, the muscles in his back tensed and his hands clenched into fists, with curiosity and alarm, holding our breath for whatever is about to happen.

Aiden doesn’t slow as he steps around people and ends up right in front of the mayor. Aiden has a big presence; people just can’t help but feel drawn to him, so it’s not a surprise when the mayor stops talking to a reporter and looks right at him.

Mayor Kessler says something to Aiden that I can’t hear, but I swear there’s a flash of recognition in his eyes before Aiden does something that sends a shock through the whole crowd.

He raises his arm and throws a right hook that would make any boxer proud, sending the mayor sprawling to the ground.

There’s an audible, collective gasp in the air as people realize what just happened, then rush to the mayor’s aid as reporters turn on Aiden.

I hear my friends swearing and Jason’s gasp of alarm in the background, and already know they’re getting up, getting ready to disappear before men in suits descend on us. The mayor looks up at Aiden as Aiden calmly shakes his hand out, sends him one last glare, and turns around to casually walk back to me. I’m sure my eyes are bulging out of my face and my jaw is almost to the ground, but I shake it off long enough to grab his arm and haul ass out of the carnival before we’re arrested for assaulting a political figure.

We walked to the carnival, which ends up working in our favor since we need to get out of here ASAP, and don’t have time to sit in traffic trying to get out of the parking lot. We make it home in record time and go around to the back of the house instead of going inside. Other than our friends, no one else followed us.

Aiden didn’t say anything on the walk, and no one asked him, since we were too concerned with getting back home. He sits down on the back-porch couch leisurely, like it’s any other day, and we all stand around him, completely perplexed and waiting for answers.

When he doesn’t volunteer an explanation, Annalisa says what everyone else is thinking. “Aiden, what the hell! Why did you just punch the mayor?!”

“Because he deserved it.”

“But you don’t even know him,” I add.

“Exactly.”

His cold response takes me aback. What the hell does exactly mean?

“Do you mind expanding?” Annalisa asks, crossing her arms and sitting down on the couch across from him.

Aiden looks at her, eyes slightly narrowed as if she’s bothering him, and then his eyes flick over to his brothers. Jason and Jackson have personalities that can fill a room, but right now they look small and scared, concern for their brother plastered all over their faces.

“Are you … are you going to get in trouble?” Jason forces out, reminding me of just how young he is.

Aiden opens his mouth to say something but then closes it again, as if reconsidering, and his harsh expression softens.

“I’ll be fine. I promise,” he finally tells him, strategically leaving Jason’s question unanswered.

Will the mayor press charges? Does he even know who Aiden is?

Aiden stands up. “It’s late, time for bed, guys. Come on, Jason, Jackson, let’s get you ready for bed. Good night everyone.”

He ushers the twins into the house without a second glance.

I look at everyone else and then look back at Aiden’s receding figure, knowing that something is definitely wrong with him. But does he want to talk to me about it? Or does he want to handle it on his own? Maybe I’ll give him some time to himself with the twins. No one else is ready to go inside yet, but I feel itchy to check up on Aiden, so I say good night and leave them outside on the back porch. After getting ready for bed as fast as I can, I slip down the stairs and head over to Aiden’s room. A quick glance out the sliding door shows Mason, Annalisa, Julian, and Chase still haven’t