Stay With Me (She's With Me #2) - Jessica Cunsolo Page 0,71

“I guess you’ll want to bring her as your date? Here’s some extra for a dress and shoes for her.” He pulls out more bills, holding the neat stack out to Aiden, who eyes the pile like he doesn’t trust it not to spontaneously combust.

“Her name is Amelia. And no thanks,” Aiden says plainly.

Andrew’s laugh is one that I imagine rich people use when they’re entertained by something they think is beneath them. “Right. I doubt you have enough money on you to pay for a suit and shoes yourself. Do you even know the going rate of a nice dress? You can’t show up in jeans.”

“No, I meant we aren’t coming,” Aiden clarifies. “In fact, it’s probably the last thing I’d ever want to do, right after gouging my eyeballs out with a rusty spoon.”

Andrew sets the stack of bills down on the outdoor coffee table and moves one of the decorative candles on top of it to keep them from flying away in the wind.

“But we’re blood,” Andrew starts, his analyzing gaze piercing Aiden’s. “If we weren’t family, then I would’ve pressed charges against you. But lucky for you, we are related, and as such, I expect you to show up to the gala, where I can present my sons to the world and show them that we’re a strong, united family, one that can get over the past and make amends.”

Aiden and I both see the threat for what it is: go to the gala, play nice, don’t mention the past, and he won’t press charges against Aiden.

“My wife, Katherine, is just dying to meet you.” Andrew stands up, clearly deciding that the conversation is over, and so do Aiden and I. Andrew adds, “And so is your stepsister.”

That throws Aiden off. “Stepsister?”

Andrew signals to his bodyguards, who make their way over to us. “Yes. Evianna. She’s around your age, so I’m sure you’ll become great friends.”

Aiden’s eyes meet mine, and we share a stunned look. Like Aiden needs another stepsibling in his life.

The back door slides open so fast it almost bounces closed again, causing us all to turn and look. Jason and Jackson are back, expressions of fear all over their faces. All they know is that the mayor whom Aiden punched last night is here in the house, and they don’t want him to get in trouble.

Andrew’s intimidating gaze sweeps over the twins. “Hi, boys. I’m your fa—”

“Not now!” Aiden interrupts, stepping between Andrew and his brothers, as if he doesn’t even want him looking at them.

Andrew’s eyes are cold and calculating. “They should get to meet their father.”

Aiden tenses, his back is rigid and eyes hard. “You’re not their father,” he grits out. “And you have no legal claim over us after the divorce.”

Andrew tugs on his expensive-looking cufflinks, completely unfazed by his son’s intimidating demeanor. “You just need some time to adjust. We’re family, remember?”

Aiden’s jaw is set, a fire alight in his eyes that I’ve only seen a couple of times, when he’s calculating how to make someone’s life a living hell.

Andrew doesn’t wait for us to answer. “We’ll see ourselves out. I’ll see you all at the gala.”

Aiden follows them back into the house, as if to make sure that they go straight to the door and get away from him, leaving me outside with his brothers.

“Is Aiden in trouble?” Jackson asks me, worry for his brother written all over his face.

“Did you see Aiden’s face? The one he makes when he promises pain? I think it’s the mayor who’s in trouble now,” I joke.

Jason smiles at me, eyes shining with pride in his brother. “Yeah. That guy can go fuck himself.”

My eyes widen at him. “Who told you it was okay to say that?!”

A small blush spreads across his cheeks. “Noah told me I can say that about people who are mean to me.”

“Maybe don’t say that in front of Aiden?” I suggest, resisting the urge to grin.

But Jason is totally right. Mayor Andrew Kessler can definitely go fuck himself.

17

After Andrew leaves, Aiden declares that no one is going to the fundraiser, and that is the end of that. Charlotte, Noah, and Chase are all stressed out because of their whole situation. The twins are worried about their brother being in trouble. Mason has been avoiding me ever since the fridge incident the other day, which just makes me feel even more guilty about the whole his dad is cheating with my mom thing, and I’m starting to realize