The Sweet Talker (Boston Hawks Hockey #1) - Gina Azzi Page 0,54

didn’t know you were coming.”

He laughs, wrapping his arm around my waist and hugging me back, quickly moving the flowers out of the way. “Then my surprise worked.” He kisses my cheek. We step inside and he hands me the flowers. “For your mom.” He winks.

I grin. “With marigolds and sunflowers?”

“I know they’re you’re favorite,” Aiden admits, adding a bottle of wine to my arms and shaking off his coat. He turns and holds out a hand to Noah. “Hey man, I’m Aiden.”

Noah clears his throat, reaching forward to shake Aiden’s hand. “Noah,” he says coolly, his eyes narrowing.

Aiden doesn’t notice Noah’s coldness, probably because he’s never met Noah before, but it causes me to do a double take. While I’ve come to know Noah as friendly, engaging, and warm, this version of him is ice cold and harsh.

“I’m going to grab a beer,” Noah mutters, taking off for the kitchen.

I blink, trying to understand the shift in his behavior. Maybe something really did happen with Easton. Turning back to Aiden, I take in the big smile of my best friend and beam back. “I’m so happy to see you. When did you get into town?”

“I’m here for a conference,” he explains. “It was earlier in the week but my mom told your mom and then your mom called and thought it would be a great, big surprise if I showed up for Thanksgiving dinner. That’s why I didn’t tell you I was coming. I wanted to surprise you. Plus, Mom and Dad are celebrating in the Caribbean this year with Marissa.”

I laugh. “Tough life. Your sister was smart to move to paradise.”

“Tell me about it.” Aiden chuckles, wrapping his arm around my back as we set off for the kitchen. My family’s loud laughter and chatter fills the house with warmth and I snuggle into my friend’s side.

I haven’t seen Aiden since I moved to Boston but we were neighbors in Tampa and I spent most of my childhood hanging out in his backyard and cheering on his baseball games. Not counting my cousins, he’s the closest person I have to a sibling and I’ve missed him.

“Aiden Hardsin!” Dad exclaims as we clear the threshold. Dad drops the turkey baster and gestures for Aiden to come closer.

“It’s good to see you, Mr. Jemmy,” Aiden says, hugging Dad hello and using his childhood name for him.

Dad chuckles, popping the top of a beer bottle and passing it to Aiden. “Welcome to Boston. Have your toes fallen off yet?”

Aiden laughs and lifts his foot to show off his boots. “I messed up when I went for fashion over warmth.”

Mom sidles up to Aiden’s side and he wraps her in a hug. “Happy Thanksgiving, Lee-Lee. Indy stole your flowers.”

Mom laughs and introduces Aiden to the rest of our family.

Everyone receives him warmly, like normal people. Everyone except Noah who hangs back with a scowl on his face, his eyes darting from me to Aiden and back again.

What the heck is going on with him? I lift an eyebrow but he turns away and a burst of anger blazes through me. If he’s not going to talk to me and tell me what’s going on, what am I supposed to do, read his mind?

Shaking my head, I busy myself by filling a vase with water and Aiden’s bouquet. Then, I pour myself a glass of wine and join the huddle around the kitchen island.

Aiden is telling a story about his first experience ice fishing and Austin is cracking up along with my dad and Uncle Joe. “I don’t get it.” Aiden shakes his head, placing his beer on the counter. “You literally just sit there. For hours.”

Claire grins at him. “Were you by yourself?”

“That’s the thing”—Aiden glances at my cousin—“Everyone is in their own little ice hut. Something about the silence and solitude. Man, the only thing I could think about is I hope my balls don’t freeze off.”

My family laughs and I roll my eyes, swatting Aiden on the back. He turns and smiles at me, his eyes warm and dancing with amusement. “Next time, I’m taking Indy. We all know how much she loves the outdoors.”

“Good luck with that, son.” Dad clasps Aiden’s shoulder. “I still can’t take her fishing after that time—”

“Did you see the hook in the fish?” I cut him off.

Aiden’s smile widens. “How else did you think we were going to catch the fish, Indy?”

I huff, even though the memory of Aiden’s and my first time fishing