both looked up. A sharp-suited man was approaching their table, a jovial smile on his face. “Freddie?” Aidan got to his feet, laughing. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought Aspen was more your scene this time of year.”
Freddie chuckled. “You’re right about that, but I’m checking out some property with Lissa.”
The sleek brunette beside him flashed a smile. “We missed you at our big anniversary bash,” she said, patting Aidan’s arm. “I have a friend who was dying to meet you. She’s a ballerina,” she added with a wink. “A principal at New York City Ballet.”
Stella took them in, curious. Were these the kind of people Aidan was friends with, back in his regular life? They were stylish and clearly wealthy, updating him about their last vacation, and renovations on their townhome in the city. They reminded her of Aidan himself – at least, the man he’d seemed to be at the start of fall, busy and brisk, and perfectly put together. She’d gotten so used to him in jeans and a cable knit sweater, sleeves pushed up, with sawdust in his hair, that she’d completely forgotten about that other, high-flying version. But now, watching him smoothly chat about finance news, and mutual friends, she saw that man had never really gone away.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“So, when will you be back in town?” Freddie was asking. “Mason said you’ve got an offer on the table. We all knew you’d bounce back.”
“We’ll see,” Aidan said smoothly. “I’m weighing my options.”
“Playing hardball, I knew it. Well, hit me up when you’re back, we’ll do a steam.” Freddie said, then he and his girlfriend headed to their table, leaving Stella’s mind spinning in their wake.
“You got a job offer?” she echoed, the moment they were gone. “When did that happen? Why didn’t you say?”
Aidan looked uncomfortable. “It’s not a real offer, not yet. A buddy of mine put in a good word for me at his company. I’m still trading calls with the partners there.”
Stella blinked. Trading calls? That meant he was trying to connect with them.
“You’re considering it,” she said quietly, the realization hitting hard. “You want to move back to New York?”
“I don’t know.” Aidan replied, glancing away. “Like I said, it’s not anything to decide over just yet.”
“But you might,” she said, studying his expression. She couldn’t read what he was thinking, he still had that smooth, casual expression from talking to his friends. “If the offer was a good one, would you take it?” she pushed.
Aidan gave a shrug. “It’s hypothetical. I really don’t know anything yet.”
“I’m not one of those people,” she said, frustrated at his vague answer. “You don’t have to be like that with me.”
“What do you mean?” he frowned across the table at her.
“So smooth and diplomatic,” Stella replied. “You should have heard yourself with them just now. You didn’t say one real, honest thing the entire conversation.”
“Because they’re random acquaintances,” Aidan shot back. “You don’t get into the painful details of your life with everyone you see in the grocery checkout line, do you?”
Their server reappeared, smiling brightly. “So, dessert… What do we think?” she asked, oblivious to the tension now humming between them.
“I’m fine,” Stella said quickly. Aidan searched her face for a moment, then nodded.
“We’ll just take the check, thanks.”
“Of course.”
They sat in awkward silence as the bill came, along with complimentary dessert, all the same. “Courtesy of the chef,” their server beamed. Stella tried to smile.
“Thanks so much, and tell Declan everything was wonderful.”
After all, it wasn’t his fault she’d been left with a bitter taste in her mouth.
The car ride back was just as tense, heading back along the dark country roads. Stella couldn’t find it in herself to break the silence, or make light small talk as if her emotions weren’t whirling in her chest.
“I was going to tell you about the job,” Aidan finally said, as he pulled up outside her house. They sat there in silence for a moment. “When I knew for sure what they were offering, I would have said something.”
Stella swallowed back the sting in her throat. “You mean, when you’d already made your decision.”
“No, it’s not like that.” Aidan shook his head.
“Then how is it?” she asked, looking over at him. Aidan’s face was shadowed in the headlights, and he looked as tense as she felt. “I’m sorry, I know it’s still early, but I need to know what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling about all