Page 130 of Forget
“Nah, I’ll do it,” I tell her, pointing the SUV in that direction. I changed cars today, switching with Aiden in deference to his all weather tires. I had this odd feeling this would be the better option.
“Do you want to see your father on the way?”
I feel for the old man, because he got caught in the middle of Aiden’s bullshit. He thought he was doing what was best for her, but she doesn’t know what he was thinking.
“No, thank you,” she says primly, looking out the window. “I don’t have anything to say to him right now.”
Deciding to leave it for now, I spend the rest of the drive in silence, noticing the way she relaxes the longer I’m quiet. I’ve been asking her anxious questions all day long. Aisling is an empath, and she’s been feeding off of my energy.
I feel like an idiot right now.
Promising to do better, I drive to Cian’s after I drop Aisling off. If I can help my scary fucking boss while trying to repair what my pack broke, then I will.
Chapter 24
Aiden
Two weeks later
I don’t knowhow to speak to Aisling, so I’ve been leaving her little gifts where I know she’ll find them. I feel so inept, as apologies aren’t something I do well verbally. I’m sure she thinks someone else is giving them to her.
An orchid next to her breakfast, a new book with her favorite snack, or the phone number to a resource for her with an appointment time.
I’ve been stalking her for over a year, trying to get to know everything about her. I’m not blind, I can see how busy Aisling is, how driven.
“Aiden, you’re with Aisling today,” Caelin grunts absently from his computer in the kitchen. He’s just about finished with the website for Aisling and Wren, and has had at least two meetings with them as he’s built it.
Nerves fill my body with the idea of being with the pissed off omega, but I force myself to appear as if I’m fine with it.
“Let me clear that with the boss,” I sigh.
“Cian said that if you show up at his house today, he’s putting a bullet in your brain,” Caelin rumbles. “Evan is going to drive him today.”
Yeah, that tracks. I have a black eye at the moment from my last interaction with the boss, and Aisling still hasn’t spoken to her father. He’s losing his mind and doesn’t handle the silent treatment very well.
“I guess I’m with Aisling then,” I mutter, ignoring Caelin’s dark chuckle.
“She’s been noticing the gifts, but it’s not enough. You know that, right?” he asks.
“Yeah. I’ll try talking to her today,” I tell him.
“Good luck with that,” Domh says, tired as he walks toward the coffee maker. “She’s really good at stonewalling people. Did anyone notice she hasn’t had a therapy appointment yet?”
“She canceled the last two,” Caelin says. “I’m watching her calendar again because she’s not speaking to anyone. I’m not very patient.”
Smirking, I nod, because he’s really not.
“Should we worry that she’s ignoring everyone, including her therapist?” Evan asks sleepily, following on Domh’s heels. None of us are sleeping well lately.
“Fuck, I’m worried,” I admit. “It’s like someone’s cut her strings, and when no one’s watching she’s a shell.”
“I watched her at work when I was helping at the outreach, and she was smiling and happy, despite the redness in her eyes. She’s crashing and crying while alone. I fucking hate that she won’t let anyone in,” Domh says.
“She’s letting Pack Mohan in,” Caelin says, scowling. He doesn’t like how comfortable the alphas are with her. “One of them has been at our meetings, glaring at me the entire time.”
“She needs an outlet,” I admit. “Aisling is ignoring her father, therapist, and us. I’m glad she’s talking to her best friend.”
Inside, I’m jealous as fuck, but I won’t say that. I also mean every word. Aisling needs to talk to someone because she’s not the same person that I know. Even when I thought she was struggling, this is so much worse.