Page 19 of Seduced in Ink
“I’ve wanted to hit my aunt a few times, too,” Lincoln said, shrugging. “I don’t know if that makes me a bad person or someone with restraint for the fact that I haven’t done it yet. Madison’s parents are horrible. Not just her mom. Her dad is neglectful and lets his wife run all over him and their daughter. He routinely puts Madison in front of him, so he doesn’t have to deal with the wrath. I don’t know why they’re still together, other than the money. I don’t know. But that’s them. Madison, however, loves her parents. I don’t think she likes them all that much, but she loves them. For some reason, she’s always felt that she has to be perfect in order to appease them. To make them love her back. I hate that she constantly lowers herself to prove to them that she’s worth their affection.”
Aaron let his hands fall to his sides. “She opened her café against their wishes. She called itSin in a Cup. That’s standing up.”
Lincoln met Aaron’s gaze, a look of understanding in them—and a bit of curiosity, too. “You’re right. She did do all of that. She stands up to them in subtle ways. But she always wants them to love her back. To be the way things used to be.”
“What do you mean?” Marcus asked.
“My aunt and uncle used to be better. I don’t know what happened, maybe just time or bitterness. But they used to be good. Or at least, not as shitty. My parents used to hang out with them every weekend. That’s how Madison and I became so close while growing up. We’re like brother and sister instead of cousins.”
Aaron heard the warning in that but ignored it?, mostly because he had to.
“I think something happened. Or maybe it didn’t, and they just turned into who they are now. But Maeve and Mark McClard hate themselves, and they hate their daughter because of it. They tell themselves and Madison and the rest of us that they only want what’s best for her, but they put her in situations where she has to hate herself to appease them. And when she fights back, her mother fights harder. I stand up for her, and her mom hurts her even more. And then things get fine, nice even for a while. And so, Madison goes about her day, pretending that everything’s okay because, frankly, I think it’s easier to do that. And then, Maeve comes back with shit like this.”
“I knew it was bad. I heard it. And I know I can’t fix it. But maybe I can be a distraction so she can figure out how to walk away. Or her mom can get off her back for a minute so Madison can breathe. She just needs to breathe, you know?”
Lincoln met Aaron’s gaze and nodded. “I know. But don’t you fucking hurt her.”
Aaron swallowed hard and nodded. “I won’t. I’m not. It’s not like that.”
His dick thought otherwise, as it did in most cases when it came to Madison. He had wanted her from day one. But he wasn’t going to act on anything. He wasn’t going to hurt her like everyone else had. He would be good. Or at least he would try to be.
“I’m not going to hurt her,” he vowed.
“Good. Now, I could use a beer. What do you say?” Lincoln asked. The others smiled, nodding.
“I guess you’re inviting yourself over for a beer.”
“And you know he’s got French onion dip. This fool always has French onion dip,” Ethan said, jumping to his feet and heading to the kitchen.
Aaron stood, frowning. “That’s my French onion dip.”
“Score. He also has sour cream and onion!” Ethan called from the kitchen.
“Looks like we’re eating here, too,” Liam said, making his way over to Aaron. “You doing okay?” he asked.
Aaron frowned. “Of course, I’m doing okay. This is only to get her mom off her back.”
“That’s a lie. And you hate lying.”
“True,” Aaron said, rolling his shoulders back, an uncomfortable sensation cascading through him. “But it’s for a good cause.”
“You’re right. Madison is a good cause. And we’re all worried that she’s going to get hurt, mostly by her family. Not you. You’re just an easy person to shout at right now.” He paused while Aaron frowned. “But I’ve seen you look at her.” He whispered the words, and Aaron was grateful.
“I was never going to do anything about it.” He hadn’t let himself even really imagine it. She’d always been off-limits.
“I figured. Because you’re honorable. And there was always that sticky situation of Lincoln being in love with Ethan, complicating anything that you might have wanted with her.”
“I just want to be a friend. I want to help out.” That wasn’t a lie, but he wasn’t sure it was the whole truth either. Not anymore—not that he could really talk about it.
“We’re all going to worry about Madison. And we will all help you with this scheme because we love her. But we love you, too. And I don’t want to see you hurt. None of us do. You know Bristol would have been here in a second, too. Hell, so would have Arden and her friends. All of us want to make sure that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” Aaron said, his face heating. “You know me. I always bounce back.”
“You do. I’m just worried about the one day you don’t.” And with that cryptic comment, Liam walked into the kitchen where the guys were pulling out beer and chips and whatever other snacks Aaron had in the fridge.
Aaron swallowed hard and listened to their laughter, their deep voices piling on top of one another. He knew he was making the right decision with Madison.
Aaron had to do this. He couldn’t back out now. It would only make Madison hurt more.