Page 78 of Fight or Flight
“Yeah, dude was a bundle of nerves ever since he decided to pop the question. He was insufferable. I’m glad she said yes because I can’t imagine what would happen to him and us, his poor workers, otherwise.”
We go to congratulate the happy couple on their engagement. And soon, what was meant to be a little backyard gathering with friends and family turns into a real party with champagne and a makeshift dance floor on the grass.
My back is sweaty, and my hair glues itself to my forehead from how long we’ve been dancing, and I’m glad when the music switches to something slower. Aidan brings me closer to his body and sways us slowly before we make a small twirl.
“Do you think that could ever be us?” He asks quietly, only for me to hear. I glance behind us at Jenny and Brody, laughing together at something Henry said before they all hug.
“You mean, like marriage and kids?” He nods, and I take a moment to think before I can reply honestly.
“Eventually, probably yes. I would want that. But is that going to be a given in my future? In our future? I don’t know Aidan. It’s still too much... to think about big steps like that.” I frown at him. “Is that going to be an issue for you? If I want to wait?”
Aidan grabs my hand to kiss it and starts swaying again without his eyes leaving mine.
“Claire, I love you. Everything about you. The good, the not-so-good, and the little bit crazy... I love you in every way possible. Married, unmarried, with children or no children. And as long as you’re mine, and as long as I can make you happy, I won’t be needing anything else. You always come first. I’ll wait.”
Oh. Wow. I think my heart might explode from the overload of love and sappy feelings that his words evoke.
I tilt my head up and give him a small kiss.
“You do,” I mutter against his lips, and he gives me a questioning look. “You do make me happy.”
I glance to the side to check what everyone else is doing before a mischievous smile overtakes my mouth. “Actually, I have a little idea about what you could do right now to make me even more happy, Mr. Linden.”
“Ms. Thompson, what kind of naughty thoughts are running around in that pretty head of yours,” he says in a lower voice. The desire is burning in his eyes.
“I could tell you...” I say and bite my lip before going to his ear and whispering. “Or I can show you.”
I can hear his hard breath intake, and after checking one last time, if no one pays us any mind, I drag him to the other side of the house.
When we’re around the corner, we both start to laugh like teenagers, eager to do something naughty, but then stop short when we see a young woman, or more like a teenage girl, standing in the driveway, looking around with an angry look on her face.
“Who’s that?” Aidan asks quietly.
“No idea,” I throw and move forward with my hand enveloped in his. The girl finally notices me, and her face quickly transforms from furious and wrong to a sweet and pleasant one. Too quickly. Maybe a normal person wouldn’t see it, but I recognize the act instantly, and I’m all of a sudden on edge.
“Hi, may I help you?” I ask with a sweet smile and eye her. Something about her sparks my mind, but I can’t really put my finger on it. She looks familiar.
“Oh, hi. Um, sorry if I’m trespassing. I’m actually looking for someone. Do you live here?”
“I do,” I say, even though that’s not entirely true since I’ve been staying at Aidan’s more than not lately. “Who is it that you’re looking for?”
She glances at the house and then says. “I’m looking for a woman named Jennifer Wallace. Does she live here? Or maybe you know her?”
I don’t like the way she says Jenny’s name, and I glance at Aidan quickly to check if he heard that, too. His lifted eyebrows show me that, indeed, there’s something off here.
He squeezes my hand before lifting his chin at her. “Say we know her. Who’s asking?”
The girl steps from foot to foot and licks her lips. “My name is Molly Barnett...”
Okay... Why does that last name sound familiar?
“And apparently, I’m Jennifer’s half-sister...”
My eyes open wide, and I throw “Oh shit” the same time Aidan says. “Oh fuck no.”
And then we all jump as if we were just caught doing something bad when a voice reaches us from behind.
“Claire? Are you guys here? I need you to...” Jenny rounds the corner of the house and stops short before her mouth opens and closes like she’s a fish thrown out of the ocean trying to find water.