Page 34 of Stranded
His face changed right in front of me, like something inside him cracked open. The soft vulnerability from earlier vanished, replaced by a flash of anger which I knew so well. His brows drew together slightly, and his lips parted, then pressed together again, his jaw tightening.
His eyes shone glassy and bright with unshed tears.
“You know, Aiden, I’m starting to feel like I’ve taken your side one time too often. You have a rotten attitude toward your stepdad, especially after he was so nice as to replace your things. Did you even tell him thank you?”
“That’s not necessary,” I said quickly.
“No, she’s right.” Aiden gave me a mocking nod. “Thank you for being such alovingstepfather to me, even when I don’t deserve it. We all know you’ve gone above and beyond to please me lately.”
The words hit me like a slap.
My head snapped toward Melodie, a jolt running through me so sharp that my spine felt locked in place. For a split second, I just stared at her, my pulse kicking hard. How could she not hear it? Aiden practically telling her we were involved sexually?
Melodie, oblivious to the double entendre, picked up the sandwich I’d made. “That’s more like it, Aiden. It won’t kill you to be a bit more grateful.”
“Of course not. From now on, I’ll try to bend over backward—or however stepdad wants me—to please him.” He turned his back to me, his chin set in defiance, but I saw the way his bottomlip wobbled. “I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me to atone for how much of a horrible stepson I am.”
Aiden.
My mouth parted to call him, but no sound came out. Melodie dropped the sandwich back onto the plate. “Is this what you made? This isn’t filling. I’ll make you dinner. Okay, sweetie?”
Her words seemed genuine as though my disappearance had changed her for the better and she wanted to work on our marriage, but I saw it. I saw the way she winced when made to kiss my lips but I averted my ahead, and her lips landed on my cheek. On the side that was scarred. From my peripheral vision, I saw the way her lips pulled back in disgust before she turned her back to me to hide it.
What game is she playing? One minute she acts as if she wants me, and another she’s repelled by me?Her actions weren’t adding up.
“That sounds good,” I said.
“Do you think I was a bit too harsh on Aiden just now?” she asked, her back to me. “Something about him has changed since he returned.”
“He faced a life-or-death situation, Melodie. Cut him some slack.”
“At least the therapist’s advice worked.” She walked to the fridge and opened the freezer. “You and Aiden aren’t bickering anymore, and you’re even defending him.”
“I’m not defending him. Just pointing out the facts.”
Did she somehow suspect what was going on between us? No way. I’d been careful since returning. So careful I’d kept Aiden at a distance when I didn’t even need to. We lived under the same roof. It was only natural that we would run into each other sometime, that we would have something to talk about, yet I avoided him like he had the plague.
“I suppose you’re right. Do you mind checking up on him for me while I get started on dinner? Call it mother’s intuition, but I can’t get the feeling out of my gut that something’s wrong.”
Well, as long as she’s the one suggesting it…
“Of course. I’ll check on him.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
I glanced at the sandwich still on the plate. “If you don’t want this?—”
“Sure, bring it to him. Next time you make me a sandwich, remember I don’t really enjoy ham, dear.”
But you know who does? Your son.
Without a word, I grabbed a can of Sprite from the fridge and took the plate with me to Aiden’s room in the den. I frowned when I stood outside the door. He needed somewhere proper to live. Maybe if I got him an apartment outside, we would have a better time managing our relationship rather than carrying on under Melodie’s nose.
I loathed the idea of sleeping with him under the home I’d bought with my wife. Yeah, I got that sleeping with him in general was wrong, but this felt worse. Unforgivable.
Not that I have to worry about Melodie forgiving me when she finds out.
I inhaled deeply, then knocked on the door. “Aiden?”
