Page 37 of Aiden & Lily

“I can practically hear your brain screaming,” Christopher mused.

His eyes were closed, but he wore a smile as he basked in the rays of the sun.

She took another bite of her cracker and dusted off her fingers. “Are you going to introduce me to your friends one day? When you’re ready?”

She watched him intently. She wanted to see if he tensed or showed any indication that he was hiding something. For a second, nothing. Then something flickered across his face so quickly she might have missed it if she hadn’t been looking.

Christopher opened one eye and peeked at her. “One day, when we’re both ready, I’m going to show you off to everyone.”

Why did that single sentence have so much bearing on her heart?

Flutters. Warmth. Peace.

Just knowing he planned for their relationship to continue long enough for that to happen made her want to wait. But as she turned her face back toward the sun, the small question in the back of her mind stayed right where it was.

11

AIDEN

“They’ve finally cleared us to break ground.”

“That’s good.” Aiden nodded. “Right? It’s about time. So what happens after that? They pour the foundation, and you can jump in with the framing?”

Parker pulled a box of carpenter nails from the shelf, studied it for a moment, then grabbed a few more and placed them in the oversized cart. “Yeah. Since I have men who can complete every stage of work, this build is all mine. It’s going to be the first big project, start to finish, for my company.”

“Sounds awesome,” Aiden insisted. “I can’t wait to see it.”

His brother gave him a crooked grin. “Somehow, I don’t see you as the church-going type. When was the last time you entered the house of the Lord?”

Aiden scoffed. “I go to church. When there’s one close by.”

With an arch of his brow, Parker smirked. “I suppose it’s a good thing I’m here, then, huh?”

This was just one more piece of proof that Parker was the golden child. Perfect grades. Successful businessman. Adored member of the community. Active parishioner.

There was no need to ask Parker when the last time was that he’d gone to church. Ever since he’d shown up in Copper Creek, his Sundays were blocked out. He’d asked Aiden to tag along a few times, but Aiden always made excuses.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like attending. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in it, either. And maybe that was why his brother continued to ask.

The guilt was what stopped him.

The one thing keeping Aiden away these days had everything to do with the double life he was leading. He’d started to experience this irrational fear that the second he stepped over the threshold of a church, everyone would look at him and know.

Liar. Cheat. Fraud.

He was betraying his friends. He was letting Lily trust a version of him that was only half true. And somehow, walking into church with all of that sitting on his chest felt like asking God to look directly at the worst parts of him.

“Hey, man, you okay?” Parker’s voice jolted him back to the present. His brother might be younger, but he was a few inches taller, and he ducked his head slightly to get a good look at him. “I know I asked you to come out and help me with the big stuff, but if you’re not feeling well?—”

“I’m fine,” Aiden insisted. “Promise.” He gripped the back of his neck and shifted his attention to the hardware store.

Shelves of materials surrounded them, and there was no lack of interesting things to look at.

He just couldn’t let Parker figure him out.

“Is this about that girl?” Parker asked quietly. “The one that used to date your friend?”

Aiden flinched, then his expression sharpened. “Shh! Don’t say that out loud,” he hissed, looking around the immediate area. “You have no idea who might be listening.”