Page 41 of Aiden & Lily

Had she done something in a previous life to deserve being blindsided like this? Lily didn’t think so.

There wasn’t one big event that had made forgiveness difficult for her. Holding grudges was something she’d learned to do over time. A lot of little hurts that had taught her people couldn’t always be trusted.

One lie was all it took to make her question everything else.

That little seven-year-old best friend who stole her favorite pencil box at school? Enemies for life.

That first boy who kissed her under the mistletoe at her ninth-grade dance? She’d found out the hard way that he had a long-distance girlfriend. It didn’t matter that he thought they were on a break. He should have told Lily the truth before they locked lips.

Lily refused to be made a fool of when it came to the way she wanted to live her life.

And that was exactly what Aiden had done.

He’d let her believe something that wasn’t true because it suited him.

She sped down the sidewalk, barely noticing the people or shops around her. Her eyes burned as she replayed the conversation with Christopher—no, Aiden’s brother.

A truck had pulled up in front of the store just as she was walking past, but a cart blocked the way. She’d pushed it aside so the truck could get by and offered the man behind the wheel a small smile. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

He climbed out of the truck and headed right for her. It nearly startled her when he held out his hand. “Thanks for the assist. I’m Parker.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she had a boyfriend, but then she reminded herself that not every man who approached her wanted something. She accepted his hand.

“Lily.” Then she tilted her head. “You must be new.”

He chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”

She smiled, liking the sound of his laugh. People needed to laugh more. To go out into the world and share their joy. This guy had a certain warmth about him. Outgoing and friendly.

Maybe she should introduce him to Jasmine.

Parker gripped the back of his neck, his eyes twinkling. It must have been nice to seem that genuinely happy.

Then again, what did she know? People wore all kinds of masks.

“I’m staying with my brother,” he said. “Maybe you know him? He works at the hospital. Total whiz, but don’t tell him I said so.”

She grinned. “Your secret’s safe with me. Unfortunately, I don’t know many people who work at the hospital. But my cousin does. Maybe he knows your brother?”

“That would make?—”

Lily sensed him before she saw him. She turned, and a smile burst across her face when Christopher came into view.

Parker must have noticed the shift because he turned, too. “His ears must have been burning.”

She stiffened. She didn’t have to ask what Parker meant because he was an open book.

“There’s my brother, Aiden.” Parker shifted a little. “Everything okay?”

Lily hadn’t realized she’d stopped walking.

Her head pounded, and she felt dizzy. She leaned against a light post and drew in a few deep breaths.

Aiden.

Not Christopher.

He’d been lying. But why? For what possible reason would he let her believe his name was something else?