Page 95 of Aiden & Lily

Reese’s mouth tightened. “He was afraid staying would ruin the rest of your birthday,” Reese continued. “I don’t think leaving was the best choice either, but he thought it was better if he did.”

Lily swallowed against the ache in her throat. “What the heck?”

Reese squeezed her arm. “I do know that he cares about you enough that he didn’t want to mess up the rest of your birthday evening. He didn’t want to stand on the outskirts of your guests as a reminder of disappointing you. He’s not going anywhere,” Reese repeated. “He’s still yours.”

“But how do you know?” she asked, her voice breaking. Searching his eyes, she found nothing of comfort. But there was a sort of determination within those depths. Lily clung to that feeling with every last bit of strength she had.

“I can’t tell you the details. That’s his responsibility. All I can do is assure you that Aiden isn’t willing to give up. He’s not done. Not by a long shot. “So when you decide you’re ready to talk tohim again, I believe he’ll be there. But he needs to do his part too.”

She nodded, even though she wasn’t sure she believed what he’d said. The strange numbness that washed over her was the only thing keeping her rooted to the spot. She worried if she took even one step, she might lose her footing and become a spectacle she didn’t want to be with all her guests watching.

Lily could have faith. She could hope they would work this out. But Aiden would have to be the one to reach out and earn back her trust.

27

AIDEN

Aiden pulled off his suit jacket and shoved it into his locker, then pulled out his spare set of scrubs. He hadn’t even made it home before he got the call that he was needed at the hospital. There had been a massive accident one town over, and their small clinic couldn’t handle the influx of injured patients.

He glanced around the room at the handful of other staff members who had been called in. Mathew wasn’t there yet, but that didn’t mean anything. He’d more than likely be called in as well. When car accidents took this kind of turn, all hands were needed on deck.

It didn’t take Aiden long to change and head out onto the floor. He passed Mathew on his way to one of the triage stations. They gave each other a nod and went about their work.

There was something tight in the way Mathew had glanced at him, though, and Aiden couldn’t help the disparaging thoughtsthat came with noticing it. Had Lily said something to Mathew? Would his friend come track him down and start something?

Aiden wouldn’t have been surprised if Mathew did just that. Depending on what Lily said to him, Mathew might have a few things to say.

Scrubbing a hand through his already mussed hair, Aiden reached for a tablet and ducked into the nearest station. “Hello, Mr. Sanderson. I’m Nurse Stone. I’m going to take some vitals, if that’s okay.”

The older gentleman nodded. He didn’t look as though he’d been in the accident. There weren’t any obvious signs of trauma, but that didn’t mean anything.

Over the next hour, Aiden didn’t have a spare second. He continued seeing Mathew in passing, and each time, he fought the instinct to pull him aside and demand to know what was going on.

Things in the emergency room finally settled down about an hour and a half later. Aiden found Mathew seated behind a desk, his eyes on the computer screen in front of him. They flicked up to Aiden as he approached, and his lips twitched slightly. Not angry, but not amused either.

“Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Lily before you left the party?” Mathew asked.

“Right to business, I see,” Aiden murmured, propping his hip against the counter. He looked anywhere but at his friend. He wasn’t prepared for a lecture. He just wanted to know if Lily had talked to him—had said anything Aiden needed to know before he tried to make things right with her.

“Well, Lily seemed upset before I got called. I thought it might have something to do with you.”

Aiden snapped his head around and stared at Mathew. “I bet she didn’t say anything.” His voice held no question, nothing that would give him away.

But his friend was better than most at reading people. Mathew leaned back in his chair and laced his hands behind his head. “Yeah, not much seems to rile my cousins up these days. I figured if she was dealing with something, it was probably you.” At least this time he was smiling. In fact, it almost felt like he was teasing him.

Sighing, Aiden shook his head. “I’m just an idiot. I kept a secret when I shouldn’t have. It’s my fault.”

Mathew arched a brow. “No one is disagreeing with you, man.”

Scowling, Aiden reminded himself not to give in to his friend’s baiting.

“Honestly, I don’t think she was only upset about whatever you told her. Her whole demeanor shifted after she talked to Reese.” He sat up straighter and leaned over the desk, bracing his forearms on its smooth surface. “You want to know what I think?”

“I think you’re going to tell me no matter what I say, so shoot,” Aiden muttered.

Mathew continued as if he hadn’t heard him. “I think she was more upset that you left on her birthday than you realized.”

Aiden shrugged. “Possible.”