Page 79 of Lifeline

“Just like that?” he asked, flabbergasted.

“God, now I wonder how Reno dealt with it because you sound like me and I want to walk out of the room so I don’t have to deal with you,” I said with a snort, squeezing his hand. “No, not just like that. You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you, with me and the others, and that’s if they’re even going to want you around. So we’ll start with that, and then figure out what to do from there.”

He nodded slowly and tilted his head back, closing his eyes. I watched him for several minutes before laying my head next to him, pressing my forehead against his arm. It really wasn’t as easy as all that, but I had to admit, Reno was right; it was that simple. I had been forgiven for sins I had committed by someone who had trusted me, despite the fact that I meant no harm. If Aidan was being honest, and God, I was choosing to believe he was, then what would it say about me if I wasn’t willing to do the same for him?

Aidan grunted. “I just realized Reno’s been gone for a while.”

“You’re right,” I said with a frown, and then growled. “Goddammit, there’s a fucking bathroom in here. He went looking for Jake.”

“In a hospital gown? They’d drag him back.”

“They’d try, but he’s stubborn and he’s not without charm. You might not know it, but before he came to work at the outpost, he was a bigger slut than I ever tried to be. He’s talked a lot of women into his bed.”

“Well, his looks don’t hurt his chances.”

I turned my head to stare at him. “Seriously?”

“Oh, come,” Aidan protested. “You two are literally identical except the hair and maybe some build differences. Of course I think he’s good looking, he looks like you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Weren’t you the one who said you could tell the difference?”

“Yes,” he rolled his eyes. “But that isn’t the same as knowing you two are identical.”

“Not the point,” I grumbled. “Jesus, can any of you go five minutes without getting on my nerves?”

“You sound like Xander,” he said, and grimaced. “Fuck.”

“Forgot about him, huh?” I asked.

“A little,” Aidan admitted and glanced when my phone vibrated across the nearby table.

I picked it up and snorted as I answered it. “Speak of the devil.”

“Put me on speaker,” Xander grunted.

“Hello to you too,” I said dryly, though I supposed that was what I should have expected after having decked him in the face…twice. I hit the button. “You’re on speaker. Wait, how did you know he was awake?”

“Your brother called me…from Jake’s room,” Xander said, sounding annoyed. “And called a meeting.”

“Reno called a meeting?” I asked, not in the least surprised.

“He did,” Xander said with a huff. “And he took advantage of the fact that he’s hurt to talk our ears off.”

I glanced at Aidan, knowing the answer to my question. “About?”

“Your boyfriend,” he grunted.

Aidan blanched. “Are there any cats left in the bag?”

“No,” Xander said curtly. “Mika, is what he told me true?”

“Unless he misheard me or I misremembered when telling him,” I said, frowning. “Why?”

“Aidan,” Xander said.

Aidan met my eyes, swallowed, and replied. “I’m here.”

“Good, at least you haven’t wandered down to Jake’s room when you’re supposed to be in bed. Reno’s going to have fun when he recovers and has to deal with Colin after he heard about that,” Xander said, and damned if the man didn’t sound amused. “It’s your lucky day, if you want to call it that. Seems everyone here is of the mind that you deserve a chance to prove yourself.”