Page 11 of Waggs

Aiden backed toward the door, and the desire between them practically permeated the air, it was so intense. “Towels are in the bathroom, and the lotions and stuff you might need are in the bags. I’ll make you some soup. Still like mushroom?”

Willow nodded, smiling, the debate between which soup was better when you were sick was a long-standing one, and one, she, Aiden, and Aaron had had many times. Aaron believed it was tomato, she thought mushroom, and Aiden voted chicken. Looking back, she didn’t even know how it started, but it was a fond memory of the three of them. One she could cherish now without the sharp stab of grief.

Aaron had left a hole in their lives which would never be filled, and for a while, she’d thought she’d die from the pain, especially when she lost Aiden too, but her son had been her saving grace. That tiny human needed her, and in him, Aaron would always live on.

Going through the bags, she found way more clothes than she needed, as well as shoes, plain, cotton underwear, which was perfect, brushes, and ponytail holders. Picking up a simple pair of jersey cotton pyjamas, she went to the bathroom.

Within minutes of the hot water hitting her, she felt more human, cleaning her body, and using the razor he’d thoughtfully provided to tidy her legs, pits, and bits. Once she’d rinsed the second lot of shampoo from her hair, she lathered it in conditioner and rinsed again. She didn’t know what possessed her, but she set aside the flowery shower gel and used the one she knew Aiden used.

Being in here where he’d been naked seemed naughty and wrong, yet as she covered her body in the suds that smelled like him, she couldn’t regret it any more than she could coming here. Being here felt right in a way that nothing had in a long time now.

Once she was dressed—even if it was in pjs—and her hair was combed through, she shoved her feet in the slippers he’d bought and went to find her son and Aiden.

Willow found him setting a bowl of soup and some bread on the table. His eyes came to hers, and she was almost struck dumb by his good looks. Everyone thought Aiden and Aaron were identical, and to some they were, but not to her. The differences were subtle, but they were enough that she could tell them apart easily. Even the way they touched her and spoke to her was different. Aaron had been gentle, sweet. Aiden was more demanding, confident but quiet.

“Would you like some water or juice?”

Willow took a seat, and her tummy grumbled at the sight of the food. “Juice would be good if you have it.”

“You got it.”

Aiden walked away, and she looked over to her son as she ate the first spoonful, which tasted so good. She was three spoons in when Aiden set a glass of pineapple juice beside her bowl. She smiled that he’d remembered her favourite, which was also her son’s. He sat opposite her, and the silence was slightly awkward as she tried to think of what to say.

“Were your friends angry I crashed the wedding?”

Aiden shook his head and rested his elbows and linked fingers on the table. “No, Gunner and Lacey are pretty laid back.”

“So, you were a groomsman?”

“Best man.”

Her eyes shot to his. “Oh no, and I stole you away from your duties. Please tell me I didn’t make you leave your date on her own?”

“No, no date and my best man duties were finished, so it’s all good.”

“So, you work together?”

“Yeah, he’s Eidolon, too. So is the man who owns this building. He and his wife live upstairs with their daughter Maggie. AJ met them earlier today when we played football in the yard.”

Willow glanced at AJ, who she could see was tired out. Aiden had done an excellent job taking care of him, not that she’d ever doubted he would. “Thank you for stepping in when I was sick. I hadn’t planned our visit to be quite so dramatic, although it is somewhat dramatic, I guess.”

She was babbling she knew it, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Aiden reached over and took her hand, linking their fingers across the table. The touch was so innocent and yet so meaningful.

“Don’t thank me for something I should’ve done five years ago. I meant what I said to AJ. I’ll protect you both, and I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry about it.”

Her heart jumped to her throat at the sincerity in his voice, and she knew he meant every word. What worried her was his reaction when he realised the full extent of why she was here. “I should put AJ to bed then we can talk. Is that okay?”

Aiden was watching her intently, and she wondered if he could read her mind and see her secrets. He’d always had the ability to do that, to make her feel exposed in ways nobody else ever had. “I’ll see you when you’re done.”

Willow went to take the dishes to the sink, but Aiden took them from her. “You should get him to bed before he falls asleep sitting up. I’m afraid I’m not great with kid’s schedules.”

Her eyes fell on her son, who was nodding off as the credits rolled on the film. He’d been such a trooper on the long flight, and again when they’d got here and had to make a mad dash for a train after seeing the same man from her town on the flight they were on from the States. It may have been a coincidence, but she wasn’t willing to take that chance, so she’d run, leaving everything behind.

Lifting her son, she walked to the room Aiden showed her and set him on the bed. He opened his eyes as she removed his trainers, which were new, and helped him put his pyjamas on. They had little animal characters from his favourite show on them, and she knew he’d helped Aiden with the clothes and probably wheedled a toy out of his uncle. AJ was a master negotiator when it came to toys, candy, or extra time before bed. He’d probably given Aiden the runaround, and yet, they seemed to have hit it off, as if they’d always known each other, not like the strangers they were.

Once he’d brushed his teeth, she told him a story from memory.

“Mommy, tell me the story about the two monkeys.”