“Hey, peaches,” he answers.
“Hey, Hot Sauce. I’m going to run out and get groceries with Ally. Want me to cook something instead of you bringing back takeout?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you grab one of those lasagnas you made that first night? That was fuckin’ good.”
I roll my eyes. “I can tell you liked it, since you ate ¾ of it.”
“Well buy two if you want more than a small piece ‘cuz a) I want to eat ¾ of one and b) you’re gonna need your strength so carb-load, baby.”
I giggle.
“How you getting to the store?” he asks.
“I can either Uber it or you can lend me your car… if you’re on your motorcycle, that is. And if the keys are here.”
“I’m in the car but my SUV is down there. Keys are on my dresser. Audi keychain. You’ll see it. It’s right beside my bike down there. Go ahead, baby.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But watch your speed.”
“Watch my speed?”
“Hear you’re a speed demon…”
I giggle. “How do you know that?”
He laughs.
“Aiden? Did my mother tell you when I was out of earshot? What else did she tell you?”
“Not your Mom, Carly. I had Jude run a background check on you.”
I do a slow blink. My mouth opens, and nothing comes out for a minute. “You ran a…”
“Don’t be mad. I’m comin’ clean.”
I hold the phone.
“You mad?”
“I dunno.”
“Well, don’t be. Or feel free to be a little mad, mad enough to dig your nails into my back later to pay me back.”
“Somehow that doesn’t sound like a punishment.”
“I came clean, Carly. And you had nothing to hide so nothing to know. Now, if you ran a background check on me… don’t do that. Don’t run one on me, baby.”
“You’re something else, Aiden Carmichael…”
“That, I am. Take the SUV. See you in a bit. Just pullin’ in to the office now. Gonna catch my Dad here.”
“Wait. You also told me you only had a two-seater.”
“My bad…”
I sigh. “Okay, Hot Sauce, but FYI, it kind of triggers me when you say ‘my bad’ so you might wanna avoid saying that.”