Aiden merely tells him that he’s the one wasting his time, considering a career playing football is short-lived.
I focus on my plate and only answer when either Astrid or Elsa asks me a question, which I guess is their polite way to include me in the conversation.
Jonathan rarely speaks, if ever. He just listens. Like the first days I came to live here.
After that, I made it a habit that we talk. Whether it’s about the business column he loves too much, or politics. It doesn’t matter that we clash a lot and it ends up in an argument. I don’t like eating my food in silence. It’s a habit I’ve been trying to get out of at any cost.
Jonathan motions at my plate across the table. My cheeks heat. God, I can’t believe he caught on that I wasn’t actually eating.
I force down a few spoonfuls, then pretend I’m not affected by the way Aiden avoids me all night. Levi does throw some remarks my way, but soon retreats with a scold from Jonathan or a touch from Astrid.
By the time dinner is over, I excuse myself, pretending I spilt water on my suit trousers.
A huge breath heaves out of me when I’m inside my room. I slump on the bed and hold my head between my hands.
It wasn’t as disastrous as I expected it to be, so that says something.
I think.
No idea how many family dinners I can handle in the future, though. The girls are kind and welcoming, but I can’t say the same about their husbands. Especially Aiden. He’s out for my life
A knock sounds on the door and I straighten up. “Who is it?”
Elsa opens the door, followed by Astrid, who asks, “Can we come in?”
“Yeah, sure.” I stand and lead them to the small sitting area in my room. The few times Layla came here, she said I have a princess’s room fit for ‘daddy kink’, at which I proceeded to hit her with a pillow.
The three of us sit down, Elsa and Astrid next to each other while I’m on the chair opposite them.
When neither of them speak, I slice through the silence, “Is everything all right?”
“Absolutely.” Elsa clears her throat. “We just wanted to see if you’re okay.”
“I am.”
“Levi doesn’t hate you, you know,” Astrid blurts. “He’s merely curious about you.”
“As for Aiden…” Elsa trails off. “When he was younger, he was taken by my parents as a ‘fuck you’ to Jonathan, and when he returned, his mother was dead. He was wounded deeply by that, and seeing you brings that wound to the surface. Give him time and I promise he’ll get used to you.”
Aiden was taken by Ethan and his wife? That must be why Alicia called me and told me her son was missing.
Hold on. Is this why Jonathan can’t stand Ethan? Because he kidnapped Aiden?
Instead of voicing those questions out loud, potentially making me look like a creep, I plaster on a smile. “Time is all I have.”
“Thank you.” Elsa relaxes in her seat. “I knew you’d understand.”
“So different from Jonathan,” Astrid mutters.
“Word.” Elsa exchanges a look with her sister-in-law and they both shake their heads.
“He gives you trouble?” I ask.
“Did you hear him earlier?” Astrid winces. “He hates me because Mum caused the accident that killed James King, Jonathan’s brother. He doesn’t care that the accident also took her life.”
“I’m sorry.”
A sad smile grazes her lips as she stares at the inside of her forearm where there’s a sun, moon, and start tattoo, the star coloured in black. “I’m better now, I think. But Jonathan still sees me as the reason his brother died. He never stops reminding Levi of how my mum killed his father.”