Chapter 6
Hazel
Damon’s wedding provedto be a good event, and I found out a lot of information I wouldn’t have otherwise. Out on the dance floor, lots of women were talking about Aiden, and from experience. Has he been sleeping around all these years? It shouldn’t bother me because we aren’t together, but it does. Some part of me thought maybe he is still hung up on me, and as shitty as it sounds, it made me feel wanted. My heart will always have space for Aiden, but sleeping around isn’t my thing. It doesn’t seem from the way they talked; he has any interest in settling down or being with one woman, and they might be fine with that, but I’m not.
Jeremy drives us back to my dad’s house, and I relieve the woman we hired to keep an eye on him while we are out. He isn’t liking the babysitting, but at this point, we have to be safe. Jeremy moved in to help, but he has to work, and can’t be here all the time. So, help is necessary.
“So, are you excited for your drinks?” Jeremy asks, leaning into the open fridge.
My butt hits the granite countertop as I lean over and cross my arms. “We’re catching up. Regardless of our dating history, we’ve known each other for many years.”
He can see right through me and has always been good at that. Okay, so maybe I’m going to drink to find out more about him, and what’s going on in his life since I’ve been away. Is that so bad? He acts like I’m going to seduce him and leave him again. I’m not that much of a bitch.
Yet, we are both adults, and I’m not going to lie, if he wants to take me back to his place and have his way with me, I’ll be inclined to say yes. It’s been too long since a man has touched my body, and I won’t have many opportunities to be with Aiden while living halfway across the country. Hell, maybe that’s the closure we both needed to move on and find someone.
“All I’m saying is to be careful. Neither of you needs to get hurt again. Adults or not.”
I know he’s looking out for us, and it’s sweet. Blood might not relate us, but he’s the best brother I could have ever asked for in my life.
“I’ve got to go change. No way I’m wearing this dress to Dixie’s,” I say, wisping out of the room and up the stairs to the guest bedroom.
My suitcase lays open on the bed, and I start going through all the items I brought with me. What the hell should I even wear? Jeans and a t-shirt might be to blah, but a dress seems like a date, and I don’t want to send the wrong impression. Screw it. Black jeans and a red V-neck with black flats will be fine. It’s casual enough for it not to look like a date, but still reminding him of all the great things we have done in red.
As I’m walking down the stairs, Jeremy is waiting for me at the bottom, arms crossed.
“Don’t stay out too late. An UBER is waiting outside. I’ve got to work tomorrow,” he says, trying to keep a serious face.
“Okay, dad,” I say, sarcastically.
He rolls his eyes at my comment.
After exiting the house, and slipping into the car waiting outside, my hands start to sweat. Tonight might be a disaster or what both of us need to move on. Either way, I have to go into it with hope that he will be willing to help me with my plan to see Jake.
“We’re here, ma’am.”
I fumble with my seatbelt and get out of the car. “Thank you.”
I have never been inside Dixie’s, but my dad used to come here often. You can do this.
A couple of girls head toward the door, and I go in behind them, looking around for Aiden. My eyes search around the room, and then land on the corner table, with his eyes locked on me.
My mind starts to wonder how many girls he has picked up in this bar and taken home? Probably a good number, considering his charm and good looks. Don’t think about that. Focus on what you are here for, damnit.
“Hey! It’s so loud in here,” I say, joining him.
“Yeah, you get used to it, though. You wanna drink?”
“Vodka Tonic.”
He holds his hand up and gets the attention of the bartender to order mine. “So, how the hell have you been?”
Instead of taking it slow, inching into conversation, my mouth starts blurting out information. “Graduated from Harvard, and work at a law firm now.”
“That’s freaking incredible. I always knew you would do something great. Are you happy?”
Isn’t that a loaded question? Happy in what part of my life?
“Like, do you like what you do?” he reiterates.