“No idea. Your mom and I were downstairs talking. I started upstairs and heard you yell.”
“And you didn’t see or hear anything?”
“I wish I did. But I didn’t. I was too focused on you.”
Sloan rolled on her back. Through the lamplight she could see Aaron. He looked worried. She didn’t like it when he worried. He was supposed to be the calm one.
“Checking me out?” he kidded, but she knew the truth. He was as freaked out as she was.
She couldn’t match his joking mood, even if it was an act. “I’m scared.”
In an instant she was in his arms. He held her tightly and kissed her temple. “I know. I would be too. We’ll figure this out. I know we will.”
“Where’s Ray?” She wasn’t sure why she’d asked. It had just come out.
He paused a second before he answered. Maybe he was wondering why, snuggled in her bed with him, she’d asked about his brother. It was pretty weird. “I… uh… don’t know.”
“He didn’t go home?”
“I didn’t see him if he did. Why? You two have a fight.”
“More of a mutual understanding.” It didn’t make sense, though. Where did he go if he didn’t go home? She could kick herself for not asking about what Boyd had told her. He hadn’t gone to see him? Surely Boyd wasn’t telling the truth. Why would Ray lie about it?”
“Something’s bothering you.” Aaron scooted her so he could see her face. “You worried about Ray? Why?”
Did she tell him or keep her mouth shut?
“Tell me,” he said as if reading her mind. “What’s got you down now?”
This was probably a bad idea. “When I went to see Boyd today, he told me something that has me kinda scratching my head.”
“You’re going to believe Boyd? Really? I don’t think liar is very far from attempted murderer, do you?”
“No, but it was just… strange.”
Aaron moved her so she faced him. “He’s trying to get in your head. That’s all. He’s manipulating you.”
“So now you think it’s Boyd sending the roses?”
He shook his head and pressed his palms to his forehead. “I don’t know what to think. I mean, both you and Ray said he couldn’t walk, so I don’t see him stalking you, but then again, I don’t trust him. Trying to kill me sort of takes away my trust.”
“Ray never went to see him,” she blurted out. Once she had, she wished she hadn’t.
Aaron’s face darkened. “What do you mean he didn’t go see him? He said he did. He described his house and his chair. Why… oh.” The light bulb went off. “That’s what Boyd told you. That Ray didn’t go to his house, right?”
She nodded. “It’s stupid. I know it is. I mean, if Ray said he did, he did.” She hesitated. “Right?”
Aaron was quiet long enough to make her start questioning things. “A few years ago when our mom was still around, Ray had a bit of a bad time.”
That didn’t sound good. “What sort of bad time?”
Aaron stared up at the ceiling. “I shouldn’t be telling you this.”
“Why?” Tell her!
“Because I’m afraid it’ll change how you think about Ray. I don’t want that. He really is a good guy. He just had a bad time.”
Now she really needed to know. “We’ve already decided to just be friends. He knows there’s nothing romantic between us.”
That got Aaron’s attention. “Really? When?”
“On the porch this evening. He said he knew how much I liked you and didn’t want to stand in the way of that.” She could feel her cheeks start to burn. It wasn’t like she’d ever actually admitted that she liked Aaron, much less straight to his face.
He didn’t take it like she’d expected. She supposed she’d expected his flashy grin and a big ole smirk. Instead he just looked confused.
Oh no! What if she’d read it wrong, and he didn’t want any sort of relationship with her? Maybe he was just one of those guys who liked to kiss random people. She felt she needed to backtrack somehow. “I mean… uh. You don’t have to like me back. It’s just…”
He snapped out of whatever daydream he’d been in. “Not like you back? What are you talking about? Of course I like you.”
“Oh. Good. I was just wondering. You didn’t say anything.” Why did she have to stutter so blasted much? It wasn’t very attractive.
“I was thinking about Ray. He just let you go? Just like that?” His eyes narrowed.
“I guess so. He said he saw that I liked you and didn’t want to stand in our way. Didn’t want to feel bad, especially not now when I had other things to worry about.”
Aaron shook his head. “That doesn’t sound like my brother.”
Really? Because she thought it had sounded just like him. Ray had never seemed selfish to her and would be the kind to move out of the way for someone else’s happiness. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Aaron picked at his fingertips. “Look, I didn’t tell you before because it didn’t mean anything. It isn’t who is he is now. I know what it’s like to be judged for your past.”