I smile at him. “Just give me a minute.”
I turn to deal with the feral felid hissing next to me, but then look at him again. “Don’t go anywhere!”
He nods. Then—apparently unable to stop himself—raises a perfect eyebrow at Reagan, the corner of his lip lifting in a taunting “I win” smile.
She almost lunges at him, but I grab her arm and drag her behind me in a mess of limbs and hair straight to her bedroom. I shut her door in case she loses it.
She does. “Isa, are you fucking crazy?” I’m sure her shriek is reaching not only Aiden, but Calico’s dad, Mr. Willis, next door.
“Yes, I am. I’m crazy about him. He explained, Reagan, and even you can’t fault him for what he did. So just give me two minutes before you tear into him like hydrofluoric acid.”
She looks like she very much doubts a universe exists where she will not fault Aiden. Still, she plops on her bed and waits with wide angry eyes.
But now it’s my turn and I am loath if I disclose Aiden’s struggles to anyone, including Reagan. His PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of, but I have no doubt he wants to keep it private. I sit next to her, trying to think of a way to mollify her.
“He was just looking out for me. He has some very negative views about himself and thought I’d be better off without him. That’s why he came—to convince me to stay away.” My voice trails off as the sharp stabbing returns.
“Well, he convinced you of something.” She points at my robe with her chin.
I tighten the belt, blushing. “I couldn’t help it.”
“Oh, Isa. Did you think about tampons like I said?”
“Umm, no.”
“Ugh! Now, explain to me. What do you mean he’s trying to convince you to stay away? Why?” Her eyebrows quiver in worry.
I swallow. “Well, because he leads a bit of a…an isolated life, and he doesn’t want me to be isolated too.”
“Isolated life? Well, duh, with his money, that’s a no-brainer but that’s not enough to justify his behavior. Isa, don’t let him give you some song and dance just so he can sleep with you again.”
I love Reagan, but somewhere between Aiden’s knock on my door and the lunch we never started, my mission in life has become to protect him.
“He’s not lying to me, Reg, and I’m not stupid. Please, be my sister with this and give him a chance. Especially since I may only have twenty-six days left with all of you.”
She is undeterred. “Isa, what if you get hurt? Remember how it was when—” She stops abruptly but I know what she was going to say. Do I remember how I was when she first met me? Oh yes. Regarding that phase of my life, my memory might as well be eidetic.
I put my arm around her shoulders. “I remember but I’m stronger now. Because of you. Besides, you may still get your wish because no one wants to push me away more than Aiden.” My voice drops to a whisper. I try to breathe as the future he may have saved spans colorless in the horizon without him.
Reagan gives me a hug that squeezes out whatever oxygen I was managing to draw in. “Of course he won’t push you away. And if he does, he’ll be sorry he was born. Now, stop this rubbish before I take the mickey out of you.”
And with that misplaced Britishism, I know she is back on my side. I hold her tightly, kissing her hair and looking at our pictures on her wall. The thought of ever losing her competes with Aiden’s void so I pull away.
“I started some soup. Should be ready in about fifteen minutes. Now I better go find him before he convinces himself that you’re right and scarpers off.”
She smiles and gives me a peck on the cheek. “You used a British word while talking about him.”
I laugh. “Did I? Your dream come true. See? He’s not a tosser. A right sight better than your Mr. Gandy.” I point at her screensaver collage of the British model.
“I wouldn’t go that far. Okay, okay.” She raises her hands in surrender. “Do you want to borrow my good-luck burgundy dress?” She stands to go to her closet but then stops, smacking her forehead with an “oh!” Her head whips around and she smiles.
“Actually no, not my dress. He needs to see the real you and he’ll never be the same again. Wear your mom’s dresses and make him fall him in love with you until he dies.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Cloudless Climes
At Aiden’s home, I take advantage of his conference call with Tokyo to put away my mum’s tea dress in his closet. In case we go out tonight. The dress is sea gray with white roses printed along the full skirt. I caress the petal-soft silk, loving the way it blends with Aiden’s ubiquitous navy, black and charcoal suits.