Chapter Thirty-Five
Aiden
There was one thing about me: I could sleep anywhere. As a boy, my mother would find me in a random place, under a table, behind the couch, and even up under my bed. Mom would do her best to throw a blanket over me, but she never bothered to move me.
As I felt the heavy blanket fall across my arms, I imagined her there with me again, but then the reality of her being gone hit and I opened my eyes. Shoes. Not just any shoes, but the strappy heels I’d seen Lexa wear on more than one occasion were planted inches away. I turned my head and followed her long legs up, and she stepped back as I met her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to wake you, but you looked cold.” She walked to the closest chair and lowered herself to sit as I sat up, finding that I’d been passed out in another sea of bottles beside the sofa. There was a spill on the Aubusson, and someone, probably Lexa, had thrown a paper towel over it. “The maid let me in. I saw where you called and-”
“I didn’t call.” I was certain I hadn’t drunk dialed her. I glanced around for my phone, and it wasn’t anywhere near me.
“Oh.” She stared down at her hands, which trembled. “I’m sorry, maybe you butt-dialed me. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
She was dressed nice, not like she’d run right over on a whim, but more like she’d been out for the evening. “You get all dressed up for me?” I narrowed my gaze as she looked away and shifted in her seat.
“I had dinner with a friend. I saw that you called and hoped you wanted to talk.”
“You could have called; it would have saved you the trouble.” She smelled of perfume and wine, and her hair was down the same as the night I’d taken her to dinner. “Who’s the friend?” I dragged to my feet, certain I smelled like the bottles piled around me and looked even worse.
“Does it matter?” She shrugged and met my eyes; her chin lifted as if to challenge me.
“No, it’s not like you’d tell me truth, anyway; but I can guess.” I turned and staggered a bit, trying to get around the coffee table. She sat forward as if she could catch me if I fell. I jerked my head in her direction and dared her to move. The I don’t need your help glare kept her ass in her chair.
I walked across the room to where mother kept her favorite decanter and poured myself a shot of bourbon. “I guess the good doctor didn’t make a house call, or did you run right over here after he left?” I downed half the drink and swirled the rest in my glass.
“It was only dinner between friends. He knows-”
I threw the glass against the closest wall and spun around to find her standing.
“He knows I’m in love with you,” she shouted, her voice strong and demanding. “If you’re going to let your temper get out of control, I’m leaving.”
Her chest rose and fell quickly as she stepped closer to the door, but all I could hear were her words playing over and over in my mind. There was an I love you in there. I could have sworn I’d heard it.
I wanted to remind her that I didn’t invite her over and show her to the door, but instead, I needed her to say it again. “What did you say? Not the shit about my temper, the rest of it.”
“I said he knows that I love you.” Her eyes filled with tears. I wanted so badly to believe her.
“How am I supposed to know? How can I ever trust a thing that comes out of your mouth? You could have told me who you were, Lexa.”
“Would you have wanted me around? Would you have fallen in love with me?” Her voice rose, and her face was so red with anger, so wet with tears, that I wanted to ease her pain. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
She stepped forward and leaned against the sofa as she could fall to the floor at any moment. “Did you even notice who’s side I was on?” I closed my eyes, remembering her in that courtroom. She could have gone to the other side and been with her parents, but she had come to stand with me.
“I tried to talk them out of it,” she continued. “I even threatened to disown them, but I couldn’t tell them why. I was in the middle, and I know I made a stupid mistake, and I’m sorry.” She dropped her chin and stared at the floor. “I had really hoped you’d called me over here. I’ll go.” She stepped away from the sofa, but I was already on my way across the room.
She flinched away as I approached and that made me feel like a real asshole. “Come here, Lexa.” She closed the distance between us, still looking to the floor as if unsure she could look at me without crying.
I lifted her chin and closed my hands around her face. She made no move to stop me, but she kept her eyes closed and braced herself, her eyes pinched tight and her shoulders stiff. But as soon as my lips found hers, she melted against me, her tears splashing my face until our kisses were salty. I pulled away and stroked her cheek, making hushing noises, then I pulled her in tight and nestled my face against her hair.
“I’m sorry, Aiden.” Her voice cracked as she choked out the apology, and I hushed her again with a kiss.
“No more of that. It’s done for now. We’ll work on everything later.” My head was pounding, and I was still buzzed. I’d been out for hours and realized I had no idea what time it even was. I glanced up at the clock on the mantle as she brought her hand up to cover a yawn.
“It’s almost four in the morning. You’ve been here a while, haven’t you?” She nodded, and I realized she’d told me that maid had let her in. “What time did Mattie leave?”
“She’s been gone for hours. I got here just after ten.” I was passed out long before that.
“Mattie,” I said with a laugh. “She’s the one who called you. I’d bet the house on it.”
“Come to think of it, she wasn’t surprised to see me, and she left as soon as I got here.” We shared a laugh as she yawned again.
“Well, it’s too late for you to go home and I’m not quite sober yet, though this throbbing hangover headache is making itself known.”
“Ah, well, it seems like you need a nurse.” She met my eyes, hers still a little unsure.
“Yeah, I’m certain I do.” I pulled her in for another soft kiss, and then she pulled away too soon.
“You head up to bed, and I’ll get you something for that headache. Where’s the medicine chest?” She stepped away, but I pulled her back to my side and headed to the stairs.
“There are a few things in my nightstand drawer that might come in handy.” She gave me a warm smile and helped me up the stairs and to my bed. After she insisted I take a dose for my headache, I pulled her down beside me and curled her in close.
I didn’t want to talk about anything else. We had time for that later, and despite the fact that I was worn out, she fell asleep a good twenty minutes before I did, cradled in my arms, and breathing nice and steady. I closed my eyes and let the rest of the night drift away, content that when I woke, it wouldn’t have all been a dream.
The next morning, Lexa’s arm fell across my chest as her leg locked around mine, stirring me from sleep. She had me pinned, and she wasn’t even awake yet.
I kissed her forehead and headed to the bathroom, but when I returned Mattie was at my door.
“Your phone. It was in the kitchen all night. Someone’s been calling, looked like it might be important.” I crossed the room and looked at the screen to see Layne’s name.
“Thanks. It’s Layne — and funny thing that my phone was in the kitchen. Wonder how it got there?” I threw a glance to my sleeping beauty, and Mattie smiled, but her face turned red with guilt as she saw my accusing gaze upon her.
“Sometimes those stubborn roots need a little help.” She lifted her chin and walked away, closing the door behind her.
I sat on the end of the bed, and Lexa rolled over, rubbing her eyes. “I told you I got a call; guess it was Mattie, after all.”
“Yeah, remind me to give her a raise. Did you sleep well?” I patted her foot through the covers.
“Like a baby, for the time since…” She didn’t have to tell me since when; I knew exactly when she’d stopped sleeping. It was the same time I’d stopped any sleep that wasn’t liquor induced, but passing out didn’t count.
“Want to stay for breakfast or do you have a shift?”
“It’s my three day weekend, so yes, feed me please.” She stretched her arms over her head, and I thought about how easy it would be to pin her hands and make love to her. But then my phone rang again. Layne was being persistent.
I didn’t know if I should take the call in front of her or not, especially since I knew it could be about the lawsuit. I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us, but I didn’t want there to be any secrets, either. “My lawyer keeps calling. I should really call him back.” Her lazy smile faded, and she looked away.
“I can go downstairs.” I rose from the bed, but she sat up and got to her feet before I could reach the door.
“No. Wait, Aiden.” I stopped in my tracks, and she took my hand. “I’m still on your side.” Her eyes were sincere, and I realized there wasn’t any doubt about it. She might have lied about her name and who her parents were, but she was still my girl just the same.
I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her soft knuckles. “Then let’s see what this blowhard wants.” I sat on the bed and returned the call.
Layne answered the phone with his usual level of pleasantness. “It’s about damned time you woke up.”
“Good morning to you, too, Layne; you’re on speaker phone, so mind your manners.” I thought it only fair to warn him. His tone changed immediately.
“I’ve been trying to reach you because there’s been a development in the Patterson case.” Lexa and I exchanged a glance.
“So, what is it?” Lexa clasped her hands at her chest as worry crossed her face.
“I need you to come down.” His tone wasn’t giving away anything.
“Okay. We’re on our way.” I hung up the phone, and her eyes widened.
“You want me to come along?” She got to her feet as I ran to the closet for a change of clothes.
“Yes, and I would take the time to shower, but we’d be here all day.” She stood there watching her in her bra and panties, and it seemed like a shame we didn’t have time to get properly naked. “You better get some clothes on; you can’t go there like that that.” I let my eyes take in as much of her as I could while she threw on her clothes, and then we headed out to meet Layne.
Together.