Page 17 of Aiden & Lily

“Tish and Dad moved to Florida years ago to retire. They can’t make me do anything.”

Parker laughed. “Boy, you’re in a mood.”

“Yeah, well, losing my girlfriend to my younger brother would do that to a guy.”

His brother sobered. “Okay, you know that wasn’t my fault, right?”

Aiden sliced a hand through the air. “Look, I have to get going. I’m not going to hash this out with you right now.”

Parker’s eyes cut across Aiden’s form, probably noting the jacket, boots, and hat. He smirked but didn’t point out that neither one of them had been raised on a farm, even if they were familiar enough with the lifestyle thanks to their friends.

“You meeting a girl?”

Closing his eyes, Aiden searched for patience. The last thing he was going to do was allow his brother to come between him and any girl again.

“Lock me out, and I might have to tag along to see what all the fuss is about.”

Aiden’s eyes flew open, and he scowled at his brother. “Fine, you can stay. But don’t expect me to entertain you.”

With that, he turned on his heel and opened the door. Before he closed it behind him, he tossed one more thing at his brother. “Take the room next to the bathroom. The others don’t have beds.”

He ignored his brother’s chuckle as he hurried down the steps of his home in town and headed to his truck. Lily was expecting him, and now he was probably going to be a few minutes late.

He was never late.

Dang it all, if she made one comment about worrying he wasn’t going to show, he’d put Parker in his place the moment he got home.

Aiden arrived at the turnoff for the address Lily had sent him, and just before he hit the signal, a familiar truck pulled out.

He had to do a double take.

It couldn’t be.

That truck was incredibly familiar.

Because it belonged to Mathew.

A quietthank goodnessslipped from his lips as he watched the truck head off in the opposite direction. Thankfully, Mathew wouldn’t recognize him from this distance.

There was only one reason Mathew would be here, right?

River.

And Aiden was all too aware of who River worked for.

Mathew’s cousins.

Aiden slowed as he turned onto the property. There was time to turn back. If Lily was, in fact, Mathew’s cousin, then Aiden’s problems had just multiplied. Dating his friend’s ex was one thing. Dating his other friend’s cousin when he’d been explicitly told not to was a whole different ball game.

He made it to the house and nearly turned the vehicle around when the front door opened and Lily hurried out to his truck. She didn’t even wait for him to come to the door.

Well, shoot.

This was going to happen whether he was ready for the fallout or not.

Temporary.

That’s what he had to keep telling himself.