Page 51 of Aiden & Lily

Lily tensed.

“Uh-oh.” Jasmine’s teasing disappeared. “What happened? Did you guys break up already?”

“Nothing like that,” Lily assured her.

She pulled into a parking spot outside the town bakery and shut off the engine. People walked back and forth along the sidewalk, and she busied herself with watching them as she came to terms with what she was about to do.

Telling Jasmine wasn’t like spilling the beans to Mathew. Her twin would never break her confidence.

“Okay, spit it out. What’s going on?”

The edge of concern in Jasmine’s voice warmed Lily’s heart.

She turned to face her sister and took a deep, steadying breath. “It wasn’t what it seemed.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Lily sighed, then rubbed at her temples. “Christopher’s first name isn’t Christopher.”

“What?” Jasmine stared at her. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would he tell you a fake name? Lils, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

“It’s his middle name. His alias while he competes.”

Jasmine slumped back in her seat. “Oh. Okay. Weird, but that’s fine, right? I mean I guess I could see why he went with Christopher since he does go by that when he competes.”

This was going to be the hard part.

Lily spilled everything. From Mathew’s involvement to Parker’s effect on his brother. How Aiden struggled with feeling like he wasn’t good enough and how it broke her heart.

She didn’t leave out the part where he had known what she believed and failed to correct her.

When she was done, she expected Jasmine to be empathetic like she was.

Instead, her twin’s expression burned with fury.

“That cretin.”

“What?” Lily barked with a surprised laugh.

“He lied to you, Lils. He kept things from you.”

“Yeah, but didn’t you hear why?”

“I heard everything you said.” Jasmine folded her arms. “And what? You just forgave him? That’s not like you. Lils, you deserve better than that.”

Lily’s defenses rose. “You don’t know him like I do. He’s one of the best men I know. He listens. He prioritizes me.”

“Except when honesty would cost him something.”

The words landed harder than Lily expected.

Jasmine’s expression softened, but her voice didn’t. “Sweetie, I’m not saying he’s a bad person. I’m saying you can’t let his sad story become the reason lying to you doesn’t matter.”

Lily looked away.

That was not what she was doing.

At least, she didn’t think it was.