Page 83 of Aiden & Lily

“You’re my favorite person too,” he murmured when they parted.

She had no idea what those words meant to him.

The ring continued to press against his leg. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach for it. But he didn’t want anaudience, and the crooning sounds coming from Lily’s sisters didn’t exactly set the mood.

Lily laughed and lowered her head. “Sorry about them.”

Aiden shook his head. “They’re fine.” He glanced toward her sisters. “They’ll be family one day, right?”

Lily’s eyes widened, and her lips parted. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I suppose they will.”

His heart stumbled at her admission. She wanted this just like he did. That was as close to getting a yes as you could get, aside from when he was going to ask her to marry him.

Rose and Jasmine laughed as they teamed up to carry the water out to the party, leaving him alone with Lily. The quiet in the kitchen pressed in on him, warning him that if he didn’t drop to one knee right this moment, his opportunity would pass.

Aiden pushed his hand into his pocket and his fingers wrapped around the ring box. This was it. She wanted it. He wanted it. And they had their whole future to figure things out.

But the truth still stood between them.

Aiden released the ring box but kept his hand in his pocket.

“Lily, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

Her smile faded. “What is it?”

He forced himself to hold her gaze. “This is the last thing. I promise.”

Concern flickered across her face, but she gave his free hand a gentle squeeze. “Okay. Tell me.”

Aiden drew in a breath. “Reese and I?—”

The front door swung open, startling them both.

“Lils? You in here? Your sister said you came…” Reese’s voice drifted as he came to stand in the doorway of the kitchen. His eyes darted to where Aiden’s left hand still held Lily’s waist. Then his brows furrowed as he lifted his focus to Aiden only to shift to Lily.

Lily squealed. “You’re here! I was starting to wonder if you’d make it.” She turned in Aiden’s arms, slipped her hand into his, and tugged him toward Reese.

Aiden stared at the man who had once known him better than almost anyone. He couldn’t read Reese’s expression now. Once upon a time they’d both been good at reading each other but now, Aiden couldn’t figure out what his friend was thinking.

Lily released Aiden long enough to hug Reese. The embrace was quick and familiar, and when she stepped back, she returned immediately to Aiden’s side.

“Reese, this is my boyfriend, Christopher.” Her nose wrinkled in that way Aiden loved as she looked up at him. “Actually, Christopher is his middle name. He uses it when he competes in the rodeo.”

She squeezed Aiden’s hand, concern flickering in her eyes as she seemed to connect Reese’s arrival with what Aiden had been about to tell her.

Aiden swallowed and held out his free hand.

Reese didn’t take it.

“Actually,” Reese said, “we already know each other.”

Lily’s grip faltered. “You do?”

Aiden gripped the back of his neck, feeling heat rise beneath his touch as it filled his face. He was certain they could see the way his complexion had changed. His attempt to speak made him grimace because he didn’t sound nearly as confident as he should have been. “Uh, yeah.”

Her frown deepened. “How?”

Lily glanced toward Reese. “You never talked about him.”