43: Aidan’s Proposal
TARA
Nadia was the only person who didn’t feel the tension and the awkwardness in the diner with Aidan’s presence. In fact, she was elated to see him, and the way she was currently holding on to his very large palm–the one that was caressing mine only a few days ago–was an indication of that.
Riley was behind us, basking in her glory about the fact that she was right with her earlier speculations.
Jenna, on the other hand, was the only one without any readable expression, so she was going to be my distraction from talking to Aidan directly.
I realized that this was the first time that Jenna and Aidan had really been in the same spot, except for the opening day of the multipack moon meet which was weeks ago, and even then, they didn’t get a chance to speak to each other.
I stuck with introductions.
“Jenna,” I began. “This is Aidan Graham. Aidan, this is my friend, Nadia’s godmother, Jenna, or Jen,” I said, sputtering
unnecessary details.
Nadia giggled, saying, “Aunt Jenna.”
With a smile of his own, Aidan watched Nadia giggling for a
second before he turned to Jenna.
- Aidan’s Proposal
“Hello, Jenna,” he said.
“Alpha.” That was Jenna’s single response, with a clipped.voice, might I add.
That was a different reaction than I expected from her.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Aidan said, outstretching his hand.
Jenna’s response shook me. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t say the same. And I’d rather chop my hand off than shake you, Alpha, respectfully of course,” Jenna said with a threatening smile.
Oh damn.
Jenna wasn’t kidding when she said Aidan was off the books for her after I narrated our past to her.
Aidan smiled as he withdrew his hand, the type of smile that would make you think he was admiring what Jenna just did.
I, on the other hand, felt like digging a grave for myself and jumping inside because, in my attempt to lift off some of the awkwardness, I fueled it even more.
“Understood.”
Jenna turned to me. “I’ll take my leave now, Tara, call me if you need anything. Bye, Nadia,” she said, ruffling Nadia’s hair and causing her to laugh.
Without sparing another glance in Aidan’s direction, Jenna exited the store.
Riley, the betrayer, spoke with a giggle too. “I’ll just go out back and you know, stare at the trees or a rock. Or I could just stand
16.94%
43 Aidan Proposal
120 Vouchers
like a statue till y’all are done in here. Anything.”
With that, she was gone, and it was just the three of us in the diner.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said, finally finding my voice. “Jenna isn‘ t usually like that.”
“It’s okay,” Aidan replied. “You can’t be sorry for having loyal friends. And I can’t say that I didn’t deserve that and more.”
I changed the subject. “Why are you here? Something you need? I thought that you’d be choked up with doubling your alpha duties by now.”
Aidan chuckled. “I may have thought about it all, but I didn’t see this part coming. Not from you, at least. Well, I was passing by, and I decided to stop and check in on you. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I’ve been busy,” I responded.
“Not that you have been avoiding me?” Aidan asked, cockir one of his eyebrows at me.
“Why would I do that? Have I done something wrong that should make me avoid you? Or am I missing something?”
At this point, I could believe my lies.
“No, Tara,” Aidan said, even though he could see through my lie. “Will you guys be done here anytime soon?”
It was Nadia who responded before I could, tugging on Aidan’s arm. “We’re going home to try out Mommy’s new recipe since Mommy had to cancel her plans.
- Adan’t Proposal
“What recipe? And what plans?” Aidan asked, seemingly interested in anything Nadia had to say.
Nadia spoke again. “Mommy was supposed to go do some work and Aunt Jenna was supposed to watch me, even if I’m eight and I can be by myself, but anyways, Aunt Jenna had an emergency, so she couldn’t watch me, and now Mom has to watch me instead.”
“Ah… it’s not important. I just needed to sort out some new arrivals for the diner. I will schedule it for another day.”
“No,” Aidan responded, cutting off the rest of my argument. “You don’t have to change your plans because of that. You go, and I’ll look after her till you get back.”
Nadia gasped, already excited about Aidan’s proposal.
“That’s not necessary, Aidan. It’s not that important.”
“But I’m here, and you have something to meet up with. Seriously, it’s not a hassle. I can take care of it while you do your thing.”
I looked between Aidan and Nadia, and they both had hopeful eyes about it. I didn’t know how I felt about leaving Nadia alone in Aidan’s care. What if she stopped being adorable and started throwing a fit?
Shaking my head, I responded. “Don’t worry about it, Aidan, I wouldn’t want to burden you with this. I can easily do it another time.”
Aidan’s eyes silently pleaded with me to say yes, and Nadia’s
too.
1421
41 Aidan’s Proposal
“Mom, please?”
Shit.
1 Wher
“I guess I could run there and be back within a few hours,” I said, still a little bit worried. “Are you sure this is okay?” I asked Aidan.
“More than okay,” he said, looking like a kid who had been handed gifts on Christmas morning. “Isn’t it, Nadia? We could go to my hotel suite and have a good time.”
Nadia’s excitement was going through the roof, and I couldn’t say no to her when she was this happy about this.
“Alright, fine. Thank you, Aidan, for helping. I’ll be back as quickly as I can to get her home.”
Aidan shook his head. “Take your time and don’t rush yourself. She’s in good hands. And I should be the one thanking you, so thank you for letting me do this.”
Aidan turned to Nadia who was practically floating on air now.
“What do you think would make you happy for the rest of the day? I’ve got TV and ice cream back at my place, and a massive hot tub.”
“Yes!” Nadia squealed. “Can I have a drawing book too?”
“Of course,” Aidan replied, and as I watched them interact, a warm feeling spread through me. I couldn’t say exactly what it was. “What colors would you like?”
Nadia thought about it for a second before she finally responded, and Aidan was just as patient with her. “Green and
43 Adane Proposal
black.”
I chuckled. “Black? Your colors are usually pink and yellow. How about those?”
Aidan shook his head, mouthing the word, “nonsense” to me. Then he spoke out loud. “She can have whatever colors she wants. Ten of them. Each.”
Yeah. Aidan was going to spoil her silly for me.
After packing a bag with her necessities, it was settled.
With so many mixed feelings wrapping their hands around me, I watched as Aidan and Nadia made their way outside and into Aidan’s car, and I kissed my baby bye.
