Seeing the shock on Aiden’s face, I feel terrible for bringing up him going to rehab while we’re watching a rugby match. We did loudly declare him to be Landon’s brother when he joined our group. Glancing around, I check to see if anyone is obviously eavesdropping.
Everyone appears to be watching the game. Maybe they didn’t hear me. Everything will be fine.
Aiden takes a sip of his Dark and Stormy.
Oh, shit. I’ve shoved a drink at him. Way to fail at being supportive, Mae. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have given you a drink. Don’t feel peer pressured into drinking it. I’ll take it back.”
“It’s fine. I swear to you, I don’t have a drinking problem.” He dips his chin and meets my eyes. “Promise.”
I shoot him a look and drop my voice to a whisper. “Are you sure? I can get you a soda. I noticed you didn’t drink when we were on the river. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Swear. Did Landon tell you I went to rehab? Or did you hear that from someone else?” His voice is low and he sounds pissed off.
“No one told me. Not in those specific terms.” I press my hand to the bare skin of his forearm. The soft hairs tickle my palm. I want to run my hand down his warm skin until I can slide my fingers between his and hold his hand to reassure him I’m not judging him. “I think it’s admirable you realized you needed to make a change for the better.”
“I did make a change. I’m still in the process of moving the pieces into place, but I’m getting closer to having the life I want. But—”
The crowd around us erupts in screams and jeering over something that happened in the game. I have no idea what’s going on because I haven’t been paying attention since I spotted Aiden strolling the perimeter of the park.
At first, I was only checking out the hot guy in the tight gray T-shirt and faded jeans who strode through the crowd with a purpose. I hadn’t been the only one to notice him. A woman I’d never met gripped my wrist to keep from swooning into a faint as she declared him the sexiest man alive. I’m only slightly exaggerating. Her friend is the one who asked if he was a Hemsworth. I had to do a double-take to confirm he wasn’t and that’s when I realized he was another infamous brother. I called out to him and offered to buy him a beer, but he didn’t hear me or ignored a random woman offering him drinks. Smart of him.
Out on the grass, players are slowly peeling others off of the dog pile in the middle. I don’t see Landon, but Easley’s basically tossing guys from the top like he’s peeling an artichoke.
“What’s going on? Is this like finders keepers?” Sage scans the pile of men. “Lee’s down there, too.”
Zoe laughs. “How many matches have you been to over the last few years and you still don’t know the terminology?”
“A lot.” Sage stands on the bench to get a better view. “He’s learned to live with it because he loves me. Along with a minor obsession with eighteenth-century Scotland, this is one of my charming quirks. As I told Lee, I don’t plan to figure out the intricacies of the sport. I’ve made a pledge and I plan to stick with it.”
On my other side, Aiden stiffens. I’m not sure if it’s what Sage said, a play on the field, or something else. Still feeling terrible for mentioning rehab, I don’t want to make him uncomfortable by one of us saying the wrong thing again.
Zoe guffaws. “You’re obsessed with Outlander. Don’t try to make it sound like anything but your unhealthy fascination with naked Jamie Fraser.”
“Who among us doesn’t have that issue?” Mara asks.
We begin debating the merits of Sam Heughan. As an actor. Of course.
“Seriously?” Aiden exclaims.
I swivel my head to sneak a peek at him, expecting to see judgment in his face about us objectifying a man for his body. I’m about to tell him most women are here today because they enjoy the man candy. I open my mouth to speak, but clamp it shut as the crowd erupts into clapping and laughing.
Even Aiden is shaking with laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I shoot him some side-eye.
“Landon got pantsed.” He points at the field, clearly taking joy in his brother’s situation.
I take his words as warning not to look, because I don’t want to see Landon’s naked ass in the broad daylight, or in moonlight. Not glowing in the dark or on an ark. Not on a bed, not even when I’m dead.
“Why are you staring at me?” Lifting his brows, he widens his eyes. “I’m still wearing my jeans.”
“I don’t want to see anything that can’t be unseen.” I cup my hand to the side of my head like a blinder on a horse to ward off any flash of temptation. “Tell me when it’s safe to look.”
Aiden’s laughter gets louder. “The three of you all look like a row of the see no evil monkey emoji.”
Closing my eyes, I turn my head and then reverse my hand, still protecting myself from any wayward peek. Only when I’m confident I won’t have nightmares for life do I open my eyes. Sure enough, my friends have their hands over their eyes.
“Tell us when it’s safe,” Sage pleads. “I’m still not over the end of ski season flashing from a couple of years ago.”
“Shrinkage is real,” I whisper under my breath.
“You’re safe,” Aiden chuckles. “He pulled up his shorts immediately after he released the ball.”
As if it’s the World Cup final, a few guys around us grumble about not taking the match seriously enough. They’re here for rugby and zero other fun. In this town, no one will be rivals for life over who wins or loses today. After this is over, everyone will probably end up at the same bars, trading insults and bonding over their awesomeness.
“You’re not saying that to trick me, are you?” I still have my hand cupped against my face and I stare at him for confirmation.
“Why would I trick you into gazing upon the perfection of Landon’s gluteus muscles? What good would that do me?” He ducks his chin and meets my eyes over the top of his sunglasses.
“Excellent point.” I drop my hand. “For the record, you sounded just like him there. He definitely would refer to his ass as a gluteus of perfection.”
“Like a peach?” Aiden asks, giving me a funny look.
Sage snorts loud enough for us to hear it. “Did Mae tell you she sent Landon a text meant for me? We like to communicate in hieroglyphics. It’s our thing.”
Mae’s cheeks redden. “I think he deliberately misunderstood my meaning.”
Smiling, Aiden shifts closer to me. “He can be a giant tool. If you haven’t noticed.”
“Totally.” Nodding, I laugh along with him, although a small kernel of guilt forms in my chest. Landon promised he’d try to be less of a dickhead and he’s mostly been successful. If Aiden weren’t related, I don’t think I’d have such mixed feelings.
We’ve been texting all week. After the river trip on Saturday, he texted saying he hoped we had a great time and ended it with all the flower emojis. No more lewd innuendos. Later, he sent a bottle of champagne to my room with a note about sharing with the rest of the girls. Totally unexpected and sweet.
The man in question makes the next score, earning bear hugs and high-fives from his teammates. Standing near our end of the field, he notices us cheering for him in the front row and flashes a huge grin.
“He isn’t all bad.” I give Landon two thumbs-up and add a loud, “Woot!”
He blows me a kiss. Two women a few rows behind me start screaming their love for him. Okay, so maybe the kiss wasn’t for me specifically but all women in this general area. That would be something old Landon would do. Spread the love around.
“He has a few good points …” Aiden says, slowly and reluctantly, “I guess. I have to give him shit because he ruined my life by being born. Our feud began when he showed up. I remember being pissed when my parents brought him home and refused to take him back to the stork.”
I laugh. “I think giving Landon a hard time is a favorite past time around here. He makes it so easy.”
“I can call him off, if you want. You shouldn’t have to suffer through a date with him,” he says, sincerely.
Aiden’s words confirm he’s only looking at me as a friend. I can be that for him. Because it sounds like he needs the support. “That’s sweet of you, but I’m fine. He’s not been that bad. We’ve been texting and most of the time he’s nice. Really nice. I’m beginning to think he’s more awkward than an asshole.”
Down the row, Sage snorts. “You’re delusional.”
Beside me, Aiden chuckles again. “We all deserve a second chance.”
“I agree.” I meet his eyes, hoping he can read the sincerity in my expression.
“Leopards can’t change their spots,” Mara states.
“Also a true fact,” Aiden agrees.
“Amen to that.” Sage stretches across Zoe and I to give him a high five.
He leans into me to slap her hand, his scent wrapping around me like a storm cloud of pheromones. This is what a man should smell like. Not cloying cologne or overpowering aftershave. Aiden’s scent is crisp and fresh, like a summer rain or a morning after a nighttime snow. Inhaling greedily, I wish I could live in this bubble forever instead of in the real world full of complications and murky loyalties.
Once again, he returns to his own personal space, leaving me baffled and wanting more. He isn’t the one to give me what I want. He has more issues than Landon, who at least wants to prove himself worthy, in his own messed up way.
A few minutes later, the game ends.
“We won!” Sage bounces up from her seat, jumping up and down. “We won!”
Around us, the crowd goes wild, jumping up and down, making the whole set of stands bounce. The super fans, who shushed us earlier, take off their shirts and wave them wildly over their heads, running onto the pitch to celebrate with the team.
Seconds later, Lee runs over and pulls Sage under the ropes, scooping her into his arms and kissing her like his life depends on keeping his mouth sealed against hers. Her feet dangle off of the ground as he carries her away.
“Did I miss the game?” Jesse jogs up to our group. He’s wearing work clothes and has a fine layer of dust on his arms. A baseball cap hides most of his dark hair.
Mara squeals and stands to hug her boyfriend. “You’re here!”
Jesse’s dog, Fern, jumps on the bench and wags her tail.
“Aww, you brought my girl.” I scratch her fluffy head, paying special attention to the spot she loves behind her ears. “Who’s the best dog in the whole world? You are. Because you’re smart and talented and fearless and beautiful.”
“Hi to you, too, Mae.” Jesse laughs at me, his dark eyes crinkling in the corners with amusement.
“Don’t be jealous, Hayes.” I kiss Fern’s head and earn a lick to my cheek.
“You’re Jesse Hayes?” Aiden asks.
“Aiden? How are you, man? I heard a rumor you were back in town. Good to see you.” Jesse extends his hand to Aiden.
They exchange a handshake followed by smacks to the shoulders in a loose, man hug.
Of course, they know each other. We all grew up around here.
“You going to stick around and ski this winter?” Jesse asks him. “Cirque’s open and the powder up there will blow your mind.”
Mara giggles. “You sound like you’re talking about Vegas circus acts and cocaine.”
At her words, my eyes bug out and my mouth creates an awkward sound I try to pass off as a laugh. “Ha ha ha. No one is talking about drugs.”
Aiden rests his hand on my shoulder, giving me a confused look. “You okay?”
“Sure. Of course. Oh, there’s Landon! We should tell him congrats and pour a bucket of Gatorade over his head. Anyone bring a bucket? Or have a lot of Gatorade?”
Mara exchanges a look with Jesse before addressing me. “You sound weird.”
“She’s rambling like you do,” Jesse tells her.
“That’s it. Why are you babbling?” She focuses on me, her face scrunched up as she tries to figure out what’s wrong with me. The woman is a talented veterinarian, but I don’t think she can diagnose embarrassment.
Landon comes to my rescue, plowing through the ropes and picking me up, his sweaty body odor swarming my senses while I can feel my skin sticking to his damp shirt.
Everything happens so fast. One minute I’m on the ground and living my life. The next Landon’s tongue is in my mouth.