I can’t help chortling with amusement. “I don’t believe it.”
Aidan glares at Landon. “Because it’s not true.”
“It is,” Landon continues, still laughing. “Of course, that was before…” he stops and gives Aidan an apologetic look.
Before their mother died, and he stopped speaking.
Nobody says it, but the tragedy hangs in the air like the ghost of an albatross, even so many years later. Rachel squeezes Landon’s hand and they exchange a smile. Aidan turns to gaze at the water.
“Why don’t we go back?” he suggests. “I think we walked far enough. Boys!” he calls out. “Race you to the house.”
They shout in glee and start running. Aidan runs slowly enough so they can catch up and run past him.
After lunch out on the terrace with the Hayes, the old couple who’re like parents to Landon and Aidan, the children go to bed for a nap and L
andon and Rachel disappear too.
“They won’t be back for a while,” Aidan tells me, a dirty grin lighting up his face.
I try to keep myself from giggling. “You have such a dirty mind.”
“I didn’t say anything.” He holds up his hands and tries to look innocent. “You assumed. Who has a dirty mind now?”
I cock my head. “I still have sand between my toes. I’m sure you do too. Maybe we should take a shower or something.”
His eyes narrow. “Is that an invitation?”
I rise and head inside the house. “What do you think?” I say over my shoulder.
Aidan is already behind me. “I accept your invitation.”
He scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder like a caveman. I’m still laughing when he takes me to his room and sets me down in the bathroom. Then he undresses me, and laughter is the last thing on my mind.
We leave in the evening. Landon, Rachel and the children wave from the front of the house as the same driver takes us back to the city.
Aidan dismisses the driver after he drops us off in the underground garage of my building. He follows me up to my apartment, but at the door he makes no move to enter.
Running my hand down the front of his shirt, I watch his eyes darken. “Aren’t you coming in?”
Smiling, he shakes his head. “You need to rest, and you won’t if I spend the night.”
I give him a look. “That sounds like an idea I want to test out.”
He laughs. “Seriously though, I need you to forget about everything tonight, just the play. Don’t think about me, or anybody’s expectations. Can you do that?”
I nod. “I think so.”
“Right.” He gives me a light kiss on my lips. “Tomorrow Liz.”
I sigh. “Tomorrow.”
I watch him walk to the elevator, then I try to do as he asked, taking a long bath and sighing with satisfaction as hot water soaks through my limbs, warming the parts of me that still ache from his lovemaking.
How am I going to live without him?
And why?
Think about the play, Liz. Not Aidan, Not tonight.