Missing (The Brannock Siblings Book 3), page 7
To say the sexual tension between us felt stifling, was an understatement.
Lily noticed, but she was too busy trying to keep Aidy from throwing her food around her plate. Her occasional wicked grin didn't go unnoticed, however.
Dinner was chicken parmesan with garlic bread and the beer I had brought over. Dessert was ice cream and apple cobbler and so mouthwatering. It was baffling to see that Lily was an amazing cook and her sister was, well, the worst cook I had ever seen.
I didn't bring it up, but the glares from Red every time I complimented the meal told me she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Lily asked questions left and right about me and my family. I told them about Ash and Luke and their upcoming nuptials and about just finding out that my little sister was pregnant. Lily gushed and asked about a hundred questions I didn't have the answer to. When is she due? Is she having morning sickness? Do they have any names picked out?
Men don't know this shit, do they?
She acted disappointed when I told her that I only knew she was pregnant and the wedding was moved up from December. Then she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Typical".
Aiden listened as I spoke, commenting here and there, but never asking one question. Even Little Aiden asked me how old I was and what my favorite color was.
"Red," I'd told her without hesitation and winked at Aiden, wanting to fist pump the air when that blush covered her face once more.
When I told them vague details about what had happened to Ash months before, they were speechless. Then, I explained the situation with Conall and Emily and how they got together and everything that happened in between. Telling someone else about it brought back all the melancholy I had been feeling since I came back to Detroit. I missed my family like crazy and constantly mulled over the idea of moving closer to them.
"How do you guys do it?" Lily asked.
"Do what?"
"Be cops. Detectives or whatever. How do you deal with that stuff when you get home? When you're family is so affected by it?"
I shrugged and took the last bite of my dessert before saying, "You have to have a support system. My family is the best around and have been there for me. My dad also had my mom, Luke has Ash, and Con has Emily now. It works when there is someone at home ready to welcome you back."
"And you?" This time, it was Aiden.
"Me?"
"Yes. How do you do it?"
I looked at her for a long moment, hoping she could see everything running through my mind so I wouldn't have to say it out loud. I hadn't ever had anyone but my family. After Mom died, that hole in my heart never filled and I knew I'd never be able to fill it. She was my mother and no one could take her place, but there was something clearly missing. I spent years in meaningless relationships - if that's what you called them - and up until recently, it was working for me. Distracting me while waiting for the right one to come along. The one that Dad always said would come along.
When Ash and Luke finally got together, it was a wakeup call, but it was Con finding Emily that made me so envious of all of them that I couldn't think straight anymore. I had already been talking to Aiden by then, but immediately started pushing for more.
Call me a pansy, call me sensitive. I was done flying by the seat of my pants. I wanted the more that everyone else had and I'd wanted it with her.
"I talk to my family a lot, especially Con and Luke. They help me through a lot of the sh- I mean, crap that I see," I glanced at Aidy who had a face covered in ice cream and wasn't listening to a word that was being said. Didn't mean I needed to curse in front of her.
"No recent girlfriend?" Lily asked casually.
"No. Hadn't found the right one yet," I replied, moving my eyes back to Aiden, who was staring right back.
A shrill ringing sounded from the kitchen counter and Lily jumped up in a flash to go answer her phone.
"It's Grandma and Grandpa!" Aidy shouted and started clapping her hands.
I was still watching Aiden as she rose from her chair and started to clean her niece's face and hands. "Take your plate to the sink, sweetie."
Aidy, very ungracefully, shoved her chair out, grabbed her plate and ran to the sink, dropping it in with a loud clatter, then took off to the living room where her mother had disappeared.
"Can I help with the dishes?"
Aiden paused in clearing the table and finally looked at me. She seemed anxious, but smiled sweetly. "You don't have to."
"I want to."
"Okay."
We cleared the table together and washed the dishes, me drying and putting them away while Aiden kept her eyes on the soapy water inside the sink, not saying a word. I was usually good at keeping conversation going and I'd proven it with the hours we had spent on the phone together, but now? Right now, all I could think about was the way she smelled and the way her hair fell into her face, brushing against her neck before she flipped it back, sending that sugary scent my way again. It was a vicious cycle.
"Your turn, Aid. Mom's got some juicy gossip she's just dying to share."
Lily placed the phone in her hand and replaced her at the sink while I watched as Aiden left the room with the phone pressed to her ear. Her hips swayed back and forth and drew my eyes to that delectable ass. I briefly thought of what it would be like to sink my teeth into that soft flesh while she writhed beneath me, but was interrupted when Lily cleared her throat.
"So. You honestly had no idea she was the woman you had been talking to for months?"
She looked skeptical and I couldn't blame her. I was still trying to figure out how I missed that. She handed me another plate to dry with a wicked grin.
"I know it's crazy, but after everything that happened between us back when she moved in, I didn't think it was a possibility, at all."
"Yeah, Aid tends to react strongly when a situation is not what she thought it was." She chuckled and covered her mouth. "The whole cookie thing was hilarious and she sees that now, but at the time…"
"I shouldn't have been so blunt."
"No, you should have. You're perfect for her and that's one of the reasons why."
Lily glanced down the hall and then turned to make sure Aidy was still watching her show. She turned back to me, leaning forward and dropping her voice. "I knew all along. Not for certain, but for the most part. There is no one, no one, more perfect for Aiden than someone who can make her laugh the way you do - and believe me, she laughed - and be completely honest with her no matter what. She's spent too long wondering and guessing. She's spent too long alone and I hate to see her withering away like this. Sure, she's happy with her life, with me and Aidy, but there's something missing."
Sounded awfully familiar if you ask me.
"The problem is that she refuses to live her life without bringing Aidy and me with her. She's spent so long helping me and following in my footsteps. We've been as close as sisters could possibly be and she doesn't want to give that up. You… well, you scare her."
"How?"
She bit her lip and glanced back to the hallway before taking a deep breath. "It's not really something I can tell you. She needs to see it for herself and leave me and my mistakes far away from it."
She didn't let me ruminate on this new information very long and we finished washing the dishes while she told me about their family. Rose and Jerry Murphy were the picture perfect couple, much like my mom and dad. They had been together forever and never once made their children think marriage was difficult. They made it look so easy. Isabelle and William Brannock were the same. I knew without a doubt it wasn't easy, but they were so in love that the hard times were so insignificant and paled in comparison to all the good.
"I thought I had that with Brandon. He was always so sweet and loving, such a romantic. Then I got pregnant and his true colors were blinding. I realized I didn't really know him at all, just the façade he put out there to make himself look good. I don't know why he spent so long faking it, but he did. Thank God I have my little girl or it would have felt like a huge waste of time."
"Is he still around?"
She shook her head, "No. Doesn't want to be except when he wants to be, if that makes any sense."
"He's missing out."
"Yes, he is."
The sadness in her voice was overwhelming, but she squashed it with the smile she gave me. "Aiden likes you."
"Which one?"
"Both of them."
My chest warmed and I couldn't help but feel a hint of giddiness. Luke and Con would kick my ass if they knew I was acting like a 16 year old girl. I wanted both of them to like me and I wanted to ask her more about Aiden, but the voice coming down the hall stopped me.
"No, Dad. I'll manage on my own, but thank you again for the offer. Okay, love you, too. Bye."
She set the phone on the table with a sigh.
"Why don't you let him help you, Aid? He has the best real estate agent and you wouldn't have to waste your time wandering the city and ending up with a dump," Lily said as she grabbed her phone off the table and threw it back in her purse.
"Are you moving?" I asked a little louder than I had intended.
The two women looked at me, one with exasperation on her face and the other with what could only be labeled as anxiety.
"No. She's not," Lily clarified. "She's looking for a place to use as a studio."
"For your painting?" I asked Aiden.
She nodded, her cheeks flushed with what I could only assume was embarrassment.
This was perfect. I rented out a little studio apartment across the street for storage since the owner had been desperate for renters when I first found it. The apartments were small and I needed a place for some of my stuff so I took advantage. Cheap rent, close by, and the perfect size for an art studio. I made a mental note to go and clean it out over the next few days and offer it to her if she didn't find anything else soon.
"Well," Aiden sighed. "I hate to kick you out, but I need to go to the grocery store before it gets too late. I need a few things for tomorrow."
"We need to get going anyway," Lily said quickly and called for Aidy who came bursting into the kitchen at light speed. "We'll see you again soon, Gus."
"Bye!" Aidy shouted.
Then they were gone, leaving the two of us staring after their hasty exit.
Aiden looked like she was about to make a run for it . "Well, that was strange. Couldn't get out of here fast enough I guess."
She turned back to me, her brown eyes unsure and the air in the room thickening all over again. Her cheeks were still rosy and her hair was sticking up in a few places as if she had been running her fingers through it. She had looked beautiful in that dress the night before, all made up and sexy, but this was her. This was the beauty she radiated every day without even trying. How had I missed this?
"I could go with you."
"What?"
"To the store. I need some things, too. Plus, I have a car, so you can get whatever you need and not have to worry about a cab."
"That's okay, I can manage," she said and grabbed her purse.
"Come on, Aiden. It's getting late and I don't want you to be out alone."
She blinked up at me for a moment before puffing out her cheeks and blowing out a long breath. "Fine."
I followed her out of the apartment and quickly entered mine as she locked up. I snagged my keys off the counter and my wallet, then met her at the stairs.
The drive to the grocery store was silent and only slightly awkward, but I didn't think it had to do with our situation. In fact, I was almost positive it had to do with the fact that Aiden hated grocery shopping. She said so the minute we got into the car and had been stewing about it ever since.
We walked into the store together and she immediately grabbed a cart and her list. We made small talk about the different foods we were each putting in the cart, but that was about it. Huge change from the many deep conversations we had shared over the months. I wanted to ask her a million questions, but she was too tense and I feared it would just push her away more.
We sauntered through the store, her prodding me to just go get the stuff I needed and find her later and me telling her I would rather stick with her. She stocked up with boxed dinners, bread, peanut butter, and other snacks here and there, then went for the ice cream. "For Aidy," she said when I questioned why she needed three cartons.
Her eyes were dull and anxious and I was getting pretty desperate to see the fire that had been snuffed out tonight. It was when I threw in a giant bag of candy bars that her eyes finally came alive.
"Who the hell is that for?"
"Aidy, why?"
"For Aidy? She doesn't need any candy."
"All kids need candy, Red."
She scoffed, but kept her eyes on the huge bag of chocolate. Her eyes narrowed as if she hated that bag with every fiber of her being, trying to figure out why it was still sitting there in her direct vision. Suddenly, her head snapped up and those dark eyes narrowed on me. "You can't buy her with candy."
"I can't?" I smirked.
"You jerk! You're trying to one up me aren't you?"
I raised my hands in surrender. "Hey, just because you don't know what kids want doesn't mean I'm trying to outdo you. I'm a scary guy, I need something to help her trust me."
"You are not scary. Dangerous for my health maybe, but not scary. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"At least a few more," I winked.
She chuckled and shook her head. "Fine, but I know what her favorite candy is, so you still lose."
We walked back down the aisle and she threw in a huge pack of Red Vines. I countered it with an even bigger bag of Starburst. She threw in some Laffy Taffy and I tossed in a bag of Blow Pops.
"I'm not a quitter, Red."
She growled, the sound vicious and so fucking adorable at the same time. With a huff, she turned the cart, trying her best not to stomp her feet as she walked. I stayed behind and watched her walk away, a gorgeous sight if you ask me. Then I grabbed another bag of assorted chocolate and followed after her.
"Here. This isn't for Aidy. This is for you, Red."
She glanced down at my hands and her glare melted away. Her hand shot out and snatched the bag out of my hands. "Damn straight."
By the time we left the store, most of the items we'd purchased were for Aidy. Red's sass was back tenfold and I considered the last two hours a huge accomplishment.
We only had to make one trip with the two of us loaded down with bags and I followed her to her door first. While I helped her put the groceries away, she put all of mine together on the table.
"Thanks for taking me and for helping me."
"Anytime."
She looked down at her feet, at the door, at the ceiling; everywhere but me. The ease we had finally found was no longer present and I needed to clear the air.
"Listen, I'm sorry for the way I've acted over the last few months. I…" Deep breath. "There really isn't any excuse for it, but I am sorry and I wish I could take it all back. I think I was just trying to convince myself that I didn't want you since I was falling so hard for, well, you."
Her eyes widened as she stared at me and her mouth opened and closed, unsure of what to say.
"I hope that, eventually, things will turn out the way they're supposed to."
She took a deep breath and blew it out, looking down at her feet and twisting her fingers together. "I can see us being friends, Gus. That's it and maybe that's best. Your job, your life… I need to focus on my priorities and I mean, talking to you, everything I told you. Secrets. Things I've never told anyone. Parts of me-"
"That I won't be giving back."
She didn't look up at me, but I heard her gasp and it spurred me on. This… feeling… this tightness in my chest that was only for her; it was euphoric and reckless. I wasn't going to give it up without a fight.
"Parts of you that I'm not sharing with anyone. Those are mine now, babe. Mine and yours."
Her eyes finally lifted, cautious and steady, but her shallow breaths gave her away. I don't know what she was afraid of, but whatever it was, I wasn't going to let it matter.
Score 1 for me.
"Goodnight, Aiden."
I grabbed my groceries and walked out of her door. She wanted to be friends? I was going to be the best damn friend she had ever had.
***
Sunday night came all too soon and I wasn't ready to get back to the station the next morning. I knew without a doubt the coming week would be nauseating. Still no word from our kidnapper, but it was coming. I could feel it in my gut, so could Linc.
We were all sitting ducks, but there was nothing we could do about it that we hadn't already started. Extra patrols in every area that kids tended to be more present which meant longer hours for everyone, two more dispatchers transferred from two other departments, and everyone at the ready the second the call came in. If it was up to me, every person would be focusing on this case. But it wasn't up to me and there was nothing I could do about it.
It made me sick. Tired. On edge. All of which were no good for me when I needed to be at my best for more reasons than one.
I needed some relaxation and mindless entertainment. Raiding my fridge for something to eat so I could watch American Ninja Warrior, I pushed all the stress and worry away. I was just settling in when there was a quick knock at my door.
Aiden smiled shyly from the other side and her cheeks immediately reddened at the look of surprise on my face when I opened the door.
"Sorry to bug you, but I'm desperate."
Why naughty thoughts popped into my head in the next second was a mystery to me.
"What can I do for you?"
"I need a couple eggs and some oil."
The blood drained from my face at the images coming to mind. "Shit, are you cooking?" I immediately started thinking of a way to save the building, or my nose, and suddenly I was grateful I had to work the next day.
