Page 57 of His to Cherish
Chapter 12
“Aidan.”
I wasn’t entirely certain Aidan was even conscious when David called his name from where we’d stopped just outside the doorway.
He was splayed out on a lounge chair, three empty alcohol bottles at his side and a half-empty one on the table next to him.
Aidan’s eyes were closed and his head was flopped toward his left shoulder, face aimed in our direction.
I took a step forward to check if he was even breathing when David squeezed my hand. I looked up at him to see him shake his head.
Just wait,he mouthed to me.
He turned back to Aidan after I nodded. I’d give him about two seconds before I checked on him.
“Aidan. You weren’t supposed to lie, brother.”
He muttered something that sounded like, “Go the fuck away.”
Through his drunkenness, his speech was slurred and his mouth barely moved.
“Can’t do that, man. You promised you’d call.”
Aidan’s head snapped up and he stared directly at David.
His nostrils flared, and I could feel his fury rolling off him.
“Is that right?” he drawled. His lips twitched and I wanted to cry. I wanted to run to him, wrap my arms around him, and apologize for not being there for him. He’d practically begged me to stay with him and I’d pushed him away.
His eyes stayed so focused on David I didn’t even know if he realized I was out here, watching him completely fall apart.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I watched as David had another silent argument with Aidan and I took in another disaster scene. Glass was everywhere, the patio table had been thrown completely over onto the cement, and four of the chairs that had once surrounded it were scattered all over the lawn.
I couldn’t see the grill where it used to sit against the house behind me. I didn’t even want to know what had happened to that.
In front of me, there were two lounge chairs and another glass side table. One of the chairs was upside down.
Aidan’s drunken frame took possession of the other.
Slowly, he shifted his body, twisting and moving until he was sitting up, his feet planted on the ground and his knees splayed wide. His hands dropped to his knees and he continued glaring at David.
Eventually, David must have won.
Aidan sighed, reached for something next to him, and held up his phone. “Thought about it. Does that get me points?”
“Not when you’re drinking yourself to death.”
I inhaled a sharp gasp at the words. David’s voice was brutal and thick.
On this day of all days, I figured it was okay for Aidan to lose his shit and implode.
Or destroy his house.
Seeing him like this, hair askew and dressed in only a pair of athletic shorts while his completely unfocused eyes roamed the yard and the patio area, sent an aching pain to my heart.
“Go away,” Aidan slurred. “And leave me the hell alone today.”
David took a step forward, dropping my hand from his, and whispered, “He wouldn’t want this for you.”
