“Hey, yourself.What are you still doing here?”he asked, looking at his watch.“It’s late.”
She glanced at the clock on her computer screen, noting it was a little after six p.m.“I could ask you the same thing.Don’t you have a pregnant wife to get home to?”
Jared settled into the same chair Aiden had been sitting in earlier, and rubbed his eyes.“Just trying to get as much work done as possible now.I don’t want to leave a mess for Aiden to deal with while I’m on leave.He’s got a good head for business, but he’s still green.”
“He’ll do fine.If he has questions, he’s surrounded by solid executives who can step in.”
Jared nodded.“I know.It’s just hard to let go of the reins.As difficult as it is to admit, I understand how my father ran himself into the ground doing this job.”
She clasped her hands together on the desk.“Which is why you have to let go more often.You don’t want to end up being like your father health-wise.”
He grinned.“I don’t have to take it under advisement.Charlie won’t let me overdo it.Especially once the baby arrives.But thanks for looking out for me.”
“Of course!”Jared was like family to her.She couldn’t bear to have anything happen to him.
“I saw Aiden earlier and he was in a very good mood.Much better than usual.Would you have anything to do with that shift?”Jared leaned forward.“It goes without saying I’m asking as a friend.”
She flushed but figured Jared sensed more than he let on.“We came to an understanding about the past.”
Jared raised an eyebrow.“Look at you, admitting you two had a past.”
“Shush.”She crumpled a piece of paper into a ball and tossed it at him.Of course, it landed short of hitting him.
Jared grinned.“I don’t need details, but you have to know we’ve all had our theories about what went down.”
She dipped her head.“I wanted to keep it to myself.I convinced him never to talk about it before he took off to see the world.”
Jared studied her for a moment.“I’m sorry he hurt you.”
“Thanks,” she murmured.She didn’t have to guess how he knew.She supposed her being hurt had been the obvious conclusion.
If Aiden wanted to confide in his siblings, it was long past time, but she’d have to tell Fallon first.“I have a favor.Whatever you know, or think you know, let me talk to Fallon before it becomes public?”
Jared nodded in understanding.“I had no intention of spreading gossip around the family.Having been the focus of it after I got Charlie pregnant, I know what it feels like.”He shook his head.“Not fun.”
“Nope.”
He tilted his head to the side.“So, are you two together now?”
She shrugged.“I don’t know what we are.To be honest, he scares me.The need to travel; his love of journalism in a way that may not let him stay in this country.I’m not sure what I can handle.”She wasn’t twenty years old and starry-eyed anymore.Thanks to Aiden, she was more wary, more jaded.
“You know what I think?”Jared asked, then continued before she could respond.“You worry too much.”
Brooke pursed her lips together at the insult.“Is that supposed to be helpful?”she asked, and not in a pleasant way.
“Let me finish,” he said, raising his hands up, palms out.“I’m just saying, you can get caught up in your own head and that’s definitely what’s happening now.Try to let things play out.See how you two do and make your decision after you live in reality a little.But while you’re at it?Have some fun, Brooke.You deserve to enjoy life more.”
She sighed.“You’re right.”She hated to admit it but she did take things too seriously and worry… a lot.
Ever since her dad passed away unexpectedly in a car accident on icy roads, that was what she did.Worry.And though she hadn’t equated the two things before, Aiden leaving had been another tough loss.Everything weighed heavier after that.
She glanced at her boss and friend.“Thanks for stopping by and listening.One of the reasons I kept things quiet was because I didn’t want any of you to feel caught in the middle between us.”
“Don’t worry about that.Ever.We all love youandAiden.That’s not going to change, no matter what happens.”
Brooke smiled, feeling better.Talking to Jared had been helpful.She needed to live life and worry less.Whatever happened between her and Aiden?She wasn’t in control of fate.
Chapter Fifteen
