Pretty sure the title speaks for itself. Friday is reserved for fireworks, be they from pissed-off characters or things heating up between two or more of them. Today's fireworks come from the least likely character compared to so many of the others I've written. Aiden is the pure, unadulterated definition of a cinnamon roll, but when he felt like one of his mates was treating the other unfairly, he spoke up in the hopes that the three of them could start bonding with one another sooner rather than waiting until too many feelings had been hurt and stepped on. While it might seem a bit tame, as arguments go, this was a big deal for Aiden, and established him as a strong piece of the relationship, despite the way he struggled to view himself sometimes.
Fingers tight on the wheel, Gabriel guided the Jeep up
the drive, fuming over the conversation with Raine, certain he had ulterior
motives for spending time with Aiden. Beside him, Aiden was fidgeting, fingers
rubbing the arm of the door as he stared out into the oncoming darkness, a dark
pall hanging over their evening before they’d even arrived at their
destination. That wouldn’t do. He opened his mouth to say something witty, but
the only voice to fill the space between them was Aiden’s.
“I want to ask you something, and I hope you won’t get
upset with me.”
“Ask whatever you’d like,” Gabriel told him.
“Fine. Why did you say those hurtful things to Raine?”
“Because I don’t trust him, and I don’t think you should
either.”
“Isn’t it my choice?”
“Of course it is. I’m just trying to keep you from
getting hurt.”
“Right now, the only person hurting me is you,” Aiden
mumbled.
Bringing the Jeep to an abrupt stop, Gabriel peered over
at Aiden, saw the way he was biting his lip, his fidgeting having grown worse.
“That was never my intention.”
“It might not be your intention, but it’s what you’re
doing every time you ignore him or, worse, say something cruel.”
Tapping his fingers against the window, Aiden seemed to
struggle with exactly what he wanted to say. His reflection in the glass was
troubled, sad, but there was anger brimming as well. Gabriel could feel it
bubbling beneath the surface.
“Why is it such a problem that he joined us for movies?
Who was he bothering? Not me. I enjoy having him there. You know what else I
enjoy?”
“What?”
“Running my fingers through his fur. How soft it is. The
way he nudges, just a little, when I stop moving, to show that he’s actually
enjoying it. I love the waves of contentment that roll off him from such a
simple thing, and I love that you’re there with us, even if the only one you
pay attention to is me. At least I can close my eyes and pretend we’re growing
closer.”
Throwing up his hands, Gabriel could feel himself growing
frustrated. “We are growing closer. The colors in our bond marks—”
“Show that you and I are growing closer. I’m talking we,
as in the three of us. I can’t tell you how awesome the experience was today.
The way he had faith in me, even when I didn’t have it in myself. Don’t you
think I’d be able to feel if he was being insincere, or do you look at me like
everyone else has? As someone completely incapable of anything?”
“Hell, no. I would never—”
“Then don’t treat me that way and don’t use me as an
excuse to be unkind!” Aiden snapped, turning toward him with a hint of a snarl.
“Or maybe it’s just that you’re jealous. Did you want us to want you, but not
each other? I’m just not understanding why you’re trying to drive him away.”
“So he’ll get it over with!” Gabriel growled, sighing
heavily and scrubbing a hand over his face.
“You know what I find funny?” Aiden asked.
Sighing, Gabriel dropped his hand so he could meet
Aiden’s gaze. “What?”
“You waiting for him to leave, while he’s waiting for you
to kick him out. You’re frozen in place, with neither of you willing to talk to
each other reasonably and rationally.”
“I was trying to be reasonable. He was the one who
wouldn’t give a straight answer.”
“No, you just weren’t listening. He told you what he was
doing. You chose to believe there was more to it. I think you’re right, but I
don’t think it’s what you think it is.”
“Excuse me?” Gabriel asked, trying to figure out what the
hell Aiden was getting at.
“If he didn’t want to be your mate, don’t you think he
would have told you?” Aiden said. “Instead, he hid.”
“Because he’s a coward.”
“No!” Aiden snapped. “Because he was scared!”
“What the hell did he have to fear? I’m the one who got
destroyed fighting on that hill. He was the one who ended it.”
“And stayed with you, keeping pressure on your wounds
until help came, isn’t that what you told me?”
“Yeah.”
“There are far more reasons to be frightened than ones
that involve physical altercations,” Aiden said. The look he shot Gabriel, one
of such utter disappointment, forced Gabe to look away.
“I know,” he muttered.
“Then act like it!” Aiden said. “And while you’re at it,
get out of your feelings long enough to think. Fear is a learned response.
Instead of being angry with Raine for feeling it, why don’t you attempt to learn
the cause?”
“Because he’s bitter and selfish and wanted to have a
mate all to himself.”
“Why?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know?” Gabriel growled,
glancing at the time and groaning.
“You ask questions. You get the entire story. You don’t
make inferences from an event you don’t know the backstory to,” Aiden said.
“Now drive, please, before I decide to get out and go back to the house. I
don’t think you’d appreciate trying to explain that to your moms, and I
wouldn’t want to insult them.”
“Aiden, I…”
Without another word, Aiden hit the button to unlock the
door, prompting Gabriel into action.
Waiting for Raine, along with the rest of the Comet Lake Chronicles, can be found here:
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