Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

She pats my face. “Ask yourself if you can live without her, and you’ll know if it’s serious or not.”

It’s serious.

I don’t say that, though. I just nod as she kisses my temple. “Now we have to figure out a way to protect you from the wrath of Shea Adler when he finds out.” She looks to my dad then. “I can’t lose him. I love him the most.”

A grin pulls at my lips at the sounds of distress from my siblings in the living room. But then it disappears when I realize my whole family now knows about Shelli. They know I don’t know what I’m feeling.

But all I want to know is if I’ll get hurt.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Shelli

I’m a tad bit annoyed.

As I sit at the kitchen table, working on the scheduling and other details, I find myself looking back at my phone every minute or so. It’s pathetic and I’m aware, but it’s unlike Aiden not to text or call me. We haven’t gone a day without talking since we started this, and I really don’t know what is going on. Since I have my pride, I refuse to text him first. He said he would text me when he was done with dinner. That was twenty-four hours ago—not that I’m keeping up with it or anything.

What did I do?

When my phone sounds, I look down to see it’s Amelia.

Amelia: You did nothing. Don’t turn this into something it’s not. He has probably just been busy.

But even so, he would at least text me. Tell me so. I don’t know… Something seems off. Not that I tell that to Amelia. I don’t want to seem needy or obsessed with him. I’m not… Well, maybe a little. But in my defense, he’s absolutely wonderful. I love spending time with him. I love talking to him. I love laughing with him. I really love being in bed with him.

Who am I kidding? I love him. All of him.

Every single fiber of him. And I really want him to love me. I want him to look into my eyes, hold my face, and I want to hear him utter those words. So badly. A part of me wants to believe that he’s getting there, that he actually does care for me, but the other part is telling me I’m delusional. It won’t happen. Aiden Brooks, love me? Please, why would he? I may think I’m enough, but no one has ever been enough for him.

“Working?”

I look up as Mom comes into the kitchen. She’s wearing her robe, as she should since it’s almost nine at night. Meanwhile, I’m wearing jeans and a tee in the hopes that Aiden will call. Even if he does, I shouldn’t go. I should stay here, even if I don’t want to. I miss him, and he’s leaving tomorrow night for a long road trip. That’s the reason I thought I was staying the weekend with him. It’s rare that they have a weekend off, but with back-to-backs in two different cities, I guess they thought it would be a nice break. It would be, if I were with Aiden.

“Yeah, trying to get a spot for the shoot.”

She nods as she pulls out the chair. “You should do it at the arena.”

I shrug, wrinkling my face at her. “That’s so overdone. I kind of want to do it in a park or even a really rustic house. I don’t know. I want it to feel homey, if that makes sense. Like the guys on the couch with the pups or even in a truck? Just something really down-home.”

Mom nods. “Well, you could do it here.”

My lips curve. “That would be free.”

“What’s free?” Dad asks as he pulls out a chair, sitting down across from me.

Mom leans into him, kissing his shoulder. “The house, for the spring fundraiser. A photo shoot with dogs.”

“That would be cool,” he says, wrapping his arm around Mom. They share a look, and I love how in love they are. I want that kind of love, and I want to believe I’ll have it. But for that to happen, Aiden would have to love me. “So I guess you’re liking this gig, then?”

I nod eagerly. “I am. I love it.”

“Well, I don’t think anyone could do it as well as you are. You’re gonna make us even more proud of you, aren’t you?”

I grin at him, nodding. “That’s my goal.”

He pats my hand as Posey comes into the kitchen. She falls into the chair beside my mom before Mom asks, “Have you decided what you’re going to do about the audition?”

I look down at my hands. I haven’t told Aiden about it, but I’m unsure what I want to do. I don’t want to leave him, but I have always wanted to be in Chicago. It’s one of my top three shows. I can’t stay for a guy, I know I can’t, and I also suspect he wouldn’t let me. We’re both too goal-oriented. “I don’t know yet. I’m still considering it. I haven’t emailed them back yet. I will by tomorrow.”