Because of You (Swanson Court 5)

“Something like that,” I lie.

I’m not sure he believes me. “Aidan.” His voice is even. “You’ve taken on a lot of responsibilities for someone your age. I know you have a commitment to the production, but if you want to pull out and start seeing a professional again, I’d understand.”

I’ve seen professionals for most of my life. After the accident, I didn’t speak for years. Professionals put me back on track to seeming like a normal human being, at least on the outside. They’ve helped me a lot, but I am sick of sitting on couches talking about problems nobody can solve.

“You always had a lot of responsibilities,” I retort. “Even when you were much younger than I am now.”

“That’s different,” Landon says. “I had to—”

“Take care of me? Be the responsible one?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe now it’s time for me to be responsible for myself.”

He studies me for a long moment, then smiles. “So, what are you doing hiding so far out here?”

I try to glare at him, but I end up smiling. “I painted myself into that corner, didn’t I?”

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He laughs. “You know I’ve always been smarter than you.”

“Erm, who was it that mistook some girl trapped in an elevator for a hooker again?”

“Rachel isn’t just some girl.” I give him a curious glance, but he doesn’t explain. “Are you ready to leave now, or do you need a few more days of staring into those bottles? I could give you a ride.”

“I brought my bike,” I say with a snicker, knowing how much he hates it.

He shudders. “Not in this rain. Stow the bike. I’m giving you a ride.”

Chapter Thirteen

Liz

I know that I love you.

What was I thinking? Of all the things I could have said to him.

I groan and bury my face in a pillow. Fiona, lying across the foot of my bed, looks up from her phone and raises her eyebrows.

“Stop beating yourself up. You slipped and told him how you felt, so what? He’s the loser who’s too blind to see how wonderful you are.”

“He’s not a loser, but thanks.”

She sighs, “Just trying to make you feel better. Do you know when he’s coming back?”

I shake my head. Aidan’s been gone for three days. My dad is furious and worried, and Cruz is trying his best to manage the rehearsals.

Did he leave because I blurted out how I felt about him?

Good job, Liz.

Fiona hands me her phone. “You know how he said he’s full of dark places,” she says. “Maybe this has something to do with it.”

Curious, I reach for the phone. I’ve already read every interview Aidan has ever done, so I’m not sure it will be something new. The article on Fiona’s screen is old. An archived article from about twenty years ago. I start to make a comment about the date, then my eyes skim over the headline.

Wife of Swanson Court Owner Dead in Auto Crash.