“About five years ago, when I was dating Larissa. We were getting serious, and talking about having kids. We tried, but she never got pregnant. So, she asked me to go see a doctor, and as soon as she found out, she left me.”
“What an asshole,” Damon says, the girls looking over at us.
“Now, I’m gonna lose Harper, too. Why the hell did this have to happen to me? I mean, I want kids, badly. And to tell a woman that is desperately wanting to be a mother that I can’t give them that, it’s heartbreaking. I’m broken.”
The front door opens and we all look to the hallway to see who it is.
“Long time no see,” Aiden says, walking to the house.
“Can you arrive for anything on time, brother?” I ask. “Ten minutes is excusable, but almost an hour?”
He sits down next to me in the kitchen, and his eyes set on Harper. Don’t you fucking dare.
“Harper, this is Aiden,” Tessa says.
“Nice to meet you. How was Europe?”
Aiden moves and takes the seat next to Harper and starts telling us all about it, however his eyes are fixed on her. He tells us how life there is so different from the states, and there is a bistro on every corner. At least he isn’t talking about all the women he probably slept with while being over there. It makes me a little uncomfortable for him to be that close to Harper. Damon catches my eyes and tries to get everyone to head to the table.
“Alright, it’s ready. Who’s hungry?”
We all take our seats, and Aiden is on one side of Harper and me on the other. Seriously, there are four other seats at this table you could’ve chosen. The stench of his breath is hitting me from here, and I know at that moment, he’s plastered. Why can’t he show up to a family dinner without being drunk? Is that all he does in his free time? Drink and have sex?
“So, Harper, what made you agree to a second date with Liam?” Aiden asks, passing around the salad bowl.
She turns and looks at me. “He was honest and upfront about what he was looking for. You don’t find men like that nowadays.”
Aiden eyes me, and smiles. “Good answer. Damon and I have been hoping he could find someone to put up with him. Want the best for his family, you know.”
Harper blushes. “I know. My intentions are good, I promise.”
Everyone goes back to eating, and the conversation lags.
I reach my hand over to Harper’s lap, taking her left hand in mine, to show her some support. Aiden is being abnormally weird tonight. What is going on with him?
“Do you want kids?” Aiden asks.
Damon looks over at me apologetically and my salad flies out of my mouth all over my plate.
“Are you serious?”
Why is that any of his fucking business?It’s like he knows my secret, and wants to taunt me.
“It’s okay. Of course, I want kids. I’d like two, maybe three,” Harper replies.
A bit of frustration waves over me.
“Can’t wait to have more kiddos in the family. Right?” Tessa replies, trying to keep Aiden from chiming in more.
The table is silent for the rest of our time. I think Aiden can tell I’m unhappy, and doesn’t want to press his luck. After we finish eating, I take Harper’s hand in mine, and stand up.
“Thanks for dinner, but I think we’re going to head out for the night,” I say, trying to get out of here.
“Oh, come on. We haven’t even had dessert yet,” Tessa replies.
“That’s okay, maybe another time,” I say, ushering Harper out the door. “Have a good night.”
I slam the door behind me, “I’m so sorry, Harper. I had no clue he was going to ask you such personal questions.”
“Really? I thought it would be worse. If my father was alive and meeting you for the first time, it would be intense. That was nothing.”
“Still. Personal questions like that should be between us, not them. He had no right.”
“It’s fine, really. I like your family,” she says, taking my hand. “Let’s go back to my place, snuggle up on the couch, and watch some tv.”
“Sounds like a perfect night.”
On the way to her house, I try to simmer down, but Aiden is going to feel the wrath when I see him next. What the hell is wrong with him?