The first Night

Aiden insisted on giving me the grand tour.

"Dad renovated last summer," he said, pulling me through the cabin. "Wait until you see the master bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake."

His hand was warm in mine. Trusting. I wanted to rip it away.

Jamie followed behind us, silent as a ghost. I felt his presence like a brand between my shoulder blades.

"You'll take the guest room on the second floor," Aiden continued. "Right next to mine. Dad's on the first floor because of his back."

Convenient. Separate floors meant separate worlds. Meant I wouldn't have to hear Jamie breathing through the walls.

Except I'd still know he was there. Beneath me. Close enough.

"It's beautiful," I said, because Aiden was waiting for a response.

"Right?" He grinned and kissed my temple. "I'm going to make us drinks. Dad, help Lilith with her bags?"

He disappeared downstairs before either of us could object.

The silence crashed in.

Jamie picked up my suitcase without a word and headed for the stairs. I followed, keeping three steps between us. Distance felt like the only defense I had left.

He pushed open the guest room door. Set my bag on the bed. Turned to leave.

"Jamie—"

"Don't." His voice was sharp. "Not here. Not now."

"We need to talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about." He faced me, and his expression was carved from stone. "What happened was a mistake. It won't happen again."

"You brought me here."

"Aiden brought you here. I just didn't stop him."

"Bullshit. You orchestrated this whole trip."

His jaw tightened. "Believe what you want."

"Why?" I stepped closer, anger overriding caution. "Why invite me if you're just going to pretend I don't exist?"

"Because I'm weak." The admission came out raw. "Because even knowing this is wrong, even hating myself for it, I couldn't stand the thought of you being anywhere I'm not."

The honesty gutted me.

"So what's the plan?" I asked. "Three days of torture? Watching me with him while you—what? Suffer in noble silence?"

"Something like that."

"That's not going to work."

"It has to."

"It won't." I moved closer, close enough to see the muscle jumping in his jaw. "You know it won't."

Jamie's hand shot out and gripped my wrist. Not rough, but firm. A warning.

"You need to stay away from me this weekend," he said quietly. "Because if you don't, I will ruin your life. I will take you in this cabin with my son sleeping twenty feet away, and I won't feel guilty about it. Is that what you want?"

Yes. God help me, yes.

"No," I whispered.

He released my wrist and stepped back. "Good. Then we understand each other."

He left before I could respond.

I sat on the bed and tried to remember how to breathe.

---

Dinner was agony.

Aiden had grilled steaks and opened an expensive bottle of wine. He sat beside me, one hand on my thigh under the table, talking about hiking trails and a boat he wanted to rent tomorrow.

Jamie sat across from us, eating in silence. He didn't look at me once.

But I felt every moment he wasn't looking. Felt the weight of his restraint like a physical thing pressing against my ribs.

"You're quiet, Dad," Aiden observed.

"Tired."

"From the conference? Mom said you closed the Denver deal. That's huge."

Jamie's fork paused halfway to his mouth. "You spoke to your mother?"

"She called yesterday. Wanted to know if I'd heard from you." Aiden shrugged. "I told her you were busy."

"What else did she say?"

The question had an edge to it. Aiden noticed too because his smile faltered.

"Nothing. Just asked how you were. Why?"

"No reason."

But something had shifted in Jamie's expression. Something cold and alert.

"She asked about you too, actually," Aiden said, turning to me. "Wanted to know if we were still together. I think she's fishing for gossip."

My stomach dropped. "Why would she ask that?"

"Who knows? Mom thrives on drama." He squeezed my leg. "Don't worry. I told her we're perfect."

Jamie stood abruptly. "I need some air."

He walked out without another word.

Aiden watched him go, frowning. "He's been weird all week. Did something happen between you two?"

My heart stopped. "What? No. Why would you ask that?"

"I don't know. Just a feeling." He studied my face. "You've both been acting strange since that night he stayed at your place."

Blood turned to ice in my veins.

"Nothing happened," I said. "We barely spoke. He used the spare room and left early."

"Right." Aiden's smile returned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course."

He stood and started clearing plates. I sat frozen, trying to understand what just happened.

Did he know? Was he testing me?

Or was I paranoid?

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

**Unknown:** *Meet me at the dock in ten minutes. Come alone.*

Jamie.

I deleted the message and looked toward the kitchen where Aiden was loading the dishwasher, humming to himself.

I should stay inside. Should follow Jamie's own advice and keep my distance.

Instead, I stood. "I'm going for a walk."

Aiden glanced over. "Want company?"

"No. I just need to clear my head."

"Don't go far. It gets dark fast out here."

I promised I wouldn't and headed outside before he could change his mind.

The path to the dock was short. Jamie stood at the end of it, hands in his pockets, staring at the water.

"This is a bad idea," I said.

"I know."

"Aiden's already suspicious."

"I know that too."

"Then why am I here?"

Jamie turned, and the look on his face made my breath catch. "Because Elena knows."

The world tilted. "What?"

"My ex-wife knows about us. Aiden's been talking to her, and she knows something happened." His voice was tight with control. "She's going to use it against me. Against us."

"How? How could she possibly know?"

"I don't know yet. But Elena doesn't make idle accusations. If she's asking questions, she has information."

My mind raced. "We need to tell Aiden. Before she does."

"Tell him what? That I slept with his girlfriend? That'll go well."

"Better from us than from her."

"No." Jamie's hand cupped my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. "I'll handle Elena. You just—stay close to Aiden. Act normal. Don't give him any reason to believe her."

"Jamie—"

"Promise me, Lilith."

I nodded because I couldn't speak.

He leaned down and kissed me. Hard and desperate and full of everything we couldn't say.

When he pulled back, his eyes were dark. "Now go back inside before he comes looking."

I left him standing on the dock and walked back toward the cabin on shaking legs.

Through the window, I saw Aiden watching me.

He was smiling.

And holding my phone.