Page 100 of The Rebel Billionaire

Before he'd broken myheart.

Aiden let me cry all over him, his strong arms holding me safe. I'd felt safe with Lucas, but that safety had been a lie. Lucas had torn it away when he was donewithme.

"I was so stupid," I stuttered out, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. "We said it was just for fun. I wasn't going to getattached."

"You can't choose who you love," Aiden said. "Sometimes it happens when you don't see itcoming."

"I didn't think . . . I just . . . he washot.And—"

"I don't need any details," Aiden cut in, smothering a laugh. My chest hitched somewhere between a giggle andasob.

"I wasn't going to give you any," I said. "I was just going to say that it started like that, but then it changed. I liked being with him." I let out a gusty sigh, wiping at my cheeks again. "I just liked being with him. He's a good man. Smart. Gentle. He made me feel safe. And happy. I was happywithhim."

"What happened?" Aiden asked in a softvoice.

"I don't know," I wailed into Aiden's shirt. "I think it was that stupid benefit. I didn't ask him, and then he said he'd go but I don't think he wanted to. And then he was weird when we were there. Quiet. Harrison asked me to dance, and while Iwasgone—"

"What the fuck did Harrison want?" Aidengrowled.

"He wants to get backtogether."

"I'll fuckingkillhim."

I couldn't help a little giggle. "You'd better watch your own back, big brother. Elizabeth was with Lucas while I danced with Harrison. She said she'd keep quiet about who Lucas was if I didn't get in the way of you two beingtogether."

"Shesaidwhat?"

This time I didn't giggle. I laughed full out. If I'd had a tiny, secret worry that Aiden would fall for Elizabeth's tricks, it was extinguished. His irritated outrage wasgenuine.

"She thinks that you're vulnerable now that I'vemovedout."

"Right. Like your living here was the big obstacle keeping us from getting backtogether."

"You mean instead of herbeingevil?"

"Yeah. God, she's a bitch." Aiden's arm tightened, and he laid a kiss on the top of my head. "I'm sorry about Elizabeth. I never should have married her. I thought you needed a mom, and it was time for me to find a wife. Ifuckedup."

"Aiden," I said. He brushed my hair back offmyface.

"No, don't. Don't make excuses for me. I fucked up. She made us both miserable and I'msorry."

"I forgive you," I said immediately. As far as I was concerned, Aiden didn't need my forgiveness, but I'd give it in a heartbeat if it would make him feelbetter.

"Did Jackson say anything to her?" Aidenasked.

"No. He dragged me out right when I was about to punch her. Then he said my friends were a pit of vipers. We got home and he, um, we went to sleep. When I woke up, he was packing to leave. He already had my stuff by the door. He said he'd see mearound."

My breath caught and I started crying again, burrowing into my big brother, borrowing his strength. Mine had carried me home, deserting me now that Aiden was here to hold metogether.

My voice a raw whisper, I said, "Why am I so bad at this, Aid? Why can't I find someone? I thought . . . I thought he feltittoo."

My breath flooded out in a long, defeated sigh, leaving me feeling empty, compressed, my heart flatanddark.

"It's not you, sweetheart. I promise, it's not you. And if he doesn't feel it, it's him missing out. He's missing out on the best woman I know. And he's not nearly as smart as I thoughthewas."

"Do you think if Mom was still alive it would be better? I wonder sometimes . . ." I trailed off. Aiden let out a sigh ofhisown.

"I don't know, Charlie. I wonder that about Dad all the time. Would I have made the same mistakes? Or different ones? Would he be proudofme?"