Page 64 of Miss Typed

Reid sighed. “Aside from that she’s sorry, she wants to discuss her sister’s wedding. We’re both in it since her sister’s marrying Robbie from college. Wait—you can come, Aiden. You’ll be there, too.”

Just the thought of attending a college friend’s wedding back home gave me hives. “I don’t think so.”

“Great, so I’m stuck going home for the wedding this summer since I’m a groomsman. I guess Vanessa wants to clear the air before then. Be on good terms. Even if she did blow my brother— Oh, God, Chloe. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

But instead of being offended, Chloe shocked us both. “She cheated on you with your brother? Forget being on good terms. You should ignore her. Or better yet, take someone else to the wedding as your date. She gave up all rights to you the moment she made her poor decision. I can’t believe she cheated on you with your brother. Have they had some sort of relationship going on?”

Reid shook his head. “Chance doesn’t do relationships. Hell, I didn’t even think he could stand to be in the same room as her.”

“Chance is your brother?”

Shit. She’d made the connection.

“You know him?” Reid asked.

My panicked face must’ve clued her in that now wasn’t the time to relate how his cheating older brother had done us a big favor in Toronto.

“No. Just seems like an interesting name. It threw me for a second.”

Sober Reid wouldn’t have bought it, but drunk Reid simply nodded.

Her voice was sympathetic. “Go to the wedding in a few months and be civil, but you don’t owe her anything. Especially any more of your time. If it were me, I wouldn’t call her back. Instead, I’d send a text telling her you don’t wish to talk to her again. Then I’d change my phone number. Period.”

He frowned, glancing at me and then back to her. “You’re right. Guess I just have to learn to get angry about it.” Suddenly, he pushed his chair away from the table. “Gotta hit the restroom.”

Reid got to his feet unsteadily, walking down the hall towards the bathroom.

She leaned over to whisper, “If I forget to tell you, thank you for dinner. Also, it’s weird you didn’t mention Chance is Reid’s brother.”

“You’re welcome. And I didn’t want it to be awkward if you knew his brother was the one helping us.”

She shook her head. “Thank goodness. Because now it’s not weird at all.”

I was leaning in for a quick kiss when we both jumped at the sound of Reid coming back down the hall.

“I’ve gotta go. Thanks for the food.” His eyes were wide, his face pink.

What the hell? I wasn’t sorry to see him go, but why was he suddenly in a hurry?

“Okay. Let me walk you out.” It took some effort to do so, considering my leg remained sore despite having rested it part of today. Nevertheless, I followed him out the front door. “You okay?”

“No, I’m not okay. I can’t believe I’m this dense. I saw the rose petals and candles in your bedroom, and it clicked. The dinner, the wine, the cake in the kitchen. You’re not having Chloe work overtime, are you?”

“No. It’s a date.”

His hand rubbed his face. “I’m way too drunk to be wearing my HR hat at the moment.”

“Good, because I don’t want to talk to HR Reid. Or drunk Reid, for that matter. Go home. Get sober. Take Chloe’s advice about Vanessa. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Okay. Sorry I ate your chicken.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll repay you with a brutal workout tomorrow morning. See you at seven.”

He groaned. “You and your mandatory gym times. Okay.”

I watched him walk the distance to the elevator, assuring myself he was sober enough to find his way to his apartment, before I went back inside.

Chloe was clearing the table and looked up at me anxiously. “I hope my unfiltered reaction didn’t cause him to leave. I’m sorry. It isn’t my business.”