Page 41 of Pretender

“Thank you, yeah,” he mutters and takes a long swig of his gin. It seems hard for him to talk about this. After all this time. What happened to his dad?

I wait another moment to see if he wants to say more.

“How did you end up in Cambridge?” I ask when he stays quiet.

“There was no will, no money left from my father, so Mum didn’t have anything. The Beckers, Mark’s parents, were regular customers and friendly with Dad. They couldn’t afford to invest in the company, it was too much of a risk, but they offered to hire Mum and find other work for her—in Cambridge, where they lived.

“She accepted. Being a housekeeper was far from her dream, but it gave her more flexibility as a mum. The Beckers introduced us to the Beauchamps, and we lived in their staff cottage until I finished university and I’d made enough to move Mum with me to London.”

“And they’re friends now, right? Lady Beauchamp is going to her engagement party and all?”

Aiden shrugs. “Mum is a very joyful, optimistic person, and she makes people laugh and feel good about themselves. I think the others appreciated her more as a supportive and uplifting friend than a housekeeper for a long time.”

He picks at a flake of paint on the table.

“My success and wealth hasn’t hurt her case,” he adds, but his smile falters as he says it and it’s the most genuine emotion I’ve seen on him.

I cock my head. “Does it bother you?”

He does a one-sided shrug, leaning his other elbow on the table. “It is what it is. The people are all genuinely lovely, but I’m not blind to reality. However, I was best friends with Mark and the others from the moment we met. Origin and money did not matter when we were that age.”

Aiden quickly morphs his face back into the relaxed expression he normally carries, with that hint of a smile on his lips.

“So, this engagement party,” I ask, sensing a change of subject is wanted. “Who is your mum marrying? Do we love him?”

“Will. Yes, we love him. He makes her laugh, dance… He’s a retired estate agent from Devon. Very soft and open, and I’m extremely grateful for him.”

“Then I can’t wait to meet him.”

My phone buzzes in my purse, interrupting our conversation, and I leave it. I know who it will be at this time of night.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“No.”

“Not even going to see who it is?”

I shake my head and press my lips together. Aiden narrows his eyes at me. “Is it Henry?”

“Why is that your first guess?”

“Seems your poker face isn’t so good after a massive gin and tonic,” he says. “He’ll find out we’re dating, maybe that’s what he’s calling about. What do you think he’ll say?”

I blink. “I… I don’t care what he says.”

Truth.

“I’m blocking him the second I get home,” I add, but I’m not sure why I need to tell Aiden that.

“That’s good.” Aiden studies my face, his eyes darker in this dim light.

Fuck, this is what I didn’t want. Him looking at me like that again.

I take the last sip of gin to avoid his piercing gaze. The memories of Halloween last year flash across my mind. Aiden’s eyes afterwards. The pity in them, and something else I couldn’t decipher, but it cut into me, leaving this emotional scar I don’t know if will ever fully heal.

He saw me like that.

Chaotic, wounded, loud.