Page 49 of Pretender

“Oh.”

My stomach lurches. Sure, I trust Aiden won’t risk my reputation, and I’m sure I meant it, but sitting next to someone who might consider me a terrible person now makes me uncomfortable. Was it the right move?

“I didn’t want to.” I pick at a cuticle. “Lie, I mean.”

“I know. He told me everything.” Mark leans his elbow on the table between us, and I meet his gaze. His expression is hard to read because he’s got this line between his eyebrows that makes him appear to be thinking hard all the time. What does he mean by everything?

“Look, Linnea,” he says, and sighs, glancing quickly over to Aiden and back at me. “I didn’t say this earlier, but to me, something seemed off between you. And if I can sense it, Amara can.”

Oh, fuck.

“I said this to Aiden,” he continues. “And I’ll say it to you. You need to get more familiar if you want this to work. And it’s a bit weird that you’re never touching or kissing.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. Aiden is a cuddly man,” Mark says and huffs. “And look around. All the couples here are showing affection. Even I do, and I’m not normally a PDA kind of guy. I just can’t keep my hands off Rey.” He flashes a smile that he quickly stifles.

“Hm,” is all I say, crossing one leg over the other. A jolt of defensiveness hits me, but I bite my tongue. Who’s he to say how I get to be a girlfriend? I didn’t touch any boyfriend like that at all times.

“Aiden would never make you do anything you’re not comfortable with, I’m well aware. I just wanted to give you my advice, because I’m not a very perceptive person in general, but I do know Aiden. And so does his mum. And Venetia.”

Mark holds my gaze for a beat, and I nod.

“And I didn’t believe he’d told you about his dad.”

“Why?”

“Aiden has been one of my closest friends my entire life, and since his late teens—or I can’t recall exactly when, early university years perhaps—he hasn’t mentioned him once. I’ve tried, but he doesn’t want to talk about it. So I guess I found it odd he’d already opened up to you.”

I nod.

“Thanks for telling me.”

“Yeah.” He stares into his glass, and I sense there’s more on his mind. Do I want to hear it?

“Was there anything else, Mark?”

He exhales and takes a sip of his amber drink, then he leans towards me again, and I shift closer, sensing he’s about to say something important.

“I didn’t realise Aiden had given up so thoroughly on finding someone that he resorted to lying to his mum.”

“What do you mean?”

Mark shakes his head. “What do you mean, what do I mean?”

“Aiden’s looking for someone?”

He scoffs, his eyes searching mine. “You’re not joking. Yes, Aiden’s relentless pursuit of the love of his life. It seems he’s given up.”

I blink at him. “Is that what all his dating is about?”

Mark shrugs. “Yep.”

“Even Katrina Starre?” I ask, wrinkling my nose, and Mark chuckles.

“Desperate times, I guess.”

“Huh.”