Cabin Fever | ✓

(76) The Bigger The Head, The Easier The Target

As soon as the door clicked shut Aiden was growling and snatching her off the floor while a four word, one number sentence playing in her mind on repeat.

41 feet from the game.

Her back hit the soft mattress of her bed before he hovered over her with a satisfied grin.

"I'm taking us to the Super Bowl every goddamn year."

-

"Glad you could join us."

Marley shrunk, avoiding Ian and Dylan's teasing smiles with flushed cheeks. She shuffled to where they set up shop for the Skype call with the Gardinali family.

Aiden was in a much better mood, slipping his jacket off his shoulders and taking a seat on one of the four chairs — leaving the one between himself and his brother for Marley. His smile was stuck on his closed lips like glue, eyes trailing over her body leisurely as she silently took a seat.

Dylan leaned in to speak to Ian, "I think your brother would be less happy about winning the lottery."

"Probably," Aiden replied shamelessly, his arm slipping around her waist and holding her to his side. Marley snuck a peek at his smug smirk and blushed even darker if that was possible.

The bastard. She was the one who went on a rant this morning about celebrating Christmas without interruption and it turns out she was the one to initiate the interruption this time.

In front of his damn brother.

Aiden was never going to let this one go. Ever.

"When is Gavin flying in?" Ian asked, smoothly changing the subject.

Marley shot Aiden's brother a grateful smile, straightening her spine and eagerly waiting for her blush to cool, "After dinner later. Gabby is with Leo right now, which does concern me a little."

She shot Aiden a look. His free hand curled a strand of her hair absentmindedly, "I'm as surprised by all of this as you are. He didn't tell me a thing. But I know him well enough to know that he's on his best behaviour since he needs to smooth things over with the girl he sprayed whipped cream on in front of every single one of our peers."

Marley sighed. That was Leo being Leo, and she could tell her best friend was well-aware that it was his defence mechanism when things got too serious. Gabby's face did turn redder than she's ever seen it, but she didn't say a word before storming out.

The fact that Leo's bringing Gavin here earned him a serious free pass.

"Leo doesn't seem to me like the kind of guy for grand gestures like that. It's nice to know he is."

Marley lifted her head to study Aiden's expression after a few moments of silence. He was staring down at her with a thoughtful gaze, his eyes everywhere else. When he caught her looking, he focused with a sigh.

There's more to Leo Kahn than anyone — even Aiden — has let on. Marley was certain of that. But Aiden's right when he says it isn't his story to tell.

So she let it go, settling back into her seat.

"How's your Dad?" Ian asked from next to her while they waited for the call.