I smiled up at him and muttered,
“
Thank you. It
’
s beautiful. But what about your mother?
”
I frowned as I remembered him telling me how sick she was. It seemed like forev
er ago, but it was merely days.
“
How is she feeling?
”
“
Better,
”
Ayden said. I noticed his voice no longer held a mournful edge.
“
The medication is working and she
’
s able to do things on her own again.
”
“
That
’
s really great to hear, Ayden.
”
I turned towards the window
and watched the house I presumed to be his family
’
s. I
’
d only been inside once and he
’
d been in such a rush to get me out as soon as he
’
d noticed. I
’
d watched him talk
to his sister in a way I hadn
’
t expected. At the time I guessed I assumed all Hunters were aggressive and mean, but after seeing him with her, I thought differently. I knew now that Ayden would never hurt me, and I clung to that.
“
Can I see her?
”
He knew exactly what I meant.
“
I don
’
t think that
’
s such a great idea, Echo.
”
“
So am I never going to meet your family? If they are anything like you, I am sure I will love them.
”
“
It
’
s not you I
’
m worried about,
”
Ayden whispered.
“
What if they recognize
you?
My father is a drunk who will do anything for the extra money. What if he turns you in?
”
“
What if he doesn
’
t recognize me?
What if he doesn
’
t turn me in?
”
He sighed.
“
There
’
s that fiery attitude.
”
I watched him as he drove his fingers through his wild hair that still had remnants of the whipped cream
,
and sighed.
“
I think your eyes will give it away, but okay. If my mother asks, you
’
re a friend.
”
“
A friend? And how oddish are my eyes compared to yours, Ayden?
”
Smiling, he pointed to the dress in my hands and I smirked.
“
Just put the dress on. I don
’
t bring other women over at all, so my mother will be quick to assume the best.
”
“
Which is what, may I ask?
”
“
That I
’
m giving her a grandchild.
”
Ayden chuckled and walked out the door, closing it in behind him.
I sat staring at the door a moment longer and tried not to smile. I lost, of course, but with Ayden it was expected.
I was going to meet his family. Before excitement had time to take over, anxiety
reared
its evil head.
What if they didn
’
t like me, or worse, saw right through me? Not that I had anything to prove to them, but if Ayden accepted me here, I wanted them to accept me, too.
I dressed quickly
, darted into the bathroom to wash off the whipped cream from my face,
and turned to the mirror on
the
wall.
I wanted to ask him for a towel so that I could help myself to a shower,
but I feared becoming a pest too
quickly. I
’
d ask him later.
The dress fit me smugly, but not too close for discomfort.
I tried to imagine a much older me in a dress like this, but
I
just couldn
’
t see it. I wondered if I looked al
l
right,
seeing as the dress unveiled curves not even I know about, and
cring
ed
at the thought. When did it ever matter what I wore? I sighed. It began to matter when I started falling for Ayden
effortlessly and subconsciously, but willingly.
I walked ou
t into the kitchen to meet him and
Ayden
’
s eyes caught mine with a fixated glare.
“
Wow,
”
is all he said. He rubbed the back of his neck and visibly fought to look away.
I frowned.
“
How do I look?
”
When he gave me a once over, my stomach lurched.
“
Oh my gods. Say I look like your m
other, Ayden, and I
’
ll scream
.
”
“
My mother?
”
He shook his head and laughed.
“
No, definitely not my mother. You look…
beautiful, and simply so. No pearls or glitter this time, it
’
s different. I like it.
”
“
I like different, too.
”
I stood across from him at the table and watched him watching me. We said not
h
ing for a long moment, and then I finally motioned towards the door.
“
Did you eat anything? I
’
m sure your family is eating breakfast if you wish to join them.
”
He scowled, but nodded in agreement.
“
Your excitement to meet my family is too much.
”
“
So
,
can we go?
”
“
Are you serious?
”
I walked around the table to take his hand. Deadpanning him, I tried my best to hold back a smile.
“
This is the face of a very serious girl you wouldn
’
t want to upset.
”
“
And I would do anything to make her happy,
”
Ayden whispered. Catching me off guard, he pulled me close and kissed my lips. His lips still tasted of the whipped cream and I smiled.
“
I suggest washing your face before
it
raises questions.
”
I smoothed a finger over his eyebrow.
“
Big questions.
”
“
Sure. I
’
ll meet you outside.
”
He kissed me again before moving to the bathroom.
I was met with murky clouds and a dimmed sun
as soon as I stepped out the door
. The air did
n
’
t
seem
as
stiff
as it did the first time I was
here, but
breathing came easier.
I crossed through the yard and went straight for the bleeding heart garden beside the house. The flowers
’
pink petals looked a shade darker than the ones in New Haven and I quickly assumed them to be dying.
I jumped at the sound of an opening door as it screeched on its hinges. Across the yard an old man stepped off his veranda
with a flashlight in his hand
and
made for his cellar at the side of his tattered house. I stared at him and held my breath, waiting patiently on a moment I knew would come all too soon
with bated breath
. But instead, when the old man caught me hidden in the garden, he smiled and continued on his way
like he hadn
’
t noticed anything different
.
I heaved
a sigh and slumped against house.
“
Hey, are you okay?
”
Ayden stepped out of the cabin and called over to me. His hair was free of whipped cream and he strode across the yard to me.
“
Echo?
”
I snapped out of my mental funk and nodded at him.
“
Yeah, of course. Let
’
s
go
.
”
He took my hand and led me up the stairs to the back door. My heart beat quickened erratically in my chest and I fought to keep my breathing under control. Gods, I was going to meet his family. I bit down on my lip till the point of pain as Ayden turned the knob and pushed the door open. He led me in and my first reaction to the house was
warm
. Pictures hung on the wall
s
in the
living room
, making the place seem more
personal than Ayden
’
s cabin
. Though the furniture was outdated and the
rugs
long
overused, the house was cozy
and unexpectedly welcoming. I followed him through the house and to the kitchen. I hesitated at the sound of voices, but Ayden
urged
me forward
with a tug on my hand
.
A woman with pale green eyes and a smile worth a thousand words greeted us.
“
Ayden, honey,
”
she said. Her eyes hadn
’
t found mine yet, but when they did, her smile
never
falter
ed
.
“
Oh, and who might this be? Francis, do you see this?
”
Ayden groaned at my side, but never let my hand go. I didn
’
t know if he acknowledged the fact, but if we were playing the
‘
friend
’
card, it would have been best if he let me go.
“
Mother,
”
he groaned.
A man with a black mass of hair on his head, an untrimmed goatee, and a bulky figure faced us as he finished drying dishes at the sink. I panicked at his expressionless eyes and silently thanked the gods Ayden hadn
’
t let me go after all.
“
Who is this, Ayden?
”
I spoke before Ayden had a chance to. From th
e look in their eyes, they hadn
’
t a clue who I was. I was immensely grateful.
“
Aleksandria. But you can call me Aly.
”
“
Do you have a last name?
”
Ayden
’
s father asked. Ayden tensed at my side and gripped my hand tighter.
“
Esolen,
”
I said.
“
Aleksandria Esolen.
”
“
Hm. Never heard of you.
”
“
Oh, hush up, Francis. Ayden
’
s brought home a guest.
”
Ayden
’
s mother moved surprisingly fast as she stood and came to me. She gave me a hug even Ayden hadn
’
t anticipated and I let go of him to hug her. I was unsure, of course, but such kindness was so foreign I felt myself giving in to the moment.
If only my own mother had been this way to me
, I thought remorsefully. Maybe I wouldn
’
t have run away. I glanced at Ayden over his mother
’
s shoulder and took back the thought. Even though I ran for the sake of freedom, I ran for him, too. Regardless of the lies I
’
d grown up in
, I would have found a way to him.
“
Hi,
”
I said as she broke the embrace.
“
Call me Carys, honey. Please, do sit. Are you hungry?
”
She smiled at me and
I
hesitantly smiled back.
Glancing at Ayden, I said,
“
No, actually. I
’
m quite full.
”
Ayden hid a smirk to the best of his ability, but I didn
’
t bother. I
still had enough leftovers in my ear.
Carys sat me down on a chair at the table and took her time getting around the kitchen.
“
How about some tea then, huh?
”