Complete Me (The Trust Me Series Book 4) Page 14

  “Okay, today it is then—”

  “Why do you all look so gloomy?” Jeni asks.

  We turn around to see her holding one of the twins. Aiden comes up behind her with the other and kisses her on the cheek. Considering the amount of alcohol Aiden consumed last night, he hasn’t pulled up too bad.

  “Too much alcohol,” I reply, and Jeni laughs loudly.

  Aiden winces. “Baby, I love you but quiet voices today, please,” Aiden jokes. He obviously looks better than he feels.

  “Sorry, hon.” Jeni smirks, then walks off as Aiden sits down holding a baby and nursing a sore head.

  “Man, do you feel as shit as I do?” he questions, and I nod my head.

  “Fuck, yeah.”

  Jeni brings a can of ginger ale and some painkillers for Aiden. “You guys want some, too?” she asks, looking at Mike and me. We both nod, and she giggles, walking off to the kitchen.

  “Hey, is it okay if we stay for dinner again tonight. We can order in if you want?” Callie asks Aiden.

  “Yeah, of course. Chris, you and Sarah can stay for dinner, too, if you want?” Aiden queries, and I nod.

  Guess we’ll be telling him after dinner—but we have to get through breakfast and lunch first.

  Jeni brings us some painkillers and a ginger ale.

  “Okay, who’s for an All-American breakfast? Bacon, eggs, pancakes?” Jeni asks, and instantly my stomach rumbles.

  “I’ll take that as a yes from Chris,” Jeni teases.

  “I’ll help you, sweetheart,” Callie offers.

  Jeni walks over to Mike and hands him a twin. “Hey, little cutie, which one have I got?” Mike asks, and we all laugh.

  Aiden looks over. “You have Katie. Kassie has a freckle under her ear. It’s the only way we can tell them apart,” Aiden explains.

  Twins, what a headfuck!

  We spend the next few hours socializing with the family as the kids play with the baby chickens that have recently hatched. Eventually, one by one, the others leave until it’s just Mike, Callie, Sarah, and me with Aiden and Jeni.

  I’ve filled Sarah in on what’s going to happen. We decided we’d have dinner and then tell Aiden. I’ve been a little distant all day. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I feel so damn guilty for knowing and not telling Aiden straight away.

  We ordered pizza and had it delivered. We all have full bellies, and we’re sitting out on the deck while the kids are watching television in the living room. It’s a beautiful night, and it’s about to be ruined by a dark secret that’s been years in the making.

  Sarah comes back from putting Ella down in the travel cot, and when she sits, the atmosphere changes, and I know Callie and Mike are about to begin talking.

  “So Aiden, there’s something Mike and I have been wanting to tell you,” Callie starts.

  My heart rate rises and beats hard against my chest wall. Sarah takes my hand under the table, and I watch Aiden’s face intently. He seems so cheerful at this moment, and he has no idea about the typhoon ready to hit him at full blast.

  “We asked Sarah and Chris to be here for this because we thought they could support you with what we need to tell you,” Mike states.

  Aiden’s brows crease as he looks at Mike. “Okay, so you’re starting to freak me out. You’re not splitting up, are you?”

  “No, no, nothing like that, honey. Mike and I are doing great, and I can’t wait to marry him in three weeks,” Callie announces.

  “Right then, what’s this all about?” Aiden asks.

  My body tenses as I watch Jeni trying to decipher what’s going on in her head.

  “It’s about your father, Aiden,” Callie whispers.

  Aiden visibly relaxes. “From the grave, that man’s still causing trouble. What’s he done now?” Aiden assumes, and I exhale.

  “No, sweetheart, you see just before I married Niall, Mike and I, well we…” she tilts her head, waggling her eyebrows, “… you know—”

  “Okay, right, yeah, I get it. But I don’t need the details of your… you know, togetherness.” Aiden grins with a chuckle.

  “No, Aiden… you don’t understand. Mike and I slept together—”

  “Yeah, Mom, I got that part,” Aiden announces with a grimace.

  “Honey, nine months later…” Callie takes a deep breath, “… you were born.” Callie tenses.

  Jeni gasps, her hand raising to her mouth, then she looks at Aiden who’s staring blankly into space. “I… don’t… I don’t know what you’re saying?” Aiden’s clearly confused.

  Jeni rests her hand on his arm, and he’s starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Callie swallows hard as my chest squeezes tight. “Aiden… Mike’s your biological father.” Callie manages to say the words, but then she starts to cry.

  My head snaps toward Aiden—he’s gasping for air. “I don’t understand. Did Father… I mean Niall know?” he asks calmly even though he’s clearly struggling.

  “No, honey, he had no idea,” Callie admits.

  Aiden stands abruptly, his chair falling backward and hitting the floor with a loud thud. “So, all this time… all these years of torment I went through with Father… fuck… Niall, and he…” Aiden runs a hand through his hair, “… he wasn’t even my real dad! What the fuck, Mom?” Aiden snaps.

  “Aiden, sweetheart, I know it’s a lot to take in, and I know how hard this must be for you—”

  “Do you? Do you really? If you knew how hard it would be for me then, why keep it a secret for thirty-four fucking years? And why tell me now?” Aiden raises his voice as Jeni stands to try and comfort him.

  “I told them they had to tell you,” I admit.

  Aiden’s eyes stare down at me with the rage of a thousand burning suns. “You knew?” he yells. He walks over and before I can react, his fist slams hard into my jaw. My head snaps to the side, a pain sears through my face as I fall back with so much force, my chair topples backward. My face hurts like a bitch, and I’m sure I heard something crunch.

  “Aiden!” Jeni calls out berating him harshly.

  “You. Fucking. Knew? And you didn’t think to tell me? What kind of fucking friend are you?” Aiden yells. “And you…” He points at Mike. “You’ve been in my life for its entirety, and you never thought once that maybe you should tell me that you’re my father?” Aiden yells directly at Mike.

  Mike shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Aiden. I really—”

  “Oh, shut the fuck up, you’re not sorry! I don’t even know who you are, Mike!” Aiden bellows and then storms inside, his feet pounding so harshly it’s like the tiles could crack beneath the heavy steps.

  I nurse my jaw as Jeni wipes the tears from her face. “Chris, I’m so sorry. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt you,” Jeni cries as she comes over and checks my bruised jaw while I stumble up from the ground.

  “No, it’s fine, I deserved it. I should’ve told him last night when I found out. But he was having such a good time, I didn’t want to be the one to tell him.” I glance at Mike. “Apart from that, it isn’t my secret to tell. I wanted to give Mike and Callie a chance to do it first,” I admit. Sarah places her cold can of cola on my jaw.

  “I better go find him,” Jeni murmurs, looking across at Callie. “You should have told him,” Jeni berates and then walks off.

  “I’m sorry, Chris… I thought if he was going to punch anyone, it would’ve been me. Are you okay?” Mike questions.

  “I’m fine, nothing a bag of frozen peas won’t fix. It’s fine, Mike, don’t feel bad. We knew he wouldn’t be happy about it, and you always take it out on the ones you hold close. I don’t take any offense, and I’d rather he hit me than you, anyway,” I say honestly.

  Suddenly, we hear Aiden yelling upstairs. I can’t quite make out what he’s saying, but I can vaguely hear Jeni telling him to calm down.

  “Maybe we should go?” Sarah suggests as she caresses my cheek. “Are you two going to be okay?” Sarah asks, and they nod.

>   Poor Mike looks heartbroken. I think he was hoping that Aiden would secretly be happy about it. And I know he will be once he gets over the initial shock.

  We move around getting everything ready to head home, making sure the kids are packed and ready to go. We wait to see if Aiden will come back down, but he doesn’t, so we decide to leave. It’s for the best. Our drive home was in silence. It was until we get out of the car that either of us speaks.

  “That was intense,” Sarah breaks the silence as we walk to our front door.

  “Tell me about it. I’ve seen Aiden angry before, but he was furious. Not that I blame him. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through right now,” I murmur as I fumble with the keys in the door lock. It eventually opens, and we walk in, then put the kids in bed.

  “Do you think he’ll forgive us? I mean, what happens if he never wants to talk to us again? I can’t lose Jeni, Chris,” Sarah admits.

  “I know, babe, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without Aiden and Jeni either. I absolutely love Brody, too. I hope Aiden can forgive us, but more importantly, I hope he can forgive Callie and Mike. I think that’s going to be the hardest one for him to deal with. I can’t even imagine how Mike is feeling right now...” I let out a small sigh, “… probably relieved to have it all out in the open but heartbroken at the same time. I just… I hope Aiden can come back from this. You know?”

  Sarah nods. “Well, babe, you’ll always have the kids and me. We’ll never abandon you. And if Aiden doesn’t want anything to do with us, then we’ll deal with it together, okay?” Sarah reassures.

  “Yeah, well, I need something to take my mind off it,” I grumble.

  “The kids are asleep, so I can think of something to keep us occupied,” she insinuates while raising her eyebrows up and down.

  I finally smile, and she takes my hand and leads me to our bedroom.

  Sarah pushes me onto the bed and pulls off her top, throwing it to the floor. She’s so fucking sexy right now, and I guess a distraction is what I need. She leans down and kisses me, lifting my shirt over my head.

  “Sarah, do you know how much I desire you?”

  She smirks in such a way that has me hot for her already.

  “Fuck yeah, I do.”

  I bolt upstairs to get away from them.

  All of them.

  Everyone who’s been lying to my face for God only knows how long?

  How could they do that to me?

  After everything I’ve been through?

  “Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!”

  I storm to the bedroom and start to pace. My thoughts are running a million miles an hour.

  Mike is my father?

  Mike. Is. My. Father.

  What the fuck?

  I pace some more while I run my hand through my hair. With my heart pounding in my chest so fast, I feel like I might pass out at any minute.

  Is this a dream?

  Some horrible nightmare that I need to wake up from?

  Niall was my father, the only father I’ve known. He wasn’t a great father, but he was my father.

  Knowing now that I could’ve had a different relationship with my real father, a father who really cared about me, makes me beyond furious. But that father chose not to tell me—he chose to leave me to be brought up by a father who cared only about himself and his damn money. Mike must be ashamed to call me his son.

  I trusted Mike with everything.

  Now, our entire relationship is built on a lie.

  How can we get past this?

  Do I even want to get past it?

  A bead of sweat runs down my temple and drops to the floor. My breathing is rushed and harsh.

  Footsteps on the staircase come toward me, and I look at the door, hoping, but also dreading, that it will be Mike—my father.

  My. Father?

  I’m so damn confused.

  Why didn’t they tell me?

  Why keep this big massive secret for my entire life?

  And why the fuck tell me three weeks before their wedding?

  What the hell is that all about?

  Why tell me now?

  I rub the back of my neck, the questions coming one after the other, causing my already pounding head to become a scrambled mess of emotions.

  Jeni walks through the door, and my stiff posture relaxes the instant I see her. She rushes to my side, wrapping her arms around me. “I had no idea, Aiden, I swear.”

  “How could they?”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t know. But maybe you should come down and talk to Callie and Mike? But more importantly, you need to apologize to Chris for punching him. That was totally uncalled for.”

  I feel pain in my knuckles I hadn’t noticed before. I rub my knuckles with my other hand and suddenly, I’m beyond angry. Furious even.

  “No. Fuck Chris, he deserved it. How long has he known for, huh? And he didn’t even have the common decency of a friend to tell me. No, our friendship is over with them. If Chris knew, Sarah did, too, so she’s as much to blame for this as he is. Fuck them both!” I throw my hands in the air. “And fuck Mike, too. And don’t even get me started with my mother,” I yell.

  Jeni bites her bottom lip. I don’t mean to shout at her, but I can’t get my emotions under control.

  “Aiden, look… I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting, but don’t take it out on Chris and Sarah. They only found out late last night at the bachelor party. It’s not like they’ve known for years, so you have to give them some credit. They were the ones who told Mike he had to tell—”

  “Yeah, well, maybe they shouldn’t have told me. Then everything would be fine right now, and I wouldn’t be here wondering who the hell I am and what this all means?”

  Jeni cocks her brow. “What do you mean, who you are? You know who you are, Aiden. It doesn’t change anything about you. At all. You’re still the same man.”

  I scoff and then laugh, and even to me, it sounds maniacal. “Yeah, right, Jeni. This changes every damn thing. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Do they want me to change my last name to O’Leary instead of O’Connell? That means you and the kids will need to change your names, too. This doesn’t just affect me, Jeni, this affects you, too. Everything is different. I work in the family business… a family I’m no longer a part of. Brielle should take over the company. I’m not even an O’Connell, so how can I run O’Connell Finance, huh? That just doesn’t make sense if I am not Niall’s son. See, Jeni, everything is fucked now!” I yell.

  She reaches out to take my hand, but I flinch away. I’m so angered, I don’t want her touching me in case I lash out. I would never hurt her on purpose, not ever, but I can’t seem to control what’s coming out of my mouth.

  “Aiden, slow down. There’s no need to leave the business. If you’re anxious about it, then talk to Brielle, but I already know what she’ll say,” Jeni says calmly while I pace a hole in the carpet.

  “What? That I’m no brother of hers and that she’ll have to take over. And then what, baby? We’re not poor, but I have to find a way to keep up the lifestyle we’re accustomed to. Remember, if I’m not there, then you have no one to PA for. So basically, we’re both jobless with three kids. What if no one will hire us? What if—”

  “Stop, Aiden! Just stop! You’re worrying about something that won’t happen. Brielle loves you, and even though you don’t have the same father, it doesn’t mean she’s not your sister. She would never take the business from you. Search your heart… you know that. And what’s with all this talk about needing money. You know we’re fine… more than fine. We have enough to last us a lifetime. We don’t need money.”

  I huff and continue to pace.

  My thoughts are running crazy. I’m spiraling.

  This changes everything.

  My whole life is based on a lie.

  How does that even happen?

  “Thirty-four years I’ve been living this lie… thinking Niall actually fathered me. And all this time…
all this fucking time…” I exhale and pace some more. A wave of anger moves over me again. I storm over to the dresser, pick up the vase in my anger, and throw it against the wall. “Fuuuck.”

  “Aiden, stop! Look at me,” Jeni pleads. She walks over and takes my hands in hers. I hold back the waves of emotion as she looks right into my glistening eyes.

  “This doesn’t have to change anything. That is if you don’t want it to? I love you. I always will love you. And baby, I’m here for you no matter what you decide to do,” she almost whispers.

  I look into her eyes, her saddened green eyes, and a new emotion hits me like a tidal wave. I can’t hold back a loud sob that escapes me. Jeni exhales while I fall to the floor, and she follows me down. She holds on trying to comfort me in my moment of despair, anguish, anger, frustration, and fear of the unknown—everything is too much for me right now. I should be the strong one. Always. But poor Jeni has to pick up my broken pieces as I can’t keep it together in her arms.

  “It’s okay, let it all out,” she comforts me while she holds my head to her chest and strokes the side of my face lovingly.

  Jeni is amazing. I love her more than ever right now.

  “Why didn’t they tell me… when I was younger? I could’ve had a great life with Mike as my father,” I mumble.

  Jeni leans down to kiss my head. “You still can, Aiden. You simply have to let Mike in. Hear their side of the story as to why they didn’t tell you. There must be a reason. How about, when you feel up to it, we head downstairs and talk to your mom and Mike? See what they have to say, hey?”

  “I love you,” I confess.

  “I know… I love you, too. But Mom and Mike will be freaking out downstairs. So, let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll go down and face them together. We’re a team, remember? I will always be by your side. No matter what. Okay?”

  I nod while I exhale, letting all my frustration and negative energy out with my breath. “I don’t think I’m ready just yet. Can we lay on the bed for a while?” I ask, and she half-smiles.

  “Of course. Whatever you need.” Jeni stands and reaches out for my hand. I follow her as she leads me over to our bed. She lies down, and I move in next to her. She cuddles into my chest, leaving no room between us. I need her. I need to breathe her in. Her scent calms me, and her skin against mine soothes my nerves. I know, in this moment, I cherish her more than words can say. I’m so thankful she’s here with me right now, looking after me and simply being here.