Aiden Harper

Avoiding Raymond, temporarily

Eden

Raymond texted me to ask how I was feeling with my cold, the one I don't have, which Aiden said I did. I told him I was stuffy. That wasn't a total lie, but not the truth, either. Trying to avoid a video or phone call with your newfound father was difficult. If I video-called, Raymond would see what my shitty ex did. If I spoke to him on the phone, he could tell the difference between a cold and a broken nose.

On the other hand, Aiden took playing nurse to a whole new level. He would run a bath for me while picking out my clothes. I protested, but he ignored me. I didn't need him to pick out my outfits. I was pretty capable of choosing them. Aiden begged to differ.

"I'm not helpless. I have a broken nose," I pointed at my face, "not broken arms. I can pick out my clothes."

"Yeah, but I want to pamper you."

I lowered my arms and folded them across my chest as we stood in the bedroom beside the bed with an outfit on it. "There are other ways to pamper someone than choosing things for them. I don't like controlling behavior."

"Eden, I'm not trying to control you. I want to take some of the burden off you while you recover. When you feel better, you can choose whatever you like. I doubt that thinking about clothes is the last thing on your mind."

I looked at Aiden and realized he was right. I hadn't given much thought to clothes while dealing with a broken nose. "Okay. Fine. You can pick out my clothes until I feel better. But only until then. I don't want to date a controlling boyfriend."

Aiden stepped closer to me, making my breathing hitch. "Sweetheart, I'm the last person who would control you. I prefer my girl to be independent." He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before leaving the bedroom.

My nose needs to heal faster to return to our regular kissing program. I miss feeling Aiden's lips on mine.

******
Aiden

I left Eden to soak in a bath while sending my ma a request for items. Since I didn't want to leave her alone, my family offered to help us. When she got my list, Ma gave me a thumbs-up.

While Eden soaked in the bath and I waited for my ma, someone knocked on my front door. I answered it to find Uncle Brady standing there. "Hey, Uncle Brady."

"Hey, Aiden. Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure." I stepped aside so he could enter and closed the door behind him. "Did you want some coffee?"

"Yeah, I'll take a cup if you have it."

I grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured coffee into it before handing it to Uncle Brady. "What's up?"

"Aiden, I'm here on official police business and as your uncle."

"That doesn't sound good."

Uncle Brady set his cup down. "The Feds checked on Wayne Miller and Mia Diaz to put an agent on them. They discovered Mia checked out AMA."

"Okay." I leaned on the counter with my palms.

"The Feds are considering Mia dangerous since she's wanted for questioning in Claire's death and Eden's attack."

"There's no question. Mia is responsible for both."

"I know that from the information we received. But the Feds need more evidence to arrest her. I don't even want to know how you obtained those text messages you gave me."

Unlike my cousins, I keep my mouth shut regarding things like this.

"Aiden, I spent years as a Fed, building cases and apprehending the worst of the worst people. One wrong move can destroy a case faster than anything. If you see Mia, call me."