"Are you nervous?"

I was peering out the window of Aaron's mustang, staring at the massive house in front of me. The path up the driveway was lit up and several solar lights placed in the garden alongside the house shone on the stone brick walls.

"Maybe a little."

Okay, a lot.

He nodded in understanding, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

"Well, you look absolutely beautiful tonight. I don't want you worrying about trying to impress anyone. They're going to love you regardless. I just hope you'll have some fun tonight."

I smiled, squeezing his hand back. "I'm sure I will. You promised me good food and dancing, so I don't see how I could not."

Except for the fact you have no clue that I know your stepdad, this night should be a blast.

I had decided to not tell Aaron about knowing Liam. And before you start to yell at me, trust me, it was eating me up inside. The reason I hadn't was because the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't my place. Well, it was, but Liam is Aaron's family, and he made the decision to keep it from him from the beginning. Until I understood why, I didn't want to be the one to cause a problem between the two of them. I knew tonight was going to be tense due to Liam's lack of presence. Adding the fact that he lied about knowing who I was, was only going to make matters worse. 

I could handle Aaron's anger or hurt toward me by not revealing the truth, but I wasn't sure I could handle his anger toward Liam. Not after my conversation with Nathan. There was something that I was missing. I just didn't understand what yet.

Aaron opened his door to get out, and I followed. He came around to my side, holding my hand as I grabbed near the bottom of my red chiffon dress, pulling it up so it wouldn't get dirty. I hadn't been sure of this dress at first when I found it on the rack, but Savannah convinced me to try it on, and I fell in love instantly. It fit seamlessly, with small diamond gems lining the dress just above my waist, a slit on the left side, exposing part of my thigh and leg, and a low cut back, swooping just above my bottom. It was classy, yet sultry, and I loved he way I felt in it.

Aaron looked every bit as handsome with his black dress pants and gray button up shirt paired with a black tie. I was used to seeing Aaron dressed nicely, as his wardrobe consisted of several nice button-down dress shirts he liked to wear to work, but with the addition of the tie, he looked well put together.

We walked into the front entrance hand in hand, and I immediately admired the decor. The entryway floor was white and gray marble, leading to an open living room with the same tile. A grand piano was off to the side where a few guests mingled drinking cocktails. I looked around the room in awe of the grandeur. This was nothing like the house Liam and I grew up in. Or like any of the houses I ever lived in. It almost seemed too massive for just his parents to be living in.

"Come on, they have a tent set up outside for dining and dancing. I was told dinner is at six so that's probably where they will be."

I nodded, following Aaron past the gray fireplace and out the glass French doors. Music and laughter could be heard underneath the white silk tent several feet away. The back yard must have been at least an acre if not more, with a beautiful pool that had a beach entrance, waterfalls, and blue lights shining through the water. Next to it, there was a spacious pool house that looked to serve as a guest house. The tent was set up a bit further down and off to the left.

"This place is beautiful. Did you grow up here?"

"Yeah, for a few years anyway. One of the few things my mom got to keep in the divorce."

I looked up at him as we kept walking, getting closer to the tent.

"I just realized you never really talk about your dad."

He shrugged his shoulder, peering over at me briefly. "There's not much to tell. He calls to check in about twice a month, and I see him even less. Evan's been more of a dad to me than my own to be honest."

I frowned, hating the pang in my chest anytime dead-beat dads were brought into the equation. I never knew my own, Aaron barely knew his, and Liam's was apparently hard on him for reasons I yet understood. The lack of fatherly affection was high around here.

"I'm so sorry, Aaron."

"It's fine. I mean, I know he loves me. Honestly, we're both just honest about what is important in life. He stays busy to make good money, and I get that."

My frown grew as I absorbed his words, but I quickly covered it with a small smile as he glanced down at me with a smile of his own. But his words left a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach. Was money what was most important to him also? Was that the life he felt he needed?

We walked into the tent where a long table was set up with dinnerware, seating about six people already with room for about half a dozen more. There were also five other round tables for other guests who were already seated and having their dinner served to them. A large space for dancing was set up, and I felt I was at a wedding instead of an engagement dinner.

"This is bigger than I was imagining. I didn't realize so many people would be here."

"Why have all this money if not to show off to people? Good old dad wouldn't dare let it all go to waste."

I tensed, feeling his overwhelming presence directly behind me. Only one person could deliver such harshness so gracefully.

Liam.

Aaron turned around, and I slowly followed, hesitantly looking up at Liam whose stare was awaiting my own as his eyes bore into mine with a confidence I couldn't muster. I hadn't seen him in two weeks since that night he admitted to knowing me. Whether he had been avoiding me on campus, I couldn't be sure. But I was not prepared to see him tonight, nor was I prepared for the excitement I felt seeing him.

He was devastatingly handsome, and I wish I had been able to say otherwise. He was dressed in dark navy dress pants and a white button up shirt tucked into them, which clung to his muscular torso. The top two buttons were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up to his strong forearms. His attire along with the way his hair was unkempt in a purposeful way, showed me he put forth effort in being here when he didn't want to be, while not caring what anyone here thought.

"Liam, you came." Aaron said, his tone showing no surprise despite his comment.

Liam's jaw tensed as he narrowed his eyes, but he didn't spare Aaron a glance, nor remark, as he continued to stare at me. His eyes jumped back and forth across my face, and I found myself unable to look away, my heart steadily picking up its' pace under his steady gaze.

He leaned in, his breath warming my ear as he whispered, "You look stunning." He paused long enough for my heart to skip a beat before adding, "Though I prefer my shirt." I flushed as he pulled away slowly, holding my eyes as he did so, before finally glancing at Aaron. They shared in a tense look before Liam walked past us.

Feeling Aaron's stare on me, I looked up at him to see accusation in his eyes. But it quickly vanished, and his strained expression turned into a half smile. "Sorry, he's still been mostly avoiding me and is clearly still in a shitty mood. I wasn't sure if he would make it." He nodded toward the table. "Come on, let's find our spot and you can meet my mom and Evan."

He pulled me in the direction of the table, and I willed my legs to work. They felt immensely untrained in the act of walking, causing me to feel like a baby horse on wobbly legs.

Get it together, Maddie. He's just a stupid boy.

"Aaron, you made it!" A beautiful woman of smaller stature stood up from across the table and walked around, pulling Aaron in for a hug. He gripped her tightly, pulling back with a smile.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss this night for you." He turned toward me with his hand held out, and I reached for it. "Mom, this is Madalynn."

"Call me Maddie. It's so nice to meet you."

She gave what seemed to be a genuine smile as she took my appearance in.

"Well, aren't you beautiful. You can call me Patricia, dear. It's good to meet you too." She looked back to Aaron and patted his hand. "Please, sit. We're just getting ready to eat."

She went back to her side of the table to sit while Aaron held out a chair for me on the opposite side, sitting to the right of me. Mr. Tucker was seated directly across from him, and my mind took me to past memories of fishing days with Liam and him at the lake and the times he caught Liam and I sneaking snacks into his room.

Seeing him again was causing my nerves to be a rattled mess, and I tugged at my ear as Aaron got his attention. His eyes darted to mine, an assessing glance quickly covering his face, and I held my breath waiting for the recognition. A slow smile tugged his lips and the breath I had been holding released as he greeted me.

I gave myself a high-five, or I guess a low-five, under the table.

Way to be forgettable Mads.

For once, I was relieved to not be recognized. I made a mental note to talk to Liam soon about this whole charade, so that I could finally come clean to Aaron.

Dinner was served and the tent was filled with chatter amongst the guests. I quickly began to engulf my meal. I couldn't tell you what kind of chicken it was, except I could picture it walking around with pearls and a crown, it was that fancy.

The chair next to my left slid out as I ate another bite of my chicken, and a small moan may have slipped out in the process.

Don't judge.

It was really good.

"You really enjoy meat in your mouth, huh?" 

I turned, wide-eyed, toward Liam and about died.

No, really.

I about died. Because I choked on the bite I had still been chewing. I frantically began to, unattractively I might add, cough, forcing the lodged meat to slide down.

Thank the good Lord it didn't come back up instead.

Aaron turned toward me with frazzled eyes. "Are you okay?"

With my hand on my chest, I turned to him and managed to muster an "I'm fine." I grabbed my water, taking a sip before sending a death glare to Liam who was tucking his lips in, concealing a laugh.

"What is wrong with you?" I whisper shouted. "You seriously suck!"

"I could say something in regard to that but wouldn't want you choking again." His lips were pulled up in a grin, and though his crudeness was inappropriate, I couldn't help the smile that was threatening to escape.

There was a certain playfulness with him in that moment that I had immensely missed. Even though he wasn't exactly being friendly, it was the closest to it he had been. For once, there wasn't a glare coming from his eyes. And I decided I wanted more of it.

I leaned closer to him, keeping my voice low. "Don't men usually want that? Something about it boosting their ego?"

The grin he had been wearing was quickly replaced with a slacked jaw as his eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Maddie, I am appalled. That is no way to speak to a gentleman. I have very virgin ears."

I snorted an honest to God snort. It wasn't very attractive, but I'm sure neither was the eyeroll that took place. I went to say something back when my name being addressed had me bringing my attention back to Aaron and Mr. Tucker, while Liam immediately tensed next to me. Sneaking a quick glance, that playful smile he had worn was replaced with a frown, his forehead lines slightly creased.

Whatever bubble we had been in, was now completely popped, sending me headfirst to the ground.