Chapter 860

Lena pinched my arm hard—just enough to hurt. Classic Lena: subtle but effective.

Okay, fine. Blurting out Aaron’s feelings in front of everyone? Definitely not my smartest move. Some things are better left for private jollies, not public meltdowns. Especially when family dynamics are involved—blood-related or not.

Ron finally caught on and asked, “Wait, what did you just say?”

Hayden cleared his throat. “She said you should hurry up and start the barbecue. Everyone’s hungry.”

“Pretty sure that’s not what she said. She said…” He hesitated, his usual sharpness suddenly absent. Was he playing dumb on purpose, or did he just realize poking the bear wasn’t worth it?

Before he could dig himself deeper, Aaron cut in. “Stay away from Lena.”

His voice was casual, but the warning? Crystal clear. Dude wasn’t budging. He stayed calm, face totally unreadable, like he was some overprotective dad stepping in for his kid.

For a second, I felt bad for stirring things up. But come on, anyone with half a brain could see Aaron didn’t see Lena as just a friend. The guy was either a pro at looking unbothered, or he genuinely didn’t care what people thought.

One thing was obvious: Aaron wasn’t playing around. His protectiveness was straight-up unapologetic, and there was no missing the fact that he was all in.

I stole a glance at Lena. She glared at me, then yanked me aside to sit on the edge of the deck. “If you don’t stop running your mouth, I’m cutting you off as a friend,” she warned.

The ocean breeze swirled around us, soft and warm. I kicked my legs over the edge and grinned. “Lena, Aaron really likes you. And he’s not the type to give up.”

“Stop talking,” she snapped, her voice firm but not angry.

I couldn’t tell if she was dodging the truth or just seriously in denial.

Leaning back, I propped myself on my hands and looked at the sky. Some things you’ve gotta figure out for yourself—no amount of nudging from a nosy friend will speed that up.

After a beat, I shifted gears. “So, what would you want in your next boyfriend?”

“I don’t want a next boyfriend. Why does everyone assume I need one? Can’t I just live without a man?” Lena flopped back onto the deck.

I joined her, stretching out under the warmth of the sun. “You can, but wouldn’t it suck to let your twenties pass without at least one whirlwind romance?”

She raised her hand, catching the light between her fingers. “If I ever feel like dating, I’ll do it even when I’m eighty. Love isn’t bound by age, you know.”

“I get it, but falling in love at eighty isn’t the same as falling in love now,” I argued, playful but firm.

“How’s it different? It’s still just two people who like each other. Haven’t you seen those videos of old couples? They’re way more adorable than young ones.” She opened and closed her fingers like she was trying to catch the sun.

She had a point, but there was something fresh and carefree about her right now—like the Lena I remembered from years ago, before life got complicated.

While she played with her fingers, I started kicking my legs in the air, pretending to pedal an invisible bike. “Sure, the feelings might be the same, but the experience isn’t. Like kissing when you’re old and toothless, it’s just gums on gums. Not exactly romantic.”

“Ew!” Lena burst out laughing. “You’re disgusting!”

“Hey, I’m just saying—it’s like fruit. You eat it when it’s fresh and juicy, not when it’s all shriveled and wrinkly.” I shot her a mischievous grin. “And FYI, Aaron’s definitely ripe right now.”

“Keira Kay!” Lena smacked me. “You’re such a perv!”

“Me? You’re the OB-GYN! You’ve seen way more than me. Who knows how many you’ve examined?” I teased, doubling down.

Lena clapped a hand over my mouth, but I kept mumbling nonsense, making muffled noises as we wrestled like kids.

Not far away, Hayden and Aaron watched the chaos unfold.

“You should tell your girl not to bully my wife so much. She’s pregnant, you know,” Hayden said.

Aaron didn’t miss a beat. “My girl happens to be an OB-GYN, so she’s technically qualified to handle pregnant women.”

That “my girl” hung in the air, deliberate and unshakable.

Chapter 861