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asked you to meet me, I’ve just made it worse and I’m sorry.”
    What did he just say?
    “Whoa! Slow down. What? I don’t know the way you feel about me.”
    He looked away and now it was his face’s turn to go red.
    “Aiden? How do you feel?”
    “Well, now I’ve definitely made it worse.”
    “Aiden. Please explain,” I said gently after another moment’s awkward silence.
    He looked back at me and I realised it. All these years, all the times we’d spent together, he’d had a thing for me. He hadn’t started looking at me this way recently, he’d always looked at me this way just like Shane said. I’d just ignored it or not thought about it because I was with Ross and I hadn’t given Aiden a second thought.
    “You need to sort out things with Ross. Make a decision. Then I’ll explain.”
    “What if I need you to explain now?”
    He looked down at our empty plates and then glanced at his watch.
    “Don’t you have to get back to work?”
    “I don’t care about that right now.”
    “Do you want to get out of here?”
    “Yes.”
    He called the waitress over and paid for our food. I’d never felt so uncomfortable in his presence, and yet so happy to be around him. What was happening to me? Why hadn’t I noticed this before? Why had I married that lying, cheating rat?
    “Let me just say goodbye to Shane.”

Chapter Nine
     
    Aiden hovered by the door as I went and got Shane’s attention.
    “We’re just going for a walk,” I told him.
    “Not doing anything silly, are we? I saw the way you two are looking at each other and it makes me warm and gooey inside. That’s usually a good thing, but isn’t it a bit soon?”
    “Warm and gooey? Really?” I said, smiling.
    “Just be careful.”
    I nodded and went to join Aiden who was waiting on the street outside. We walked up the hill towards the park in silence. After a while Aiden gestured to an empty wooden bench and we sat at either end. I crossed my legs and turned towards him.
    “So…?” I asked. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to know, really.
    “Okay, well there’s obviously a bit of chemistry between us, but—”
    “You noticed that too?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did Ross notice?” Why did I care what he thought? Aiden’s shoulders dropped.
    “I don’t think so.”
    I shrugged.
    “Are you just trying to make him jealous?” Aiden asked.
    “No!” I was horrified. “The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind!”
    “Okay. Well, I would never have said anything about any of this if Ross hadn’t cheated on you. I’m so angry with him.”
    “Were you there?” I interrupted, wondering if Aiden had seen her.
    A look of sadness crossed Aiden’s face. He looked down and didn’t say anything.
    “Aiden?”
    His eyes flashed back to mine.
    “I watched in utter dismay as I saw him lean in and kiss her. I went over and asked him what he was doing, he shouted something about minding my own business, and then they left. I was so angry. I tried to follow him but it was crowded and when I got out into the street, they were gone.”
    Huh. Somehow, the ignorant fog I’d been in for the past ten days was lifted, and there for me to imagine it, was Ross in the bar, picking up the woman he’d ruin our marriage for.
    “What did she look like?”
    Aiden sighed. “I didn’t really look at her much, but she was dressed like she wanted it. She was an easy target.”
    I pictured the scene. I would never be able to trust him again. Ever. He leaned in and kissed her, while his brother watched. I wasn’t worth a consideration because all he wanted was to get laid by some tart. My eyes filled with tears.
    “Oh Jenny, I’m so sorry,” Aiden moved closer and put his arms around me. He wasn’t the man I was developing feelings for right then, but my friend again. He held me while I got myself together. After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and sat up.
    “Why did he tell me, do you think?”
    “I told him he had to tell you, or I would.”
    I took a