I Knew You Were Trouble

Chapter Twenty-Two

I blink. Paige’s brows have risen up her forehead. Aidan’s holding a takeaway drink with a plastic lid and a paper straw coming out of the top. He stares at me, his mouth falling open.

‘Aidey!’ Paige exclaims.

He then looks to his sister. ‘What is Lexi doing here?’ he says in a low, gravelly tone.

My stomach flips over. My mouth opens to say something but no words emerge.

‘You’re supposed to be in London!’ Paige says, her shrill voice sounding strangled.

‘What?’ Aidan snaps. ‘When was I going to London?’

‘Really?’ Paige hums and I now realise I’ve been an idiot and that she’s completely set this up. She knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere. ‘I could have sworn you said you were going to London.’

The realisation has dawned on Aidan too. ‘What the fuck, Paige?’ he snaps.

‘Oh, this is embarrassing,’ Paige says but I now detect a note of glee in her tone. ‘Well, now that Lexi’s here, she can’t very well leave . I need to go help the others get set up for later. So, Aidey , why don’t you take good care of our guest and be sure to give her the presents you got her. I didn’t wrap them for nothing. And remember to tell her what happened with Lucy.’

‘I am legit going to cut you open,’ Aidan deadpans, glaring mercilessly at his twin, who doesn’t appear to care and takes great pleasure in bossing her brother about.

‘Play nice with Lexi!’ Paige sings triumphantly as she trots down the stairs and out of the door at the bottom, slamming it behind her as she goes. It leaves us in silence and me with a heavy boulder of anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

Aidan keeps his eyes on the carpet. He’s wearing jeans and a shirt with a black overcoat.

‘Well, this isn’t awkward,’ he mumbles.

My breath is shaky, my nerve endings all tingling in humiliation. ‘Paige said you were going to a party in London. I didn’t think you’d be here. I would never have come otherwise.’

He rubs the bridge of his nose. ‘As you’ve witnessed, Paige takes great pleasure in meddling in my life at any given opportunity.’

‘I’ll go,’ I state. ‘My cases are in the car. I’ll ask Paige to give me a lift back to your aunt’s hotel. I’m so sorry.’

He raises his eyes to me. I see his throat working. ‘Did Paige show you around?’ he mutters.

I nod. ‘She did, a bit. I like your room.’

He conceals a smile. ‘This is all my mum’s work. I’ve never had time to focus on it.’

‘She’s obviously very proud of you.’

‘Did Paige introduce you?’

‘No, I… I haven’t been here long.’

He goes quiet.

My voice is shaky. ‘Would you mind giving me a lift back to the hotel, please?’

After a moment he says, ‘You might as well stay.’

‘I shouldn’t. You don’t want me here.’

‘Lex—’

My eyes go to his. I’d forgotten how much I love it. The sound of my name on his lips.

One hand goes to the back of his neck, massaging his muscles. He puts down his drink. ‘I got you something. A replacement birthday present, and something for Christmas.’

‘Oh.’

‘I got Paige to wrap them… well, ’cause I’m no good at wrapping stuff.’

‘You shouldn’t have got me anything.’

‘I wanted to.’

He walks past his bed, over to the desk on the far side of the room, leaning down and picking up two beautifully wrapped boxes, finished with red ribbon. Then he turns and walks back over to me.

‘Here,’ he says, signalling to the slightly smaller of the two. ‘This one was for your birthday.’

I feel my cheeks flush. I take both boxes.

‘Sit on the bed if you like,’ Aidan suggests. ‘You don’t have to open them now if you don’t want to.’

‘No, I want to,’ I croak and lower myself to Aidan’s mattress. He removes his coat and sits down next to me, making sure that there is a wide enough distance between us.

Tearing at the red paper, I remove a jewellery box the size of my palm. I glance across at Aidan before opening it, and he looks almost terrified. I open up the box. Looking at the stunning bangle that is contained inside, my mouth falls open.

‘Aidan, I—’ I breathe, afraid to pick it up. ‘It’s beautiful.’

He rakes a hand through his hair. ‘They’re black diamonds. One point eight carat. Set in rose gold with white gold flowers on each side.’

One hand goes to my chest. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Do you like it?’

‘I love it, but this is too much. I can’t take this.’

‘At least try it on,’ he murmurs, nudging closer, lifting it from the box.

He reaches for my hand, and his touch sets off a bolt of electricity within me. He moves it over my fingers and I watch as the delicate bangle slides down my wrist. I don’t have much jewellery; the pieces I do own are not nearly as extravagant.

‘I picked it out in Dubai,’ he says. ‘Samara helped me choose it, before I was photographed on that yacht.’

I run my fingers over the rim of the bangle on my wrist. It really is stunning. Aidan blows out his cheeks. It doesn’t escape my notice that he’s retreated to his original position on the bed. ‘I know you probably don’t believe me, but Samara is a friend, and the wedding I went to was her brother’s. The kiss that ended up all over the internet was purely platonic. I know it didn’t look like it from the angle, but it was. She kissed me on my cheek and caught the corner of my mouth. Some paparazzi guy must have been rubbing his hands together. Samara and I went out for, like, five minutes about four years ago. There’s nothing between us but friendship. And I told her all about you.’

He looks relieved, nervous almost, to have alleviated himself of the information, yet I sense an enormous gulf between us still, despite him having just given me a bracelet that is encrusted with black diamonds and probably worth several thousands of dollars.

‘It was the same for me and Duncan,’ I say quietly. ‘We went out on a blind date, that’s how I met him. We dated for about a year after that, but then we decided we were better off as friends, and we’ve worked together ever since. There’s nothing more to tell, but I should have said something before I did. I didn’t expect it to come out in that bar in Dubai like it did.’

Aidan says nothing, keeps his eyes on the floor.

‘Can I open this one?’ I ask, pointing to the other gift.

‘Sure.’

I untie the ribbon, tearing off the wrap. It’s a framed photograph of myself and the band, taken before one of the Sydney concerts. I’m standing in the middle of them all, holding my camera. My throat works, my eyes stinging with tears at the sight of it.

‘Uhm . Paige helped me pick out the frame,’ he says.

‘I love it,’ I say, pressing it to my chest. ‘I’ll cherish it. Thank you.’

I hold it in my lap and trace my fingers over the glass. I may not have wanted this job at the beginning, but looking at this photograph, I now have memories I will treasure for the rest of my life, and I feel a sense of determination to make the best documentary possible.

‘I… I didn’t get you anything for Christmas.’

He shakes his head, waving his hand dismissively. ‘I don’t need anything.’

The air is thick again, the conversation stilted. I’m worrying we can’t come back from this.

‘Would you like me to go home?’ I ask tentatively.

‘You should stay. The fireworks are always good.’

‘I saw your dad and brother setting up.’

‘I should probably head over and help them. Are you hungry?’

I wish I could shake this atmosphere that hangs over us. It’s hard to know what he’s thinking. Or, more specifically, what he thinks about me.

I clear my throat. ‘Paige said to tell me about what happened with Lucy?’

He falters, his expression indecipherable. ‘Oh. That. Not much to tell.’

‘Who was she?’

‘She was my first proper girlfriend. I lost my virginity to her in the woodshed outside in the fields not far from here. I’d just turned seventeen. It was before my initial audition for the TV show.’

‘Right. Did you keep in touch with her?’

‘No.’

‘Oh.’

‘Honestly, I’d rather not talk about her.’

‘Of course.’

‘Come on, lunch will be ready in the house.’

Aidan holds the front door open for me and I enter the McArthur family home, an extension of the pub. I hear voices all chattering; the sounds of children’s laughter and nerves hit my chest.

‘This way,’ Aidan says, and leads me through to a dining room.

‘Everyone,’ Aidan raises his voice as we turn the corner. He waits for me to appear at his side. ‘This is Lexi. Lexi, this is my mum, Olive, my brother Rohan, my sister-in-law Jo-Jo, their children Georgia and Finley, and you already know Paige.’

There is a chorus of ‘Hi, Lexi,’ and I find myself beaming. After a lonely Christmas, the idea of company fills me with joy, and the warmth I feel in this room is a thing of magnificence. The notable affection of one family having a meal together, complete with a Christmas tree still glowing with lights, a bridge of candles in the window, and a wreath above a large fireplace.

‘It’s lovely to meet you, Lexi,’ Aidan’s mother says as she comes over to greet me, taking my hand in hers. Her children bear a striking resemblance to her. ‘We’ve heard such wonderful things about you. Come and sit down. I’m afraid lunch is mostly leftovers.’

‘Thank you. Anything is fine with me,’ I tell her.

‘There’s a seat by me,’ Paige says, putting me between her and Jo-Jo. Aidan goes and takes a seat next to his mother.

‘Is Dad coming or not?’ Paige asks.

‘He’s still checking everything for tonight,’ Jo-Jo says with a roll of her eyes. ‘The fact that I’ve triple stock-checked everything seems to make no difference.’

Rohan chuckles. ‘You would have thought you knew your father-in-law by now.’

Her lips break out into a grin. Olive encourages everyone to dig in.

‘Everyone please eat the ham,’ she says, raising her voice over the hubbub. ‘I do not want to still be eating ham come January.’

‘I hope you’re not a vegetarian, Lexi,’ Paige says next to me.

‘I don’t want ham,’ Finley – who I guess to be about four – grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest in protest. ‘Yuck.’

‘So, Lexi,’ Rohan asks me. ‘What did you get up to for Christmas?’

I feel my insides flip over, a sense of dread in answering his question. ‘Uh, not much.’ I smile. ‘It was quiet.’

‘Were you with family?’

‘My father lives in Los Angeles, so he was there with his wife. My mother died when I was young and I’m an only child, so…’

‘I thought you went to Duncan’s,’ Aidan says.

I look at him, biting my lip, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. ‘I didn’t go in the end.’

Aidan stares at me in astonishment. ‘You spent Christmas Day on your own ?’

‘Oh, Lordy,’ Olive says as she doles out food onto plates. ‘Well next year, you’re very welcome to come here.’

‘Thank you,’ I say with a smile, feeling Aidan’s eyes on me.

‘Aidey spends New Year’s alone a lot these days,’ Jo-Jo says.

‘Not out of choice,’ Aidan grumbles.

Rohan grins at me. ‘He’s been banished.’

‘Why’s that?’ I ask.

‘New Year’s is a big night at the pub,’ Paige explains. ‘We mostly all work behind the bar, and it’s all hands on deck. Three years ago, about a thousand teenaged girls showed up on New Year’s Eve, all wanting a glimpse at Aidey pulling pints behind the bar. It was absolute carnage. There was nowhere for anyone to go, the locals were all up in arms, and the police had to be called because of overcrowding. Dad said Aidey wasn’t allowed to work behind the bar from then on. The following year we banished him to his room and we started issuing tickets so we can monitor the numbers.’

‘I do always offer to come and spend it with you, darling,’ Olive smiles at him, patting her son’s hand. ‘Your friends never seem to want to come and join you.’

Aidan massages his forehead as though he’s not enjoying being the centre of attention.

‘Have the band ever been here for New Year?’ I ask.

‘Can you imagine if that got out?’ Rohan snorts. ‘Rebel Heart all here? We’d have to employ an army of security.’

‘They know they’ve got a blanket invite,’ Paige says in my direction.

‘You just want J.B. to show up,’ Aidan says to his sister and her cheeks flush.

‘Uh, yeah? Because he’s hot.’

‘And taken. Miller’s single.’

‘Ugh. I wouldn’t go near that manwhore.’

‘What’s a manwhore?’ Georgia pipes up from her chair.

‘Yes, thank you , Auntie Paige,’ Rohan hums in disapproval.

‘Tell me!’ Georgia demands.

‘It’s someone who kisses lots of girls,’ Paige tells her with a wink.

Georgia pulls a confused face. ‘But that’s what Daddy says about Uncle Aidey!’ Georgia then says and laughter erupts around the table. Finally, Aidan cracks a smile.

This is what I miss. What I never had. Family dynamics.