5. Aiden

CHAPTER 5

Aiden

Nicholas’s face lit up like he’d just solved world hunger. "So, I talked to Levi, and he’s on board with the plan. You’ll move into one of the Airbnbs, help him finish the renovations, and?—"

"Wait, hold up." I cut him off, setting my coffee mug down harder than necessary on the kitchen counter. "You talked to Levi? As in, decided my life for me without asking first?"

Nicholas leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, the picture of calm. Too calm. "It’s not like that. You’re not happy here, Aiden. Not really. This way, you’ve got space, a purpose, and a way to help someone else out. It’s a win for everyone."

Heat rose in my chest. "You mean you win because I’m out of your hair. Admit it. You’re tired of me being here."

Nicholas’s expression shifted, the calm cracking just enough to let something through—hurt? Annoyance, maybe? "Tired of you being here?" he said, shaking his head. "Don’t twist my words, Aiden. You’re my brother. I love having you here, but I can see you’re not happy. Maybe this is a chance to step outside yourself, to do something different for a while. You’re restless. I see it. And I think this could help."

"And you think Levi’s farm is the magical cure?" I pushed off the counter, pacing the length of the kitchen. "You’re always doing this—deciding for me instead of letting me figure things out for myself."

Nicholas’s jaw tightened, the calm giving way to frustration. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be. I’m not saying you can’t make your own decisions. I’m saying sometimes you need a push."

"You mean control," I shot back, arms folding tightly over my chest. "You don’t trust me to handle my own life."

"That’s not true, and you know it." His voice softened, and for a moment, I hated him for it. "I just... I don’t want you to feel stuck. Like you’re suffocating here."

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. He wasn’t wrong. I felt trapped, like I was treading water with no land in sight. But still, the way he went about it—the assumption, the high-handedness—rubbed me raw. "You could’ve asked," I mumbled, my anger giving way to something more vulnerable. "Just once, Nicholas. You could’ve asked."

He stepped closer, his hand resting briefly on my shoulder before pulling away. "I hear you. I’m sorry. I’ll do better. But... will you at least think about it? For me?"

Before I could answer, Markus walked in, his timing impeccable as always. His calm presence filled the room, and just like that, the tension eased, the air growing lighter. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked, a hint of humor in his voice.

"Just a sibling disagreement," Nicholas replied quickly, his smile strained. "Nothing we can’t handle."

Markus’s gaze flicked to me, and something about the way he looked at me—steady, like he saw through every defensive wall I’d thrown up—made me feel... seen. Like he wasn’t taking sides but somehow understood both.

"You okay?" Markus asked, his voice softer now.

I shrugged, not trusting my voice. It was stupid, the way his concern made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

Nicholas cleared his throat, breaking whatever moment Markus and I had slipped into. "We’ve settled it," he said firmly, though his eyes darted to me like he wasn’t entirely sure. "Aiden’s moving to Levi’s place."

Markus tilted his head, considering it. "Levi’s a good guy. And his farm? That’s a hell of a place to clear your head. Hard work, sure, but it might be just what you need."

"Glad everyone agrees," I muttered, though the bite in my tone had dulled.

The ride to Levi’s farm was quiet, save for the occasional sigh from Nicholas. He’d insisted on driving me, even though I could’ve managed just fine on my own. Typical.

When we pulled up, I couldn’t help but stare. The market buzz and festive decor were gone, leaving behind the raw beauty of the place. Snow blanketed the fields, and rows of evergreens stretched into the distance, their deep green contrasting against the white. It smelled incredible—fresh pine and earth, clean and crisp in a way that felt like freedom. I could breathe here.

Levi stepped out of the barn as we parked, wiping his hands on a rag. His gaze landed on me, and for a moment, the world tilted. He was exactly as I remembered: tall, broad, and ruggedly handsome, with eyes that seemed to see too much.

“Welcome,” he said simply, his voice steady but warm.

I fumbled with my bag, eager to get away from Nicholas’s overly satisfied smirk. “Thanks. Uh, nice to see you again.”

“You too.” Levi’s gaze lingered, and I couldn’t tell if it was curiosity or something else entirely.

Nicholas clapped me on the back. “Don’t be a stranger. Dinner in a few days, yeah?”

I nodded quickly, eager to get this part over with. “Sure.”

Markus leaned on the truck, watching the exchange with a small smile. “Give it a chance. Levi’s got his way of doing things, but he’s fair. You’ll find your rhythm.”

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched despite myself. “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”

As he drove off, the silence settled around me, heavier now that I was alone with Levi. His eyes met mine, and there was something in his expression—an invitation, maybe, or a challenge. Either way, it left me breathless.