Dealing with the Past by Toni Griffin Read Free Book Online

had been the star of his dreams for the last week, and didn't that thought just serve to piss him off.
    Aiden shook off the anger and got back to work, forgetting about the call as he got absorbed into the accounts he was currently doing for a small business. A half hour later his phone rang again. Eyes still on the screen, Aiden rattled off his standard greeting as he pulled the receiver to his ear.
    "Please, let me help you," Jackson asked, with what Aiden thought to be desperation lacing his words. It had taken a moment to register who was on the phone, and that was the only reason the phone was still pressed to his ear. Why in the world would Jackson be desperate to help him?
    "I don't need your help," Aiden replied sharply, on the verge of hanging up the phone again when Jackson asked.
    "Do you have the power to raise the dead?"
    Aiden paused. Shit! The man was right. He didn't have that power. He had spent the last week fretting and being upset over not being able to say his goodbyes to Brendan. Jackson managed to say the one thing to make Aiden sit up and pay attention instead of hanging up on the man like he should.
    "And I'm sorry to say but due to the fact my father witnessed the aftermath of you taking a swing at me, he's a little pissed and banned you from the premises." Jackson didn't sound too happy with what his father had done but Aiden could understand the man's actions. "Although if you talk with Jayden again, he might just be willing to pay you to take your case, if he could find the time that is. I've been a bit of a bear the last couple of days so he's kind of irritated with me and may be more than happy to help you so he could tick me off…" Jackson sounded rather meek by the end of his little speech.
    "Hurt somebody else, have you? I guess a leopard really can never change his spots." Aiden winced as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for, no matter our past." It galled him to apologise but it was the right thing to do. He wasn't like Jackson and his fellow bullies. Aiden wouldn't sink that low.
    "You have nothing to be sorry about. I, on the other hand, do. And I would really like to start making amends by helping you," Jackson answered quickly.
    Aiden really had no idea what to think. Both of Jackson's explanations were rather cryptic but he could help Aiden put things to rest. He had hoped once he left Dripstone High to never see any of those four boys again. His heart had also ached at the thought of never laying eyes on Jackson but he'd pushed those feelings deep down, knowing nothing would ever come of them. Aiden wasn't a glutton for punishment.
    "Please, Aiden," Jackson said when Aiden still hadn't answered him. His voice was a gravelly whisper, imploring Aiden.
    Aiden thought Jackson's request over. He really wanted to see Brendan again, even if it was just for a couple of minutes. He needed to tell his boyfriend just how much their time together had meant to him and how much he would miss him. Aiden knew accepting Jackson's help was the only option available to him. He highly doubted Jackson's family would help him and seeing as how they were the only necromancer agency in town, they kind of had a monopoly on the business.
    Sighing in resignation, Aiden agreed. "But this doesn't mean I like you," Aiden added for good measure.
    Jackson chuckled lightly. "Understood. We can always work on that after the meeting. Can you be here tomorrow at four so we can finalise the details since our appointment was cut short last time?"
    Aiden chose to ignore the comment about them working on 'liking Jackson'. That so wasn't going to happen any time soon. "Let me check my schedule," he said as he opened up Outlook and checked his calendar. He had a meeting with a prospective new client at one but apart from that his afternoon was free. "I don't see it being a problem. I'll let you know if things change though. What about being banned from the office?"
    "Don't worry about it.