By the third day, Hazel was starting to regret letting Aiden stay.
Not because of the wet towels on the bathroom floor. Or the fact that he insisted on blasting old-school rock while cooking breakfast at ungodly hours. Or even because he flirted shamelessly with the married neighbor anyway.
It was because Michael Graze was jealous.
Hazel didn't think men like him even had the capacity for jealousy. But apparently, there was an exception when it came to her and Aiden's brother-sister bond.
"Does he have to hug you that much?" Michael muttered, glaring across the room as Aiden plopped down beside Hazel and threw an arm over her shoulders.
Hazel grinned, leaning into Aiden dramatically. "Aw, what's wrong, hubby? Feeling a little left out?"
Michael's eyes narrowed. "Not in the slightest."
Aiden smirked, catching the tension. "Relax, Graze. I've been third-wheeling these two since college."
"Technically," Hazel corrected, "we weren't dating in college. Or married. Or even civil."
"True," Aiden said, winking at Michael. "Good to know you're still the only man who's ever survived her."
Michael snorted, trying—and failing—to hide his smile.
But later that afternoon, the teasing turned into something else.
Hazel had gone out to grab groceries, leaving the two men alone in the apartment for the first time. Michael sat at the dining table, going over contracts on his laptop while Aiden rummaged through drawers looking for snacks.
"Dude," Aiden called, holding up a protein bar. "Do you actually eat these, or are they just for show?"
Michael didn't look up. "They're for emergencies."
"Right. Like if the apocalypse happens and there's no quinoa left."
Michael sighed and finally glanced at him. "Do you need something?"
Aiden hesitated, then dropped into the chair across from him. "Actually… yeah. I was gonna ask you something."
Michael raised a brow.
"You, uh… you ever screw up so bad you think there's no way to fix it?"
Michael blinked at the unexpected vulnerability. "That's… vague."
Aiden shrugged, fiddling with the wrapper in his hands. "I left a good job. Tanked a relationship. Got into some debt. Hazel doesn't know. And I'm kind of… hiding here."
Michael's expression shifted, the sharp businessman edge softening.
"You should tell her."
Aiden let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, because nothing says 'welcome home' like 'hey, sis, your brother's a financial disaster and possibly wanted in two states for unpaid parking tickets.'"
Michael actually chuckled. "Trust me. Hazel can handle more than you think."
Aiden looked at him, studying his face. "You really care about her, huh?"
Michael's jaw tightened. "More than I realized."
Aiden grinned. "Good. Because if you screw this up, Graze, I'll ruin your car. And I'll make it look like an accident."
Michael smirked. "Duly noted."
Aiden stood, clapping him on the back. "You're not so bad, man. Weirdly intense. But not bad."
As he walked away, Michael's phone buzzed with a notification. An email. Subject line: Confidential: Graze Industries Project Nexus.
Michael clicked it open, brow furrowing. His stomach dropped.
Aiden's name was on the document.
And it wasn't good.
Michael's heart pounded. What the hell had Aiden gotten himself into?
The front door opened, Hazel's voice cheerful. "I'm back! And I brought ice cream!"
Michael closed the laptop and forced a smile. "Perfect timing."
But inside, his mind was racing.
Because one thing was suddenly very clear.
Aiden wasn't here by accident.
And whatever he was hiding — it was about to blow up everything...