Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

Playlist: “The Night We Met,” Lord Huron
“EASY.” AIDEN DROPS THE AXE AND WIPES A HAND ACROSS HIS SWEATY
forehead. “What did that log ever do to you?”
I glance up, meeting my brother-in-law’s gaze. “Just staying busy.”
Aiden rolls his eyes. “Could you be any more tortured?”
“I didn’t ask you here, Aiden. It’s my stretch at the cabin, my time here that
you’re crashing.”
My parents own an A-frame in Washington State, which is where I spent a
lot of my childhood, up to my sophomore year of high school. We moved to LA
because Dad got a great offer at UCLA Medical, and while I enjoy Southern
California, I like coming back to the Pacific Northwest. Bundling up, seeing my
breath in the air when I wake up. Surrounded by evergreens and deep blue sky.
The siblings all get use of the cabin, but the older ones have to come during
our scheduled time and do maintenance to keep that privilege. My time is
usually mid-summer since my work schedule is most flexible then, but Ryder
swapped with me and gave me this stretch of late spring when I essentially
begged him.
“Bit of a theme I’m bumping into lately,” Aiden says roughly. “I’m
unwanted here. As I’m also unwanted in my own home. The one I worked really
damn hard to buy and fix up.” Aiden lifts the axe and swings, splitting a log in
two. “Thank you for reminding me. Not that you’ve asked why I’m here or
what’s wrong.”
“You’re right,” I grunt, hauling an armful of wood over to the stack and
dropping it. “I haven’t.”
“Which is very unlike you,” Aiden calls.
“Guess I turned over a new leaf.”
I swing and split another log, feeling the ache in my muscles, the burn in my