“Mattie and Jason are each doing a quiet Christmas Eve and going to their in-laws’, or in Mattie’s case, not-yet-in-laws.” Mom and I had talked before I’d left. I wasn’t sure if I should ask Aiden now or wait to see how the holiday went. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and we planned to drive home Christmas night. I worked the day after. I’d ask now. This weekend wasn’t meant to be a test. “But, um, Mom and Randall want to do a meal on New Year’s. You’re invited.”

Surprise lifted his brows. “Yes. Sure.”

Was I glowing? He hadn’t hesitated.

So far, I’d been doing good on working on myself and how I responded to Aiden. When he had to work, which was still all the time, I made other plans that weren’t picking up extra shifts or sitting at home. I helped Jason with the boys while Sophie was at work. I went to Violet’s school recitals. Aiden had been invited, but he’d been working ahead to prepare for the time off he was taking today and tomorrow, and Christmas of course. Except, he’d do some work each day, but he was trying to strike more of a balance.

I put my elbow by the window. Between commentary on my coworkers’ lives, my interactions with patrons, and thoughts on new books I’d read for work and for fun, I had plenty to ramble about.

But I didn’t want to ramble more. The shift in the dynamics of our relationship had unearthed more than a few questions and I was committed to asking them. “Why don’t you talk?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I can fill this entire trip with work stories alone. But you never do.”

“Your work stories are interesting. Mine aren’t.”

I loved my job. The library staff. The patrons. I couldn’t quit talking about them, and Aiden was my trusted source for all things normally confidential. With Aiden I assumed I was on a need-to-know basis and I didn’t need to know. No doubt he had confidentiality requirements that extended to the billions of dollars he managed.

Your work stories are interesting. Mine aren’t.

I worried my lower lip for a moment before I broached the new questions that had popped into my head. “Do you like your job?”

“Work is work,” he said automatically.

I sucked my lower lip between my teeth again. His tone was neutral. Robotic.

Had his brothers used the term because Aiden had gotten so adept at shutting off his emotions in a job he didn’t care for that it spilled over into his personal life?

“I thought you wanted to work at the company.”

He lifted a shoulder without moving his hands off the wheel. “It was expected.”