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Tonight, I realized I’m in love with him. But I also realized that I may have to let him go soon.
For now, I’ll wait and guard what is left of my heart.
24
Aiden
Ihurt her feelings. I know I did. And it’s written all over her face as she steps into my office Monday morning.
I feel horrible for not being able to reassure her, but at the same time, I don’t want to give her false hope. I don’t know how this will end.
“Good morning,” I greet Melody as she sets her things down in the chair beside my desk. “How are you?”
“Fine, thanks.” She grabs the papers to be graded from my desk and the red pen she always uses. “Was the rest of your weekend good?”
I nod. “It was fine.”
“That’s nice.” She sits down, her focus shifting to the papers.
I know that she’s trying to push me out, protect herself. I understand it. I do. If I was in her shoes, I would be doing the same thing.
She has every right to be leery about me. I’m in a position of power, and on top of that, everything else in my life is complicated.
I’m a walking red flag as the kids say.
But I don’t think I can bear the thought of losing her. I need to make it up to her, and not with some shallow office sex.
I purse my lips as I flip through my emails, seeing nothing of importance. Most of it is useless updates about things going on at the university, but none of it pertains to me.
I also have some questions from a few students, so I answer those over the next thirty minutes, and then shift to prepping for my next class.
Speaking of which, Melody will be leaving soon for her first class of the day.
She straightens the papers in her hands and then returns them to the basket on my desk. Clicking the pen, she places it back in the cup. “I need to get to class.”
“Yeah, I have a class to get to, too.” I push back from my desk and reach for my messenger laptop bag. “I guess we’ll reconvene this afternoon.”
She nods, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
Melody turns to head for the door, but I’m faster, catching her wrist.
I can’t take this anymore.
“Don’t go yet,” I choke out, blocking her exit. “We have to figure this out. I don’t like the tension we have going on this morning.”
She looks down at her feet.
My chest hurts at the damage I might have caused. I need to fix this. I want last week’s Melody back.
“Why don’t you and Dorian come over tomorrow night for dinner? Or maybe you could find a sitter for him tonight and just you come over? Connor has horseback riding lessons until six-thirty, and then he’s going to clean some stalls. I don’t have to pick him up until nearly eight.” I feel like I’m rambling as I spit the words out, but it must work, because Melody’s face softens.
She shrugs. “Dorian is actually hanging out with one of his Chess Club friends this evening. They’re supposed to bring him home around seven-thirty.”
“Okay, so why don’t we call it a day early. We can leave around four, and I’ll make us dinner? You can head out from the house around seven. That’ll put you home in plenty of time.”
When she remains silent for a few seconds too long, I add, “Please.”
A tentative smile tugs at her lips. “Okay.”
