“Hmm.”
His warm breath buffets my neck and I almost forget to speak. “How can I tell for sure?”
He takes a second to structure his thoughts. “Ask yourself if we are interchangeable? If you were to go and live in Harrison city, the Art District, or even The Vale, would you still want us or would you avoid us? If a handsome young man told you he was in love with you and wanted to take you away from here entirely, would you ditch us without a second thought?”
“Or, on the flipside am I clutching onto you both as a way to stay out of the Vale?”
“Do you believe you’d do that?” Funny, because Aiden soundsthoroughly unconvinced.
My answer is instantaneous. “No.” If that was my goal, I’d not be fighting so hard to get my course finished. I’d be too busy seducing Dax to stay here in the lap of luxury. “I could walk away from here, no problem. The money and the house mean nothing.” But…The thought of not seeing Dax again, of not having Aiden’s warmth and kindness in my life…“But I’d struggle to walk away from you both,” I admit.
“Then you care for us. Not what we can offer you.”
“You’ve already given too much, but it’s not like I feel I owe you sex or affection in return for anything,” I admit. I’m almost glad he’s behind me. Saying that to his face would have been much harder.
“Good.” He gifts me another kiss, this time to the shoulder.
Now that we’re talking, it feels easier to just be honest with him. I can say it all out loud, all my fears voiced one time only, and have it done.
“I always assumed I’d have to walk away at some point. This isn’t my life and I’ll need to go back to chasing my plans.”
“College?” he asks.
I hum my agreement and then elaborate. “To start with, yes.”
“What comes after you graduate?”
Truth is, I don’t know. “I can’t afford an LLM — a Master’s degree — but I’m thinking of trying for a position in a big-name firm. Something that will allow me the security of a good wage with prospects for growth. If I can establish myself quickly, then I might be able to study and work at the same time.”
“So, you’d work as part of a legal team?”
I almost shrug and then remember his head is resting against my shoulder. “I guess.”
His fingers begin to trace patterns over my hand as he presses his point. “You don’t sound sure.”
“Is anyone ever sure of their path?”
His answering chuckle is warm against my skin. “Good point.Though I might have an alternative path to suggest for you after you’ve graduated.”
As interesting as his mysterious proposal sounds, I have to remember that in a years’ time he might not even be in my life. “Then you’ll be waiting a while.”
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot to tell you. You’ll be happy to know that you have a meeting tomorrow with the Head of Programming at Vale Community College and the Admissions Coordinator of Harrison University.”
I launch upright, pulling myself out of Aiden’s hold. “What? Wait…Why?”
“Dax,” Aiden replies. His smile is soft and indulgent. He pulls me back down so that I’m facing him this time. He tucks his chin on top of my head and laughs as I fidget to break free again.
When I finally get loose enough to glance up at him, I ask, “He made me a promise and fought for what I’d asked, even after I’d hurt him?”
“I told you he cares.” Aiden leans down and whispers against my ear. “We both do.”
“Thank you.” I don’t know what solution we might come to tomorrow or if there’s a solution at all, but the fact that Dax made the effort to arrange a chance means everything. “Tell Dax thank you, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt him; I was just trying to protect myself.”
“I know, Tiger. And you can tell him all that yourself. Tomorrow morning. After we both get some sleep. Now hush. We’ve both have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”
I roll in Aiden’s arms, unable to fight my smile, and let him curl into me again.
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll get my life back on track.
