“That’s right.You have to make the distinction because you actually have committed treason.”Her knees went weak as a last hiccup of laughter escaped her.“Eos.”Elodie pulled the chair out from her desk and dropped onto the seat.“They’ll find out about your involvement with Eos.That I was there...”
“Elodie, no, listen to me.”Aiden knelt down before her.“The Key won’t find out about any of that.You’re not going to tell them and I’m sure as hell not saying a word.We’re the only two whoknow.”
“We kissed, Aiden.”Elodie’s eyes flooded and her voice came out a whisper.
“And I’d do it again.Willdo it again.A hundred times again,” he said.“Next time we won’t get caught.I’ll make sure ofit.”
“Next time ?”Elodie hopped up from the chair and paced between her bed and desk.“There can never be anext time,Aiden.I’m matched.To Rhett.I’m getting married in four months.”
Aiden’s head swiveled as his eyes followed her.“We don’t have to be matched or married to be together.”
Elodie stopped, her brow furrowed.“So what?I’m supposed to marry Rhett, but be with you behind his back?If you think that’s something I’ll agree to, you don’t know me very well.”She crossed her arms over her chest.“It was a mistake.The whole thing was a mistake.”
Aiden stepped back like he’d been shot.“That’s not how it felt.You were there.You kissed meback.”
“I did not!”Her entire body sizzled.
Aiden threw up his hands.“Shit, Elodie.If we’re going down for this—and we will—with who I am, who my sister and mother are, it won’t be bad.Probation, career reassignment—” He took a deep breath.“We’re going to get in some sort of trouble.Weare.Both of us.That’s happening, so don’t you want to be honest about us?”
Elodie gripped the back of her chair to keep her bones from rattling loose.“It was wrong, Aiden.”
“Then why did it feel the way it did?Like it was supposed to happen.Like it wasmeantto happen,” Aiden said.“Maybe everyone else is living life wrong and we’re the only people living it right.”
Elodie sagged against the windowsill.“Or maybe we’re just lying to ourselves.”
A swift series of knocks cracked their conversation.
Everything within Elodie stilled as herwide-eyedgaze locked onto Aiden’s.
Don’t say a word, she mouthed.
“Elodie!”her mother shouted from outside her door.“I just received a notification from that neighborhood watch I signed up for.Says there’s a prowler nearby.A young man.What kind of young man do you think would go prowling?And in this neighborhood!”The keypad on the inside of Elodie’s door flashed red as Gwen tried to open it.“El, honey, your door is locked.”
“Privacy, Mom!Jeez!”Elodie yelled through chattering teeth before she feverishly motioned for Aiden to move back toward the open window.
“El, sweetheart, let me in.”The door panel again flashed red.“I’m starting to worry.”Gwen’s tone belied more threat than concern.
“Everything’s fine!Just, uh, changing,” Elodie called.
Another flash of red.“There’s no reason to be modest.This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen you without your clothes on.”
Aiden had one leg out the window before he paused.“We can’t stop fighting for what’s right,” he whispered.“There are things you still don’t know about the Key.Things that, if they came out, would make everything different.”He covered her hands with his and pressed his lips against her fingertips.“Things that would makethisdifferent.The way we live now isn’t the way the world is supposed towork.”
Elodie snatched her hand back.“But this is the way the world is, so...”she trailed off.“What’s the point in trying?”
“Love, Elodie.Happiness, hope, freedom.Those all mean something to you.If they didn’t, we never would have found each other,” Aiden said, pulling himself into thetree.
“Elodie Grace!You open this door right this second!”Gwen shouted.
Elodie gripped the edge of the window.“You have to go.”
“Come to the warehouse tomorrow.I just—” He paused.“I want to tell you everything.”
Elodie tugged the window down.“I’ll think about it.Now, go.”
Aiden slipped into the falling dark.Elodie noiselessly slid the window shut and hastily arranged her line of rocks on the sill until they looked perfect.
XXXVIII
