“Shut up and eat your burger.” I had no idea what I was doing, and it was probably something I was going to regret, but as I pulled my plate toward me and bit into my own burger, ignoring the way he stared at me with wide, uncertain eyes, I told my doubts to go fuck themselves.
14
NATHAN
Ifelt like I was crawling out of my skin. Not even stalking an asshole who had gotten on my bad side and put himself on the top of my list made me feel any better about being away from my little bird.
It had been three days since I’d seen Aiden at the club and then had our disastrous dinner date. Part of me was still convinced he was going to change his mind. That he would show up on my doorstep at any moment to arrest me.
We hadn’t seen each other since we left the diner, where he had insisted we take separate ride-shares home. It had killed me, but I understood he needed his space. And I was willing to give it to him. For the moment. We had moved on to texting, but it wasn’t the same as being with him in person.
I’d never felt like this over anyone, like Ineededthem or even wanted them. He was like an infection that got in my system and I couldn’t get him out. But in a good way.
Maybe.
I still hadn’t decided.
The fact was, I’d never been on a real date before, but I hadn’t wanted him to know. But maybe I should have,especially with the whole stalking debacle. Logically, I knew the mechanics of what a date should look like—and yeah, the blowjob should have been how it ended, rather than how it started.
Sitting back in my truck, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what Aiden was doing. It had been hard, but ever since he realized I’d been watching him, I had promised him I would stop. It was the hardest promise I’d ever made. And keeping it was even harder.
Of course, he wouldn’t know if I broke it, but I wanted to earn his trust and keep it. I couldn’t risk it, not at this point. There was too much at stake.
The way he eventually started smiling at me, sending me bashful looks from under those gorgeous eyelashes throughout the evening, it gave me hope that perhaps I could find a way to redeem myself, even if I didn’t really deserve it. But he’d never know that. Not if I had anything to do with it.
Talking and trying to get to know someone had never been my strong suit, so I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to ask Aiden during our date turned interrogation turned maybe-date. The stilted silences let me know he was just as unsure as I was. But it didn’t make me feel better. I wanted to get to know him, but I didn’t have any experience to fall back on.
The blare of a horn from down the street brought me back to what I was supposed to be doing. I shook my head to try to clear away my thoughts of Aiden, but he was never far away.
When I saw the vehicle had nothing to do with the man I was after, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my messages with Aiden, trying to think of something to say. I was desperate to know more about him, but social etiquette had never been my forte. I had never quite figured out how to relate to people or seem interested in their lives.
He carried most of the conversation, even when it wasn’t him demanding answers regarding myextracurricular activities,and told me about his favorite movies and music. I was surprised when he had even asked about mine in return. Though he was slightly appalled when I said I didn’t watch much television or listen to a lot of music. So I scrambled to think of an artist I’d listened to and by the look on his face, I was sure it was at least a decade too old.
That was why I had been texting him since I’d woken up the following morning, asking him stuff from a list of questions the internet told me were good things to ask a potential partner when first getting to know them. The problem was, I already knew Aiden, at least the important parts. He just wasn’t aware of how much I already knew.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down with a goofy smile at his outrage over what he liked to describe as my lack of culture. I thought he was being a bit dramatic, but I’d never tell him that, especially since I was glad he was talking to me at all.
Aiden
I can’t believe you’ve never seen it. It’s iconic, man! They start off all cute and furry and then they change into little monsters that want to destroy and kill. lol.
We have to fix this one day.
Sure. Just tell me when and I’m all yours.
I let out a sigh as the man I’d been waiting for decided to make his appearance at that moment, exiting from an apartment building too nice for the likes of him.
His timing took me away from my little bird. Seemed like he really knew how to piss me off.
The man seemed to be in a hurry as he got in a late model truck and took off down the street, barely taking the time to even check for oncoming traffic before he’d pulled out into the street.
It only took a few moments for me to get the car into gear and round the corner to catch up to Clint Davenport. I knew thinking about Aiden would distract me and I couldn’t afford a distraction when I was stalking my prey. That was how mistakes were made and people got caught.
And I had no intention of ever getting caught.
Especially when I had my little bird to think about and protect.
Aiden
