Aiden’s eyes fixed on his boots. “I’m sorry.”
I didn’t freeze—I just stopped feeling. His apology left me numb. The whole production felt like a kid being forced by his mother to apologise for something he definitely wasn’t sorry for. But even though I ignored the hope aching in my bones, my heart softened enough to offer Aiden one final chance.
I hiked up my chin. “For what?”
“Pardon?”
“What are you sorry for?”
“Um…” He eyed me warily. “Everything?”
I couldn’t help laughing.Everything?He had no idea what he was apologising for or why. He wasn’t sorry. Not really. Whatever. I was done with him.
“Oh, well, in that case, you’re forgiven.” I forced my sweetest smile. “You know, foreverything.”
Aiden’s eyebrows lowered in suspicion. “Just like that?”
“Sure.” I shrugged. “If you can only be bothered to give me a half-hearted apology, you’re most welcome to my very half-hearted forgiveness.”
Aiden tossed me a helpless look. “Lola, you know I’m not good with words.”
I snorted. “You seemed to have no trouble finding all the words you needed outside the coffee shop.”
Aiden flinched.
“And what about your grand speech at the bar? You really outdid yourself on that one.” I lowered my voice to mimic his rumbly baritone, but it sounded more like a cranky Santa Claus than Aiden.“I know a lot of things about you I wish I could forget—”
“I didn’t mean that the way you think—”
“—Take the hint. Stay away from me.Please.” I rolled my eyes. “And in case you hadn’t noticed, I took your hint. I’m trying to stay away from you. So, if you could please move out of my way—”
“I can’t do that. I need to…” He shrugged a shoulder. “Make things right between us… Apologise.”
I sighed. “Look, Aiden. If Brooke or Ryan or someone told you to apologise to me, you don’t need to. We weren’t dating. It was one night. Instead of lying and making up a whole bunch of crap about it being the best night of your life—”
“I meant every word I said that night.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. I’m not wasting another minute of my life thinking about you. So, let’s pretend nothing happened between us. Okay?”
“I can’t pretend nothing happened, Lola. You’re here.” Aiden knocked his fist against his chest. Right above his heart. “Locked in.”
My eyes narrowed. Why was he doing this? A week ago, his words would have melted me into a puddle of forgiveness. I knew better now.
“Do you want to hear a story about the best night ofmylife?” I asked him. “It was when I finally grew a backbone and told aman who treated me worse than poop on his shoes to buzz right off. Guess when that night was?” I held out my grocery bags, gesturing at the darkness starting to smother the valley. “Need any more hints?”
“Please, Lola. Give me a chance.”
A sad, broken laugh broke free. “I already did.”
And this time, when I charged past Aiden, he didn’t try to stop me.
14
He Saw Her Bravery
Aiden
I avoided driving pastDiscount Automotive on my way into town. That place was a bloody eyesore. Always had been.
