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“Is there anything you want to talk about? About the, uh, wedding, I mean.” I think it’s the first time I’ve really seen him flustered.
“What do you mean?” I gently ask, and he shrugs. “I don’t know… I just thought maybe… You seemed a little nervous at the ball, especially whenever the wedding was brought up.”
I didn’t think he even noticed. But he is right. Every time the wedding was brought up, the anxious pit in my stomach grew. The idea still makes me feel shaky.
“I mean, I’m not going to lie to you. After seeing the sort of people that you and your dad surround yourselves with… I’m just not really sure if this wedding is going to work. The last thing I want is for people to think you’re downgrading from your ex-girlfriend for a baker’s daughter.”
The words fall out of me before I can really stop them. I wasn’t going to voice all of my insecurities, but they tumble out so fast. Aiden’s flustered expression morphs into one of consolement, and he quickly wraps my hands in his own.
“Hey, hey, don’t worry. No one thinks that,” he starts, but the tears in my eyes are already brimming.
“I-I just don’t want you to lose face with your dad. I know his approval is im-important for you.” I sniffle, silently thankful there are tissues nearby while I blow my nose.
Aiden moves his hands from mine, and they come up to cup my cheeks. “You have to trust yourself. I trust you wholly. You need to be confident in yourself.” His thumbs wipe away my tears. I take a deep breath, and my heart already feels lighter.
I don’t know how he did it, but his gentle words make me feel a million times better than I already did.
Aiden kisses my forehead. It’s a gentle sign of compassion. He drops his hands from my face and stands. “I have to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow, though, okay? Are you going to be alright?”
I nod. Though I appreciate him taking the time to cheer me up, I’m a little relieved to finally just have some peace and quiet. I really am exhausted.
I walk him to the door, closing and locking it behind him. My forehead rests heavily against the wood, willing myself to find the energy to drag myself to bed. Finally, I manage to stumble toward my room.I’ll shower in the morning.
As I try to fall asleep, I can’t stop the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I don’t know what I’m going to do when this dream ends. I’m having more fun with him than I really should be, for a temporary situation.
When he doesn’t need me to impress his dad anymore, where will that leave me?
20
AIDEN
Ido my best to get back to work a few days after the grand ball. I don’t like the fact that I had to get in between my ex and Josephine. There is no one in the world who deserves to be treated that way. Especially the woman who made a deal with me to save my life.
I am going through my emails on my desk like an average Monday morning. I can hear workers around me whispering when I get up to go to the kitchen, to walk around a bit, to use the bathroom. I know that they know what is going on. At least, when it comes to pissing off my father.
But I want to let that slide off of me. Like water off a duck's back.
I begin to get into my groove, my coffee sitting and steaming by my side. I start to fall into the productive zone of work when I see someone walking briskly in my peripheral vision.
I know who it is without even having to look up.
“Ada,” I say, not looking away from my computer screen. “You shouldn’t be here.”
I hear the door click shut behind her. I turn my eyes in her direction and see her leaning up against the door.
She is wearing a low cut blouse and a pencil skirt. There is no doubt in my mind that Ada is physically attractive. It is only everything else that puts me off.
“How is my newly engaged ex doing?” she says and begins to saunter over to me.
I cross my arms and scowl as she walks over, slow and sultry. I know what she is doing. Ada is a conniving, jealous woman, despite the fact that it was her who shattered our relationship with her infidelity.
I shake my head back and forth. “We’re not doing this.”
Ada stops in front of me and places her hand on her waist, popping out the other hip to strike a pose.
“Doing what?”
She leans, showing off a bountiful amount of cleavage. It looks wonderful, but I am not going to take the bait.
