AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The annoyance I entered this room with lifts, replaced by a wave of gratitude. How could I hang onto any negativity when people care so much about me? It would be so petty.
Flicking through page after page and noting down Tara’s choices, I sense eyes on me and look up.
Miriam is studying me, head cocked to one side, appearing deep in thought.
I don’t have to wonder for long what’s going on in her head.
“Why are you keeping Aiden at arm’s length? That hunk of a man is completely smitten with you.”
Her question takes me by surprise. “Why? Are you interested in him?” I ask, realizing too late that I should have modulated my tone.
She rolls her eyes, but doesn’t answer right away.
“It’s not an unreasonable question,” I forge on, a little too defensive. “The two of you are getting on splendidly… like long-lost friends.”
She blinks at that observation and absentmindedly rubs her earlobe.
“There’s a certain familiarity with him. We probably met in another lifetime.”
This time, I roll my eyes. Now she sounds like Claudette. I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The two of them are friends after all.
“Perhaps you were lovers in that life?” I say, wanting to kick myself for bringing this up, but the thought slipped out before I could stop it. Just shoot me now!
“Ade and I are just friends. So if the two of you ever… you know…” I let the sentence trail off, too chicken to spill it out.
Miriam turns to me, her eyes assessing. They lack their usual warmth, and I feel rather judged.
“Are you suggesting I should pursue him?” she asks, her face becoming unreadable.
Am I?
I don’t want to suggest that. That thought doesn’t sit right.
But it would be for the best. He and I can never be together. Not while I’m carrying another man’s child. A man who’s bound to find me.
“He’s one of the best men I know,” I reply, ignoring her question on purpose.
“He is,” she agrees. “And he’s in love with you. Ella, he’d give up anything for you. Even his own happiness.”
Guilt hits me. Aiden deserves to be happy… I want him to be happy.
Miriam taps her pen on the table in an even rhythm. “Men like Aiden have a loyal heart. He’ll love you until the day he takes his last breath. I like him, but not like that. We’re becoming friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Then she pins me with a stare. “Besides, I won’t be anybody’s consolation prize.”
My cheeks color. “It’s not what I meant,” I stumble over my words.
Shit, have I offended her?
“Isn’t it? So you didn’t want to offload him onto me because you decided you can’t be together?”
“No…” I stammer.
She widens her eyes, challenging me.
“Maybe…” It’s all I admit to.
I don’t want Aiden with another woman. But if I can’t have him, I can’t be so selfish as to still want to keep him for myself.
