Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
My legs trembled with pleasure from the memories hitting my mind, and my stomach filled with a pool of heat.
“Oh great, you brought the towels,” Aiden said, smiling down at me. I looked up at him and gave him the meanest look I could muster. My brows tucked in, my grimace was grimacing to the tenth degree, and I growled at him as I stood—trying to shake off the longing my thighs were feeling for his touch.
“I’ve got it from here, Henry. You can head out,” I told him.
He did as I said and scurried away.
I placed the towels in Aiden’s hands. “You know, before you were telling me not to show up at your door.”
“Funny how one night can change everything. I thought it would be a good way to get us to talk, seeing as how you’ve been avoiding me like the plague.”
“Not like the plague; just like a slightly viral cold.”
He frowned a little. “Are you mad at me for the way I treated you before I knew the details? I owe you a big apology, Hails. You didn’t deserve that—even without the knowledge I’ve learned about the breakup. I’m truly sorry.”
“I appreciate that and accept the apology.”
“Is that why you’ve been staying away?”
“No, not at all. I’m just processing this whole situation.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Did you make a pie chart over the stair incident?”
I huffed and puffed. “No!”
He gave me a knowing smirk. “Are you sure?”
“Only a small one.”
“Hailee—”
“What?! This is a big deal. I still need to figure some things out.”
“Is this like a five-to-ten business day processing situation or…?”
“Tom, you can’t just rush my overthinking.” His grin stretched far. “What? What is it?”
“Nothing…it’s just…you called me Tom.”
I felt my cheeks heating. “I guess I did. Anyway. If you need supplies, you can let housekeeping bring them to you. You don’t have to request me.” I glanced into his room, somewhat hoping to see Haley. Or Hailey. Or Halee. Gosh, I hope it’s not a Halee.
Aiden arched an eyebrow. “What are you looking for?”
“Nothing.”
“You definitely were looking for something.”
“Your groupies were at your door. They said they heard you… um…” I shrugged a little. “You know. With another person.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What does ‘you know’ mean?”
I leaned in closer to whisper. “You know… having the sex with someone.”
“The sex?” He chuckled. I wanted to slug him in the arm for laughing. Stupid jerk. “I wasn’t having the sex with a person. They probably heard me… um…” He shrugged a little, clearly mocking me. “You know. Having the sex with my hand.”
“Oh gross, Aiden. You can keep that to yourself,” I said, shoving his arm.
“Do you want to know who I was thinking about while I did it?”
“Don’t say it.”
Me.
It was me.
Oh gosh.
He held his hands up in surrender. “We should talk about what happened last night,” he urged, “but I won’t rush you. When you’re ready, bring me some towels.”
31
Aiden
* * *
Five years.
I’d missed five years of having Hailee in my life. I knew I couldn’t go another five years without her. I didn’t see the drama of my father telling Hailee to end things with me coming to center stage. I came to town with a chip on my shoulder, ready to avoid the woman who broke my heart, only to learn that she’d broken my heart because she thought she was saving my dreams.
Noble Hailee.
That was very much in line with her character. Which was another reason I’d always been crazy about her. She’d always tried to do the right thing, even when it was hard.
I’d give her the space to process her feelings while I did my best to avoid mine. It appeared that over the past five years, Hailee had grown into herself. She still had my favorite parts to her soul, but she seemed more mature. More confident. More…healed.
I envied that. The only thing I’d developed over the past five years was more trauma. I wasn’t sure how to start facing any of it, but before I could even try, my mother showed up at the Starlight Inn to add a bit more shit to my trauma suitcase.
The moment I opened my door to find her, I grimaced. “Look, Mom. I’m not ready to talk to Dad or about what happened. I know you’re used to playing the peacekeeper role, but—”
“This isn’t about your father, sweetheart,” she said, teary-eyed.
My concern grew instantly. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing bad. Well, depending on how you look at it. Can I come in?”
“Of course. Come on.” I stepped to the side and let her in. She sat down on the bed and hugged her purse to her chest. I sat down beside her and placed a comforting hand against her shoulder. “What’s going on, Mom?”
“Mom,” she echoed me and burst into tears. She placed her face in her hands and cried. At that very moment, every piece of me shattered.