face blush on that one. I’m glad that it’s dark, and hopefully the glow of the fire will mask my embarrassment.
Aiden sits quietly, watching me with those chocolate eyes of his. I watch him watching me. He stands up, scoots his lounger closer to mine, and lays back down facing me. We are so close I could reach out and touch him. I don’t get the chance because Aiden cups my face with the palm of his hand. He gently takes his thumb and strokes underneath my eye.
“Do you not feel safe, angel? Did someone hurt you?” he asks with a mix of concern and anger in his voice.
“No,” I say in a strained voice, shaking my head. “It’s not that, it’s just…”
“It’s what?”
“I just want to know what it feels like to be the center of someone’s universe. Someone who chose me to be that person for them. Not my parents or my older brother. But someone who chooses me to share everything intimate in their life. I wish I had someone who loves me and I, in turn, love them, the way that Liam and Allison love each other, is all.” I rush to get the words out to explain. “I just want that connection, to be someone’s more.” I must sound crazy to him.
Aiden sits up and pulls me onto his lounger and into his arms. He pulls me tight against his chest. “You are more; you deserve all of that and more. Please, don’t ever settle for less.”
I feel him kiss the top of my head. I snuggle deeper into his embrace. “You deserve that too, Aiden,” I whisper.
“Maybe so,” he says. “But you are the motherfucking princess, remember?” he says with a chuckle.
I elbow him in the ribs.
“Hey! Take it easy. I’m just messing with you.” He laughs.
“Serves you right, Mister. Don’t mess with me,” I say, trying to hold back my laughter.
“The fire’s about burnt out. Let’s get you to bed,” he says, releasing me from his embrace.
I throw the water and ice that’s left in the cooler onto the fire to make sure that it’s out. I then place my hand on the small of Hailey’s back and lead her back to the house. Stepping into the kitchen from the patio, I stop to make sure the door is secure. I turn back and find Hailey waiting for me. The house is dark, but the moon is bright and she looks gorgeous bathed in its light. I reach my hand out to her and she takes it, lacing her fingers through mine. I gently squeeze her hand, letting her know that I’m happy she accepted. I lead her up the stairs and stop in front of her room. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her neck, breathing her in. “Sweet dreams, angel,” I whisper. It takes more strength than I knew I had to pull away from her and continue down the hall to my room without her. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my distance, to not tell her and show her how much she means to me. I’m pushing the limits of our “friendship,” but I can’t seem to stop myself. I’m a fucking train wreck waiting to happen.
I decide on a cold shower to wash off the day and clear my head. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. All I can think about is Hailey and those mesmerizing blue eyes, the feel of her in my arms, holding her by the fire. Fuck! My arms ache to hold her. This is going to be a long night. I grab my phone and headphones from the nightstand and hit my music icon. Music is always a good distraction. I select shuffle and Nickelback begins to play, so much for my distraction. I lay there and listen to “Trying Not To Love You . ” It’s perfect really. The more I fight my attraction to her, this overwhelming need I have for her, it only makes me fall faster and harder. So, what do I do? Well, I hit repeat and fall asleep thinking about Hailey and how I have tried not to love her, but failed miserably.
I wake up to the sun shining through the windows. I use the restroom, brush my teeth, throw on a t-shirt, and head downstairs. As soon as I open my bedroom door, I
Aiden sits quietly, watching me with those chocolate eyes of his. I watch him watching me. He stands up, scoots his lounger closer to mine, and lays back down facing me. We are so close I could reach out and touch him. I don’t get the chance because Aiden cups my face with the palm of his hand. He gently takes his thumb and strokes underneath my eye.
“Do you not feel safe, angel? Did someone hurt you?” he asks with a mix of concern and anger in his voice.
“No,” I say in a strained voice, shaking my head. “It’s not that, it’s just…”
“It’s what?”
“I just want to know what it feels like to be the center of someone’s universe. Someone who chose me to be that person for them. Not my parents or my older brother. But someone who chooses me to share everything intimate in their life. I wish I had someone who loves me and I, in turn, love them, the way that Liam and Allison love each other, is all.” I rush to get the words out to explain. “I just want that connection, to be someone’s more.” I must sound crazy to him.
Aiden sits up and pulls me onto his lounger and into his arms. He pulls me tight against his chest. “You are more; you deserve all of that and more. Please, don’t ever settle for less.”
I feel him kiss the top of my head. I snuggle deeper into his embrace. “You deserve that too, Aiden,” I whisper.
“Maybe so,” he says. “But you are the motherfucking princess, remember?” he says with a chuckle.
I elbow him in the ribs.
“Hey! Take it easy. I’m just messing with you.” He laughs.
“Serves you right, Mister. Don’t mess with me,” I say, trying to hold back my laughter.
“The fire’s about burnt out. Let’s get you to bed,” he says, releasing me from his embrace.
I throw the water and ice that’s left in the cooler onto the fire to make sure that it’s out. I then place my hand on the small of Hailey’s back and lead her back to the house. Stepping into the kitchen from the patio, I stop to make sure the door is secure. I turn back and find Hailey waiting for me. The house is dark, but the moon is bright and she looks gorgeous bathed in its light. I reach my hand out to her and she takes it, lacing her fingers through mine. I gently squeeze her hand, letting her know that I’m happy she accepted. I lead her up the stairs and stop in front of her room. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her neck, breathing her in. “Sweet dreams, angel,” I whisper. It takes more strength than I knew I had to pull away from her and continue down the hall to my room without her. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my distance, to not tell her and show her how much she means to me. I’m pushing the limits of our “friendship,” but I can’t seem to stop myself. I’m a fucking train wreck waiting to happen.
I decide on a cold shower to wash off the day and clear my head. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. All I can think about is Hailey and those mesmerizing blue eyes, the feel of her in my arms, holding her by the fire. Fuck! My arms ache to hold her. This is going to be a long night. I grab my phone and headphones from the nightstand and hit my music icon. Music is always a good distraction. I select shuffle and Nickelback begins to play, so much for my distraction. I lay there and listen to “Trying Not To Love You . ” It’s perfect really. The more I fight my attraction to her, this overwhelming need I have for her, it only makes me fall faster and harder. So, what do I do? Well, I hit repeat and fall asleep thinking about Hailey and how I have tried not to love her, but failed miserably.
I wake up to the sun shining through the windows. I use the restroom, brush my teeth, throw on a t-shirt, and head downstairs. As soon as I open my bedroom door, I
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