Page 32 of Inseparable
“Cody’s out in the truck,” she tells Ayden. “They’re going over to Zach’s to watch the game if you want to join them? He can drive you back and pick me up at the same time.”
Ayden swings his muscular legs around, planting them on the floor. “I know when I’m not wanted,” he grins, pushing to his feet.
I help him into his jacket, draping one side over his injured arm. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kiss his cheek. “Have fun.”
He messes up my hair. “With those guys? Hardly.” He caresses my cheek. “Try to stay out of trouble.”
I give him a gentle push, following him out to the door. “Idiot. Go! I’ll see you later.”
I grab a couple of sodas on my way through the kitchen, tossing one to Mariah as I throw myself back down on the couch.
“You two seem cozy.” She toes off her shoes, bringing her feet up underneath her.
I shrug. “We’ve always been like that. You know Ayden’s the touchy-feely type.”
“Not according to Cassie. She said they barely even got to second base.”
“They didn’t date for that long, and Ayden’s a gentleman so that doesn’t surprise me.”
“You know what I think?” Her warm hazel eyes glimmer with excitement.
I groan. “I don’t think I want to know.”
“He’s in love with you, and he’s just waiting for you to give him a signal, and then he’ll make his move.”
My mouth pulls in a grimace. “I don’t see it. I mean, we’ve slept in the same bed at least three or four nights a week for the last few weeks, and he hasn’t acted in any way inappropriately.” His obvious daily morning stiffy doesn’t count.
She rolls her eyes. “How are you this clueless? I’m seriously getting worried about you. Duh!” She slaps her palm into her forehead. “He’s hardly going to move in for the kill when you’re still all upset over Devin. Give the guy some credit.”
I twist around on my side so I’m facing her. “Do you really think he’s in love with me?”
She puts her soda down on the coffee table, pinning me with an earnest look. “Yes, I do. He worships you, Ange. He’d do anything for you, and he’s been jumping to your defense constantly in school.”
I flop down on my back, sighing. “I wish he wouldn’t do that. I can fight my own battles.” And I’ve been putting out plenty of fires on my lonesome, although the cutting remarks and titters seem to be dying down.
“I know that, and he knows that, but Ayden loves you, and he wants to protect you, and it’s so romantic,” she swoons with a dreamy look on her face. “But the million-dollar question is do you love him?”
Her question drives several emotions to the surface as I contemplate how to reply. Of course, I love Ayden. That’s never been in any doubt, but do I love,love, him?IsMom right? Can you love more than one person at the same time?Andhave I been in love with him, too, but just didn’t know it? Did my fixation with Devin obscure my true feelings forAyden?All I know with certainty is that I brighten up when he arrives, and he’s the one person who is guaranteed to bring a smile to my face on even the darkest of days. I’ve come to rely on the warmth of his arms and the safety of his embrace and the tender way he cares for me. He is loyal and protective, and he never lets me down. Yes, my heart doesn’t spike to coronary-inducing proportions when he touches me or looks at me adoringly like it does with Devin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love him.
“I—”
“Ange.” Devin cuts me off before I can finish my sentence, and I jump up, startled, my heart beating ninety miles an hour.
Mariah spits her soda all over the carpet. “Holy fuck, Devin. Don’t creep up on people like that!” she splutters, hastily wiping her wet mouth. Devin is standing awkwardly in the doorframe, holding a hand-wrapped package in his hand. “I’ll get a towel to clean the floor.” She hastily brushes past him, shooting me a “what the hell” look as she goes.
I stand up, facing him, my heart skipping. “Why are you here, and how long were you standing there?”
His tongue darts out, moistening his lips, and I hate how my eyes involuntarily follow the movement. “I have something for you, and, eh, not long.” He scratches the back of his head, quickly averting his eyes.
Liar.He heard what Mariah asked me, and he interrupted before I could respond. “I don’t want anything from you, and you need to leave.”
He takes a step toward me, his eyes radiating pain. A fresh bruise darkens the skin on his cheek, and a blanket of sadness envelops me. I don’t know if he had an official fight or if he got into it with some douche. I know nothing about his life now, and that thought upsets me so much. I hate that it’s come to this but not enough to let him back in. That’s only asking for trouble, and I’m in a world of pain as it is.
“I miss you so much, Ange. I can’t bear this. Please, please give me another chance. I’m begging you. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but please don’t shut me out.”
His green eyes glisten with so much emotion, and although he looks tired and strained, he still looks unbelievably beautiful, and the urge to touch him hasn’t dissipated in the slightest. My hands twitch involuntarily at my side. Pressure weighs on my chest like a ton of bricks. He may as well have a hand around my heart, squeezing it to nothing. “I miss you too, but it doesn’t change anything.”
It can’t.
