Page 33 of Stranded
Only a week passed since returning but I could already feel Aiden pulling back. It was subtle at first and easy to miss, which thankfully Melodie did, but I was trained to watch for irregularities, and I’d seen it in the lack of his smile and the way his shoulders seemed to droop a little more each day.
I didn’t like it.
So I started paying attention to his routine.
Aiden’s routine was predictable, so it wasn’t hard to stage running into him. He’d come home from work at six, head straight to the kitchen, complaining about how his breaks were too short to eat properly. Since he had lunch at twelve, he was starving by the time he got off. He’d open the fridge like it hadpersonally offended him and then picked out the ingredients to make the same ham and cheese sandwich.
Today, I made sure I was there before him.
I leaned against the counter, arms folded, trying to look like I hadn’t timed this down to the minute. The sandwich sat on a plate beside me, wrapped neatly, made exactly the way he liked it.
I heard the front door open, and my eyes drifted to the kitchen clock. He was right on time. I straightened up, my stomach doing flips like I was an excited schoolgirl about to run into my crush.
Aiden walked into the kitchen, and my breath stuttered out of my lungs. He was dressed in a pair of white skinny jeans that looked painted on, every step stretching the fabric over those slender legs I knew too well. A simple white top with embroidered detailing on the collar was tucked into the jeans. The thin brown belt, the same tan color as his fitted blazer and strappy heels, drew attention to how narrow his waist was.
He was stunning even after working a ten-hour shift. I couldn’t help staring at him, fully aware that every man who’d seen him that day had probably done the same thing.
Oh boy, did I have a crush, alright. I was amazed I’d been lying to myself so well these past two years.
Aiden pulled up short when he saw me, his lips stretching into a smile that instantly dimmed as he searched the kitchen, presumably for his mother. When he saw that I was alone, the smile returned, but wasn’t as bright as before.
“Hey,” he said, sounding breathless. “Where’s Mom?”
“Still working in the office but?—”
He was on me in a flash, arms twining around my neck, and legs wrapped around my waist. I placed a hand on his back and the other on his ass to steady him. I anticipated a kiss and was shocked when all he did was to bury his face into my neck andcling to me like he wanted me to make space for him inside my skin.
A tremor rippled down his back along with a half-sob that fired off warning signals through my brain.
“Hey, hey. What’s wrong? Did something happen to you at work?”
He shook his head and inhaled deeply. “Let’s just run away together.”
The desperation in his voice sent a sharp wave of panic through me. I was used to Aiden being feisty, fighting back when something bothered him. He armed himself with sarcasm or flirtation, and hearing him sound this fragile made my stomach tighten.
“Aiden, you know we can’t.”
“I can’t take this anymore. I can’t touch you. I can’t kiss you. This is too hard.”
“Baby, there’s?—”
“Jackson, honey!”
Fuck.
Footsteps sounded way too close to the kitchen. Aiden’s arms tightened around my neck, and I had to pry them loose. I’d barely managed to set him on his feet when Melodie swept into the kitchen, her messy bun half falling to the side.
“Oh, Aiden, you’re already home!” She said, moving toward me. “How was work, sweetie?”
“It’s been a long day,” Aiden said, his voice hoarse. He didn’t quite hide how close to tears he was, and I felt like scum that I couldn’t go to him and hug him like I wanted to.
“Oh god, Aiden, please don’t tell me you’re going to quit another job.” Melodie took up the plate with the sandwich, and my heart sank. How did I tell her that the sandwich I’d made was for her son, and not for her? “You’re basically an adult, honey. You can’t expect your stepdad to support you all your life. You’revery lucky he had no problem buying you new gadgets after the fire with the RV was your fault.”
“My fault?” Aiden glanced at me, his eyes accusatory. “You told her it was my fault?”
“Aiden—”
“Thanks a lot.”
