Page 22 of Aiden & Lily

Jealousy.

That was what it was, wasn’t it? And she didn’t like it one bit. He chuckled, and she whipped her focus to him.

“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to,” he said.

She shook her head. “It’s not that. I’ve told you I’m a little particular, right? I have a hard time forgiving people. I hold grudges. It’s not something I’m proud of, which is why I try to make sure people are aware right away.”

She nibbled on her lip—a habit that was getting a little out of hand.

The tension in the cab shifted. Even if some of it was in her head, Lily could see how much her words affected Christopher. His jaw tightened, and for a second, his expression went serious in a way that made her wish she could read him better.

He opened his mouth, but she held up a hand.

“Turns out I’ve got more flaws than I realized.” She made a face, feeling a blush slip beneath her skin. “Just the thought of the other girls you might have dated made me jealous. I’m a little sick to my stomach, if I’m honest.”

There. She’d said it.

The confession that would probably ensure he didn’t want to see her again.

They weren’t close enough for this. He was going to tell her she was too attached and he wouldn’t be seeing her again.

But he didn’t.

His hand moved toward her, then paused for half a second before resting gently over hers where it sat on her knee. The hesitation made something in her chest soften.

He wasn’t grabbing for her or trying to silence her.

Still, it was nearly impossible to read his expression, and that seemed to make everything worse.

Her blush.

Her disappointment.

Her hope that this infatuation wasn’t fleeting.

The furrow between his brows remained, and his jaw was tight. But there was something in his eyes that held her still. She wished she knew how he did it—managed to settle her with one look.

“I’m not going to lie, Lily,” he said quietly. “I’ve dated before. A lot.”

She flinched.

This was it. If he wasn’t going to break things off with her before they’d even gotten started, she might have to walk away so she didn’t feel this gut-twisting reality whenever she was with him.

“But none of that felt like this.”

Her eyes widened.

Christopher glanced back to the road. They’d come to a stoplight at some point and were still waiting. His thumb brushed once over the back of her hand, then went still. “I’ve never been interested in a second date before.”

His confession rocked her. “What?” she whispered. “But we’re on…”

“We are,” he confirmed. “And I still can’t get enough.” He released a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh. “That’s why I want you to tell me more. I want to know you even better.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Because suddenly those other girls he’d dated meant very little. They were all temporary. His past was still his past, and she didn’t love the ache that came with knowing he’d been casual with his heart.

But he wasn’t teasing her for caring. He wasn’t running after hearing her thoughts.