Page 69 of Seasons of Love
"Please don't insult me by being surprised that I'm asking you to be my best man."
I laughed. "I'd be honored."
We finished the run, and I promised to be in touch soon.
I stopped in Ohio for the night. Exhausted and hungry, I grabbed a burger from a local bar and went straight to bed in a roadside motel.
I had another four days of this until I was home. Not that San Diego or my apartment felt like home anymore. It was more like I was heading to a prison sentence.
Throughout the week, Richard kept texting and asking where I was. I ignored as many of them as I could without setting him off. The drive also made me reflect a lot on my relationship with Richard.
I came to terms that it had been an abusive relationship.
How had I not noticed how we only had sex when he wanted? How I always paid for everything? How he’d put me down if my book didn't hit the charts on release day? How he seemed to be purposefully noisy when I needed silence to write, and then berate me for not hitting my word count?
I tried to keep as many of those thoughts at bay because they made me cry, and I couldn't drive if I was crying.
By the third day, anxiety was my constant companion. Were there more videos?
I tried to remember how many times he'd asked to blindfold me during sex, saying we needed to be more adventurous in bed. Our relationship would last longer if we had fun in bed.
I'd never had fun in those times. I wasn't even able to orgasm. But he seemed to enjoy it, so I did it for an easy life. How had I not seen the signs?
When I saw the road sign for San Diego, my mind was in such a state of confusion that I wasn't sure if I was happy, sad, or afraid to have arrived.
At least I could take a long bath and rest in my own bed before I had to face Richard.
I tried not to think of Slade, but that was a failed attempt. Every mile away from him was like a part of my heart was being shredded and left on the side of the road.
I would call him soon and apologize properly. He deserved that much. Maybe Mike would visit him at some point, and they would rekindle their love.
That thought made me feel sick, and not just because thinking of them together made me jealous. I knew deep down Slade and Mike had had their time and it had ended. What made me feel sick was the thought of Slade either settling for a half-love or being alone forever.
By the time I pulled in front of my apartment, I was beyond exhausted. I knew I'd pushed the last few hundred miles. I really should have stopped another night, but I just wanted my own bed.
I didn't bother with anything else in the car other than my laptop bag, which had my wallet and phone inside. I locked the car and dragged my tired legs up the stairs to the front door.
My stomach jumped when I saw a figure standing by the door. My eyes were dry from the contacts, so I rubbed my them and looked up again.
"Slade? What are you doing—"
27
SLADE
"I love you. I love you. I love you."
Aiden threw himself at me, saying the words over and over again. I wasn't even sure he was conscious that he was saying it. But damn, even if I lost my hearing, I'd still remember it for the rest of my life. All I could do was hope that I would hear this for the rest of my life.
"Well, that was easier than I thought," I said into his hair, kissing his head as he lowered his voice to a whisper but never stopped saying he loved me.
"Baby, let me take you upstairs," I said. He nodded and leaned into me as he got out the key to the door. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and let him guide us.
Aiden's apartment was enormous. Most of it seemed open plan with a corridor on the opposite end to the front door.
"Is that the way to your bedroom?"
He nodded.
