Terms of Agreement

23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Charlotte

‘ L ouise,’ I confessed, raising my voice to be heard above the steady thrum of the music. ‘I don’t think I can do this.’

‘Yes, you can! Just do what I do,’ Louise shouted back and began flailing her limbs around in time to the music.

I laughed, the small knot loosening in my chest. Glancing around at the other couples, I was pleased to find that no one was looking our way—not even after Louise’s convincing impression of a noodle. Everyone was too caught up living their best main character narratives to be concerned with the side characters. Taking a deep breath as the song melded into the next one, I closed my eyes, titling my head back a little and letting the music wash over me, feeling its vibrations through the wooden floorboards.

Realisation struck some chord deep within my bones, and a smile bloomed across my face as Becky’s words about freedom in anonymity echoed in time with the beat of the music. I was a side character—for tonight anyway. That meant that I was free. And freedom meant that I could do this. I opened my eyes, a small grin on my face as I grasped Louise’s hands in mine and began to move in time with the music.

I felt myself bob and sway to the beat, my hair swirling around my shoulders in a protective veil, separating me from the eyes of the other guests. My heart was pounding, and I could feel the flush of exertion creep across my chest—I wasn’t fit enough for this kind of cardio. Giving into the feeling of sheer abandon, I raised my arms and spun in a slow circle in time with the music. My eyes were closed as the song steadily built to a crescendo and on the final twirl I turned smack into something.

My eyes flew open, my cheeks scorched red with embarrassment as I gazed into a familiar pair of chocolate brown eyes. I’d felt, and ignored, Aiden’s eyes on me from the moment Louise had pulled me onto the dancefloor. But I’d convinced myself that it was nothing—that it meant nothing—that it was, at most, Aiden keeping an eye on me and ensuring Louise didn’t drag me into too much trouble. So I couldn’t hide my surprise when he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips trailing softly down my cheek.

‘Dance with me,’ he said in a low voice.

Wide eyed and open-mouthed, I nodded. His hands burned a path down my sides to my hips and I shivered, instinctively taking a step forward into his embrace. With my hands splayed across his chest, I could feel his heart thundering beneath the lapels of his blazer.

‘I’m sorry if I step on your toes,’ I whisper-shouted above the music.

I felt his answering chuckle beneath my palms as he dipped his head to answer me, his promised reassurance brushing across my cheek. ‘Just follow my lead, Cupcake,’ he said, ‘and all toes will be safe.’ My traitorous heart all but swooned at the nickname uttered so low that only I could hear. But when I looked up to meet his gaze, it was only to find his gaze focused on the couples dancing around us. He nodded his greetings again and again as he spun me around the dancefloor. And I chastised myself in the absence of his gaze. But no matter how often I reminded myself that none of this was real, I couldn’t stop my foolish heart and the ember of hope that ignited each time his hold on me tightened.

***

After the fourth slow song, I’d had to tap out. Blaming my sore feet when really I’d just had to put some distance between Aiden and me. My cheeks flushed as I remembered the feel of his hands on my hips, his thumbs tracing up and over my waist, and the flecks of gold in his eyes that burned bright on those few occasions that he’d looked at me. I took a deep breath, shaking my head as I rubbed the soles of my feet. Aiden Walsh was quite the actor.

My heart stuttered in my chest as Aiden pulled up a seat directly in front of mine, positioning himself so that we were facing each other, but I still had a view of the dance floor. The air changed, humming with electricity, and I felt the familiar tingle of a pair of eyes caress my skin. Straightening, I smiled at Aiden as my naked foot fumbled across the floor in search of my other shoe.

‘Let me,’ he murmured, leaning forward to pick up the errant shoe.

I almost swallowed my tongue when his hand slipped down my calf and lifted my foot, his breath warming my shin as he gently slipped the satin shoe onto my foot. I’d never put much stock in the idea that the ankle was an erogenous zone, but sitting here with Aiden’s fingers grazing my ankle as he worked the strap of my shoe into place converted me. With one hand on my shoe and the other still caressing the sensitive skin of my ankle, I became a believer.

His gaze travelled languidly up my body, over the skin of my leg, now exposed by the slit in my dress, bypassing my hands that were clasped tightly in my lap, and pausing briefly on my chest, which I’m sure was mottled pink from all of the dancing. When his eyes finally met mine, they were a burning gold that sent heat pooling in my stomach.

My mouth popped open in surprise and I didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped to my lips. He looked back up to my eyes, his own hooded and dilated, and then he lowered my foot to the floor and, moving his hands to grasp the seat of my chair, pulled it closer—one swift movement that stole my breath.

With his knees bracketing mine, Aiden placed his thumb and forefinger under my chin and tilted my head backwards. Was he going to kiss me? Was I going to let him? My searching gaze found his for a single moment before my eyes fluttered closed. Yes. Yes, I was. I heard the creak of Aiden’s chair as he leaned forward, his grip tightening as he exhaled, his breath caressing my mouth. I licked my lips, my tongue prickling at the peppery sensation that skimmed my senses. Holy shit. Was this really happening?

‘Sorry to interrupt—’ came the sing-song voice of someone who didn’t sound sorry at all.

‘For fuck’s sake, Louise,’ Aiden snapped, dropping his fingers from my chin and I blinked in the wake of their loss.

‘What?’ Louise asked, placing a hand over her chest in mock indignation. ‘I tried to clear my throat. It’s not my fault you two were too wrapped up in each other to notice.’ She shot a wink in my direction, and I dropped my gaze, cheeks burning.

Aiden’s hands moved to cover both of mine, giving them a gentle squeeze of encouragement as he shifted his body to face Louise. ‘I assume you wanted something?’ Aiden asked, quirking an irritated brow at his sister.

‘Just to tell you that the taxi is a few minutes out, so we should get our stuff together and get ready to go.’

‘Go?’

‘To Mum and Dad’s.’

‘Lou, we’re not going back to Mum and Dad’s.’

‘Oooh,’ Louise crooned. ‘Got a fancy hotel booked, then?’ The idea should have been laughable—but instead, the images it conjured up only left me feeling out of sorts and disappointed. ‘Gotcha!’ she said, failing to read the room and the mood as she winked at us.

I watched as Aiden’s eyes narrowed, deflating a little as his mouth settled into a tight line. If I weren’t so disappointed by the return of the stoic, grumpy version of Aiden, I might have been worried about the structural integrity of his molars, which I was sure took a beating every time he clenched his jaw like that. With a tired sigh, I extracted my hands from under Aiden’s. His fingers curled around the air where my hands had been, his frown deepening as he looked from his empty lap and back to his sister.

‘We’re not going to a hotel,’ he said.

Louise gasped, her eyes widening with understanding. ‘You can’t be serious,’ she said, looking from Aiden to me and back again. ‘Aiden, it’s almost midnight.’

‘I know how to tell the time, Lou,’ Aiden responded dryly.

‘You can’t seriously be thinking about driving back to London at this time of night,’ Louise said, her volume increasing as her eyes flashed in warning.

‘Lou—’ Aiden attempted, dragging a hand through his hair.

‘No. Not happening.’ Louise cut him off, pointing a finger at him. ‘It’s pouring with rain. You’ll come back to Mum’s with me and then tomorrow you two can swing by for the car before heading back out to London.’ She jabbed at his chest with that finger then.

‘Lou, we can’t,’ Aiden admonished. ‘We’ve not planned an overnight stay.’

‘Oh please,’ Louise scoffed, dropping her hands to her hips as she eyed him up and down. ‘What could you possibly need that Mum doesn’t already have?’

‘Charlotte has to get back,’ Aiden continued, ignoring Louise’s obvious dig. ‘She needs to feed her cat.’

‘You have a cat?’ Louise squealed, momentarily distracted and clasping her hands to her chest and turning her attention towards me.

‘Ye—’

‘Oscar,’ Aiden answered, not even glancing my way as he used me as a scapegoat. ‘And he’s diabetic and needs to get his medication on time.’

I pursed my lips, hating that he’d dragged me into this and frustrated by the fact that I cared. My eyes moved between the siblings who were now whisper fighting, neither of them bothering to stop and ask what I might want to do. The energy that had electrified my nervous system and kept me going all day was quickly depleting, and a bone tiredness settled into my soul as the two volleyed back and forth. The longer they took, the crankier I felt myself becoming and before I knew it, I’d opened my mouth and cut them off.

‘Actually,’ I said, drawing both Aiden’s and Louise’s attention. ‘My neighbour, Ms Au, is happy to check in on him if I’m out and—’

I was interrupted by a high-pitched squeal and Louise lunged, pulling me to my feet and into a hug. ‘Mum’s going to love you!’ Louise said emphatically.

I winced, eyes flitting to Aiden, who was sporting his trademark scowl, the rest of his expression unreadable. Crap.