Chapter 44
Astrid
I looked at myself in the mirror, the red dress hugging me and stopping just above my knees.
Aeron said we were going on a date, but he conveniently left out the where only teasing me with it’s a surprise.
My brain filled in the blanks with every romantic scene playing in the background: Candle lights, roses, heart-shaped chocolates.
I heard his footsteps, but I resisted the urge to rush out. The dress demanded a moment of its own. I waited until his presence filled the bedroom doorway, the gentle heat of his stare pressing against my back like a physical touch. Only then, feeling a little smug, did I turn around.
Aeron stared at me without blinking.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” I teased, shamelessly admiring how effortlessly handsome he looked in that white shirt. I love white.
He strode over to my closet, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to me. “Wipe your drool.”
I laughed. Karma really did love her job.
“You look beautiful.” His gaze slid down my body, slow and deliberate, leaving fire in its wake.
I stepped closer. “How beautiful?”
A shiver slid down my spine, my heartbeat quickening. I don't think I'd stop him—I don't think I'd want to. Somehow, though, I managed to whisper, “Save it for later.”
“Later,” he echoed, his voice husky, and promising.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, forcing myself out of the spell he'd wrapped around me.
“Patience, sweetheart.” His hand settled possessively on the small of my back, steering me toward the door.
There was only so long one can stay patient.
Aeron opened the car door for me, closed once I was settled inside. He rounded the car, climbed in, and soon we were headed south, past the town square. The farther we drove, the quieter everything became.
He handed me his phone to pick the music, but of course it was full of those intense instrumental tracks.
Since the phone was already in my hands, and it’d be rude not to, I tapped into his gallery.
There were stunning lava shots and wildlife animals.
One photo caught my attention immediately: a lion, mid-headshake, mane so beautiful, as if he’d just stepped out of a fresh shampoo shower.
I stared in awe. Shampoo companies needed to call this beast immediately.
There were even pictures of me from the festival. Most looked suspiciously like revenge shots: me scratching my head, biting my nails, or in my resting bitch face. “You took my pictures?”
“Blackmail material,” he said, smirking.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You could have least made me look cute.”
“You haven’t even seen the best ones yet.”
I started scrolling again, desperate to see what other embarrassing moments he’d immortalized, but Aeron’s, “You won’t find them here,” crushed that hope.
Aeron took a left, the road narrowing into a dirt path framed by tall trees. Another turn, and we broke through into an open clearing. He pulled the car to a stop at the edge of what looked like a forest trail.
He came around, opened my door, and reached for my hand.
My confusion must have been obvious, because he squeezed my hand gently. “It's only a fifteen minute walk from here.”
Walk in this forest? In this dress?
“You conveniently left out the part about trekking through the forest.” I stuck my leg out. “I’m in heels, Aeron.”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” He bit back a smile. “One look at you, and I forgot practical thoughts existed.”
“If anything jumps out at us, I’m collapsing right here—it’ll definitely find you tastier.”
“For you, I’d gladly get eaten alive.” He chuckled, dropping into a crouch. “Get on.”
As comforting as his closeness would be, carrying me the whole way couldn’t be comfortable for him. "I'll be okay walking."
He stood up, gently cupping my face in his hands. “I don’t know if I'll have this moment fifty years from now, but I have it right now, with you. And I want all of it. Every small thing, every big thing. So when I look back, there’s not a single thing I should regret about us.”
My heart wasn't ready for this sweetness, but it took it all. I'd never felt more wanted, more precious. I leaned into his hands, nodding rapidly, helplessly. Words weren't enough.
I hopped onto his back, arms looping around his neck, suddenly hyper-aware of how close we were, how warm he felt against me. Aeron didn’t seem even slightly out of breath after a few steps, but still, I had to ask, “Am I too heavy?”
“Pancakes don’t weigh much, Dizzytrid,” he drawled.
Pancakes? He did not just—I glanced down at exactly how cozy my breasts were pressed against his back. Heat flooded my cheeks. I grabbed a fistful of his hair and gave it a sharp tug.
He groaned, laughing despite the pain. “I love pancakes—absolutely love them.”
“How'd you find out about this place?”
“Dad used to bring me here when I was a kid.” There was a faint catch, a tiny fracture, in his voice. “It was his favorite spot. When he realized I was into photography, it turned into my practice ground.”
I wanted to ask him more, but the memory of how he’d shut me out the last time held me back. I didn't want to ruin this moment.
“He died in an accident.” His voice cracked.
I tightened my grip on him just a little, letting him know I was here if he wanted to keep going.
“It was his birthday,” he began. “He loved car rides—long drives to nowhere. That day, we were out driving and I saw a puppy, injured, lying helpless in the middle of the road. I stopped to help. Dad was a few feet away, taking a call. I was so focused on helping the puppy, I didn’t hear a truck, failing brakes coming towards me. ”
I touched his shoulder, wanting him to stop, to breathe, but he continued.
“Dad saw it first. He shoved me aside just before hitting me. His head was injured badly. He still fought for three days, but..” His breath shuddered. “He didn’t make it. Every single day, I ask myself. What if I hadn’t stopped for that puppy? Maybe he'd still be here.”
I knew what it felt like to lose someone, but hearing Aeron carry this blame felt worse. “Aeron,” I whispered, pressing my cheek to his shoulder. “You couldn’t have known. Don't blame yourself.”
“I'm trying, Astrid,” he said. “I don’t think it ever fully goes away. The guilt’s still there. The pain’s still there. But I’m changing. For better. I’m trying to hold on to the good memories instead.”
“I’m glad you’re trying.” I smiled. “What was your dad like?”
From the way Aeron still missed him, I already knew the answer had to be good.
“He was amazing,” Aeron said, warmth easing back into his voice. “And he would’ve loved your kind of crazy.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not crazy.”
“No.” A gentle tease slipped into his tone. “You’re totally insane.”
The trees parted to reveal a pond framed by trees and pink blossoms. My heart skipped a beat. I knew this place from pictures. “Phantom Spring,” I breathed
He tilted his head slightly, eyes softening as they met mine. “I promised I’d bring you here.”