Chapter 49
Astrid
I don't know if I've ever felt euphoria before today, maybe I have, but nothing could ever touch this. “Why didn't you tell me sooner? You made me jealous of myself.”
“So, you could’ve told me about the Cryptex box instead of letting me burn with jealousy over myself. Maybe then I’d have cracked and confessed sooner.”
It’s true.
If I’d just shown him the Cryptex sooner, maybe things would’ve been simpler. But we were both stubborn. I was worried Aeron might feel jealous, which was the last thing I wanted, and he didn’t open up because he was hurt, thinking I’d forgotten him.
The train pulled gently to a stop. Our story began with a secret on this train, and now, on the same train, that secret was finally free.
“Where were you planning to take me on our date?” I asked as we stepped onto the platform.
“Anywhere you wanted. The only destination I cared about was you.”
“I thought you were bald, and that's why you didn't want to meet me,” I confessed, eyeing his unfairly thick hair.
Aeron threw his head back, laughing loudly. “What else did you imagine about me?”
“Plenty.” I slipped my hand into his as we walked. “You were trapped with a girlfriend who laughed like a hyena.”
He nodded seriously. “I have to agree on that part. Your laugh is pure hyena territory.”
I scowled, elbowing him sharply. Five years ago, I arrived reluctantly and ended up meeting him. Now, five years later, I’d returned reluctantly, only to find him again.
Aeron’s sudden “Astrid, wait,” stopped me cold. I turned, pulse jumping as I saw him down on one knee. My eyes widened, my heart missing several beats. I squeezed my eyes shut. Was this—was he seriously proposing?
Except, that never came.
When I opened my eyes, he was tying my shoelaces and then straightened up.
“Why’s your face red?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.
“It’s nothing,” I mumbled quickly, turning to walk away, but he knew better.
“Don't tell me you thought I was proposing.”
“I didn’t,” I insisted, speeding up to escape the embarrassment.
“Your face says otherwise.”
“I didn’t,” I repeated stubbornly.
“Astrid,” he called after me, teasingly.
“Sweetheart.”
“Sasstrid.”
I ignored his playful taunts, but he caught up easily, wrapping an arm around my waist before I could escape.