Chapter 13
∞∞∞
Meryl
It looked like Aiden was wearing the same dark t-shirt and jeans as he”d had on a few nights ago. That couldn”t be right though. A lot of men had multiples of dark t-shirts and similar looking jeans. Actually, it had been like three nights ago so he could have done laundry already. Maybe he had a few faovrite outfits that he repeated like I did?
”Meryl,” he said scathingly, breaking me out of the distracted musings I”d fallen into. Then he looked past me into the partment and glanced around.
“Aiden, I thought you wouldn’t be back for a few more days?” I asked him, more than a little surprised. Had he texted me? I’d just checked my phone recently, so I didn’t think so. His last message had said to keep his dog until the weekend.
“I’m home now. It’s good to see that you are too,” Aiden frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. His green eyes glared at me and my heart sank a little. Did he want PT back right now? Was he still fuming about the other night?
“It’s the creep,” Wade muttered in my ear.
“Yeah...What?” I replied slowly. I was so confused. He was obviously mad and I wasn’t ready to give Poptart back to him yet. I’d thought I have more time with the sweet girl.
“You didn’t come home the other day,” Aiden snapped at me and pushed past me to step inside. He patted PT once without looking at her. He was still scowling at me, so I avoided him and headed to the side table where I’d put Poptart’s bag and all of her things.
“Meryl, we’re still here,” Finn told me. I knew that, they were hard to ignore when they were still talking in my ear, so why did he sound worried? Our team was still alive in the match, right?
“I had Poptart with me. I didn’t leave her alone,” I mumbled to Aiden as I started hurriedly packing up her stuff and putting it into the bag. Then I paused and my body froze. “Wait, how do you know that?” I asked him cautiously. I stopped what I was doing to turn to face him again.
“Something’s wrong,” Saz whispered and he was right. Warning bells were going off in my gut. I didn’t like this.
“You think I’m worried about the dog? Who was that guy?” Aiden demanded furiously. He hadn’t even blinked at the name I’d given his dog. He took a step toward me and I took a step back. Icy fear made my palms sweaty.
“Aiden,” I tried softly. I held my hands out in front of myself, trying to placate him. He was so furious. His green eyes flashed with hurt and something else that made me want to run.
“I thought you said you didn’t date,” he accused and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. A chill shivered through me and I took another step back. The couch hit my legs and my mouth went dry.
“Are you taking Poptart home with you?” I asked him, trying to redirect his attention. My voice sounded small and quiet. Aiden laughed at me. He didn’t even respond to my question.
“He sounds deranged,” Saz growled.
“Tell him you have to use the bathroom and lock yourself in there,” Finn suggested quickly. My heartbeat pounded in my own ears and I latched onto that idea desperately. He was so fucking brilliant.
“I’ll be right back,” I rushed out and Aiden’s eyes widened in alarm. I whirled toward the hallway, but he launched himself at me before I could get far.
“No running,” he snarled as he grabbed my arm. His fingers dug into my bicep so hard that I already knew I’d be bruised. I was in trouble.
“Let go. That hurts,” I demanded angrily and he tightened his hold on me.
“I did everything right! I gave you time, I gave you space, I got a dog for you!” he yelled in my face and grabbed my other arm.
“I’m calling the police,” someone said on my headset, but Aiden shook me so roughly that the whole thing fell off of my head and hit the floor behind me.
“Aiden, stop,” I yelled as loud as I could, hoping someone in the apartments around us would hear me. He shoved me away from him and I hit the floor so hard that I was dizzy.
“You’re a pyscho,” I gasped up at him and he kicked me in the ribs. I cried out in pain and my eyes watered with tears.
“I thought you were different,” he sneered down at me. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me with such betrayal on his face. How did this happen? Were the police on their way? How long would I be trapped here with him? How could I get away? My mind whirled as Aiden began to pace angrily in front of me.
“You were supposed to fall in love with the dog! Then you’d spend more time with me and get to know me. We”d take long walks together and fall in love,” he was rambling to himself. He pulled at his own hair andscoffed. I”d been absolutely right, he was a psycho. I inched myself toward the hallway and PT whined from where she’d hidden herself under my desk.
“Then you’d see we’re perfect together,” he continued as he paced slowly in a circle in my living room. I tried to discreetly put more distance between us. He’d only gotten Poptart to try to manipulate me? I shuddered with disgust.
“I’ll just make you see it,” he snarled then and turned his attention back to me. I scrambled backward frantically and my ribs protested with searing pain, but Aiden was too fast anyway. He hauled me up off the floor like I weighed nothing.
Panic flared in my chest and I lashed out with my fists, striking him in the face as hard as I could. Aiden stumbled back and I staggered away from him. He was still between me and the front door. It was too far anyway.
I lunged toward the hallway instead, trying to get to the bathroom or my bedroom. I needed a locked door between us to buy myself some time and I wanted him as far from the kitchen as possible. I didn’t know what I would do if he grabbed one of my kitchen knives. The thought sent me into a whole new dizzying wave of desperation.
Aiden was right behind me as I reached the bathroom and grabbed the door knob. I flung myself inside and slammed the door but he put his hand in the way and it caught his fingers instead of closing completely. Aiden howled in pain as he flung the door open again. It hit the wall with a deadly bang, and I flinched back.
“You bitch!” he snarled as he cornered me. He held his injured hand against his chest and stared at me with such venom that I could have melted on the spot. I wished I could, anyway.
”Stay away!” I screamed at him. Aiden took a step closer.
”You”re just like the rest of them. You”re not special. I”m not going to give you special treatment. Not anymore,” he said coldly.The deadly calm that took over his face sent me scurrying backward and further into the bathroom.
There was nowhere else to go now. In trying to flee, I’d trapped myself instead. It seemed so stupid to me now and I cursed myself internally. I hoped like hell that the police were on the way and would be here any second. I just needed to survive until then.