Chapter 13
LEAH
His house is amazing; you could fit five or six of my tiny apartments inside of it.
It has hardwood floors throughout, with an open living, dining, and kitchen area.
From the living room, a grand curved staircase leads to an open interior balcony with four bedrooms upstairs.
The entire place has a modern design with touches of rustic features.
The ceiling is entirely made of wood, and modern furniture completes the living room.
There’s a large island made of gray stone that separates the kitchen from the living room.
Stainless steel appliances and fixtures fill the kitchen, and there’s a sliding glass door that leads out to a patio and pool.
“This place is incredible,” I say as I look around.
“It’s home.” He smiles, holding my hand, leading me toward the kitchen.
“I’d never leave if this was my home.” I sigh as I take a seat at the island. A large German Shepherd comes prancing up to me, wagging his tail. “You must be Revis.” I smile as I lean over to pet his head.
“That’s my boy.” Aaden grins. Revis trots over to him, wagging his tail. I smile as I watch the two of them: Aaden being loving and attentive while Revis gazes up at him adoringly.
“He’s handsome,” I say with a grin.
Aaden squats down to be eye level with his dog.
“You keep your paws off my woman,” he says teasingly.
I giggle as he stands and begins moving around the kitchen.
Revis and I watch as he makes pancakes and bacon.
He pours us both a cup of coffee, hands me a plate of food, and walks around to sit beside me.
He was mostly quiet while making breakfast. I could tell he wanted to talk, but I was afraid of what he wanted to talk about.
After breakfast, I help clear the dishes and place them in the dishwasher.
He pours us both a second cup of coffee, and we head out to sit by his pool.
“I’d like to ask you something,” he says, breaking the silence.
I look at him over the rim of my mug as I take a sip.
He’s staring at me, his expression blank.
“Was there something going on between you and Chase?” he asks reluctantly.
His name makes my stomach roll. “I mean, you’d met him before last night.
You had lunch with him, right?” I had forgotten that Madison had blurted out who my lunch date was that day.
I squeeze my coffee cup a little more, thankful that I have something to keep my hands occupied.
My eyes drop to the floor, and my throat feels tight as I start to speak.
“Yes, I had lunch with him. Once! I met him while I was at dinner one night, and he asked me out.”
“Do you like him?”
My head jerks back up to look at him, and my brows are drawn together in disgust. “No! I don’t even know him.” I clench my jaw as my eyes fall to my cup. “After last night, I don’t ever want to see him again.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he growls. “Did he try anything before last night?” I look up to see him studying me, waiting for me to answer. He’s sitting on the edge of his chair, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. Tell him, Leah, tell him the truth about everything.
“We kissed; that’s all.” His expression relaxes. I hate that there’s more I need to tell him. I know I need to finish. “I, um, I want to be honest with you,” I say, taking a deep breath. “The night he asked me out, I was having dinner…with Tyler.”
Aaden stiffens again, his brows draw together. “How? When? When did he ask you out?” he asks with a hard tone to his voice. The look on his face pains me more than I thought it would, and I have to look away.
“The day you saw us talking in the parking lot, he called me that afternoon and asked me to dinner.”
“Did you kiss him, too?” he asks. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Never mind,” he says, dropping his head into his hands. “That reaction answered my question.”
I fidget with my mug, shame building the more I continued to speak.
“There’s more.” His head snaps up, his eyes wide as a shocked expression rests on his face.
“I bumped into Noah at Java the day after mom went into the hospital. We had coffee together. He asked if I’d like to go out to dinner with him sometime.
Then he…he kissed me.” Aaden’s face turns red.
His hands clench into fists as he pushes himself up from the chair.
Oh fuck. He paces back and forth as he runs his hand through his hair.
Say something stupid. “He kissed me,” I plead.
“I wasn’t expecting it. We had a friendly conversation, and before I got into my car, he kissed me.
A quick peck, really. I swear.” I watch him nervously, my heart pounding.
I can see the muscles in his jaw flex, and I wonder what’s going through his mind.
I bite my lip, worrying it between my teeth.
God, what he must be thinking. My throat constricts, making it hard to swallow.
“I’m sorry, it was before we started talking. Please, don’t be mad at me.”
He turns quickly, staring down at me for a moment before sitting down beside me. “I’m not angry at you. I’m just a little shocked. These are my three closest friends.” His words sting. More than I thought they would.
“It sounds horrible when you say it like that.” A tear rolls down my cheek. “Everyone probably thinks I got what I deserved that night.” Aaden’s shoulders sag. Taking my face in his hands, he brushes the tear away with his thumb.
“Shit, I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that I’m shocked they wouldn’t have talked to me about you..”
“No, I understand. I put all of us in an awkward situation.”
He moves closer. “You did no such thing. And you certainly didn’t deserve anything that happened last night. God, if he…” He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. “Jesus, I’m already protective of you,” he whispers into my hair. “I think I’d do anything for you, Leah. Anything.”
My heart flutters. I close my eyes as I bury my nose into his chest. Being in Aaden’s arms makes everything better.
Makes me feel safe. How can this feel so right after knowing each other for such a short time?
Is this what people mean when they talk about love at first sight and knowing someone is ‘the one’ the first moment they meet?
I want to believe in all of that. I desperately want to believe.
But things like that don’t happen in real life. Not in my life.
***
“I have an idea.” Aaden smiles as he shuts the door to his office.
It’s been three weeks since that horrible night at Tyler’s Halloween party.
I’ve been avoiding his friends. Chase hasn’t bothered to call, thank God, but Tyler has made a few attempts.
I either don’t answer, or I make an excuse to quickly get off the phone.
Noah has backed off completely. Madison has brought up that night a few times, but I refuse to talk about it.
“What’s your idea?” I ask as I wrap my arms around his neck. He slides his hands around my back and kisses me softly.
“Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I know you haven’t been feeling well, and I know we’re spending the day with your mother,” he says with a sweet smile.
I grin in anticipation. “Yes?” I’ve been fighting off a nasty sinus infection, but after a course of antibiotics, I’m feeling better. He holds me tighter and grins.
“I was thinking, if you’re feeling up to it, we could spend a week at my cabin in Tennessee. We could leave after dinner and come back the following weekend. What do you think?” he asks with an excited gleam in his eye.
I raise my eyebrows as I stare up at him. “Aaden Stone,” I tease, “are you trying to get me alone in the middle of nowhere?”
“You know it.” He grins and kisses me quickly. Releasing me, he walks over to his desk and picks up some papers. I lean against the corner and tap my finger to my chin.
“Hmm, alone, just you and me, this sounds interesting.” I smirk.
He drops the papers back on his desk and looks at me with a devilish grin.
“Does that mean you want to go?” I bite my lip as I nod my head excitedly.
“Yes!” he hisses as he leans over, grabs my arm, and tugs me to him.
I’m caught between him and his desk as he kisses me.
“I’ll call the airline,” he smiles against my lips.
I push him away to move around to the front of his desk. “I’ll run home and pack.” I smile.
His phone rings and I watch as his smile fades, his face going blank as he stares at the screen. “It’s Noah,” he mumbles.
“Answer it,” I plead. “You haven’t answered any of their calls since the party.”
He drops his phone back onto his desk and picks up the papers again. “With good reason,” he says angrily. I feel guilty. He isn’t talking to any of his friends because of me. I lean forward, placing my hands on his desk.
“Tyler and Noah didn’t do anything to me. Don’t punish them for Chase’s stupidity,” I say softly.
“You know there’s more to it than that.” He frowns as he flips between pages.
“Why? Because I went on a date with them and we kissed? That was consensual, Aaden.”
He looks at me, his face hard with anger.
“That’s not the point,” he growls. “They should’ve told me.
I mean, you’re my employee. If they were interested in you, they should have made sure I was okay with it first. It’s common courtesy.
” He tosses the papers back onto the desk and sits down hard in his chair.
I take a deep breath as I stand up straight.
“I didn’t tell you. Not at first. Why are you angry at them and not me?”
“Because you and I hardly knew each other,” he mutters. “They’re supposed to be my closest friends. Hell, Noah is my best friend.”
“Then talk to him,” I plead as I move around his desk and climb onto his lap. I run my hands through his hair, and he instantly relaxes. “Be the man I know you are, Mr. Stone.” I grin.
He smiles and places a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. “I’ll think about it.”
***
The smell of turkey fills my mother’s house on a cool Thanksgiving afternoon.
I spent the night, so I could get up early and help her prepare our meal.
By 1:00, the turkey is ready, and my mom and I are busy moving around the kitchen.
Pots are on every burner of the stove, and several bowls line the counters.
It will just be the three of us, but we’re still making enough food to feed a small army.
“Smells great!” Aaden smiles as he walks into the kitchen.
“About time you got here.” I grin.
“Sorry, I had a few things to finish up before we leave.”
I wrinkle my nose at him, giving him a sour face. He laughs and moves further into the room. “Alright, alright, alright, I’m here. Put me to work.”
“Now, that’s the kind of man you want to hang on to, Leah.” My mother grins as she spoons mashed potatoes into a bowl. “Not many are willing to help cook.” Aaden wags his eyebrows as he crosses over to her and kisses her on the cheek.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Eva.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Aaden,” she says, patting his shoulder. She finishes with the potatoes and sets the empty pot in the sink. “Leah tells me you are taking her to your cabin in Tennessee.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grins at me. I flash him a quick smile before turning back to the stove.
“Well, make sure you show her more than just your bedroom walls.”
My mouth falls open. “Mom!” I gasp as I turn around in shock. She winks at Aaden, and he drops his chin to his chest to cover his laugh.
“Oh, please,” my mother scoffs with a wave of her hand.
I love that she isn’t afraid to say what she thinks, and I’m thankful she’s having a good day.
I want it to be perfect because I know it will be our last Thanksgiving together.
My throat tightens, and I quickly turn back to the stove before I burst into tears again.
As well as she has been lately, I sometimes forget that she’s on borrowed time.
“Can you carve the turkey?” I ask Aaden as I clear my throat.
“Honored to,” he whispers with a kiss to the side of my head.
Once everything is finished, I help set the table then join my mother and Aaden for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.
Aaden tells us about Tennessee and a few of the plans he has for us once we get there.
My mother continues to tease him and embarrass me in the process.
We share a few stories of our past holidays with my father and a lot of laughs about how excited I was as a little girl at Christmas.
Soon, there will only be memories of her as well.
By four o’clock, we’ve cleaned up and played several rounds of gin, of which my mother won every round.
With the excitement of the day, though, she is starting to wear down.
I help her get ready for bed before settling her in her recliner for the evening.
“I’ll be fine,” she says as I fuss with the blanket over her lap.
“Gloria will be here in the morning, and I’m feeling great.
Go, you have a plane to catch,” she demands with a wave of her hand.
“Are you sure, Mom? I won’t go if you don’t want me to.”
She takes my hand and squeezes it. “I’m sure, sweetheart. Go and have a good time.” With a frown, I kiss her on the cheek and grab my suitcase and heavy coat from my room. The weather has become colder, and in the mountains, they’re forecasting snow.
“I’ll call you every day,” I tell her as I walk back into the living room. Aaden takes my bag then kisses my mother on the cheek. I follow behind him. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.” She smiles. “Now, go be young.”