Chapter 22
twenty-two
. . .
Aidan
After a long flight home from Texas, the only thing I want to do is go home and shower off the plane germs. I’m tired, my eyes are dry from sleeping on the plane, my body is bruised and sore, and I want to crawl into bed and never get out.
Except my phone is burning a hole in my pocket. I had connected to the plane Wi-Fi out of habit, and about three hours ago, Ceci texted me. I can’t sleep.
So, being a colossal dumbass, I texted back. Meet me at the diner on Federal Street. We land at six.
And then for some unknown reason… she agreed.
Since Ryan and I carpooled to the airfield, I have to drive him back to our building.
I let myself into my apartment, take the world’s fastest shower, and then drive the two and a half miles to the diner halfway between her place and mine.
If it weren’t a balmy twelve degrees, I’d be tempted to walk or run there.
With Ceci waiting on me… yeah, I hurry the fuck up.
She’s already in a booth when I arrive, looking out at the eastward-facing window with her chin on her fist, her dark eyes fighting valiantly to stay open. She looks up when I slide onto the bench opposite her, a tired smile on her face.
“Hey.” Her voice is husky and low, a little gritty.
Fuck, she’s pretty. Given the early-morning hour, I’d know she hasn’t been to sleep yet even if she hadn’t told me.
Exhaustion creases her features, but she’s never looked more gorgeous.
She’s scrubbed off all her makeup and is wearing a pair of diamanté cat-eye glasses, her hair tied back in a braid over one shoulder.
I’ve seen her dressed up in a ball gown, in casual clothes, in professional attire…
but somehow, seeing her dressed down in an oversized hoodie makes my heart rate kick up a notch.
“Good morning,” I mutter.
“Is it morning yet?” She lifts a coffee cup to her lips. My attention pings to her mouth, cataloging the absence of her usual berry stain. I wonder what it would be like to taste those lips, to take her mouth under mine and never let her go.
“Unfortunately.”
She yawns, stretching her arms over her head. “Did you sleep on the plane?”
“Not enough.” It was a five-hour flight, and I only caught about two hours’ rest, my mind too chaotic to sleep. “I’m going to go home and crash after this.”
“Mm. That sounds nice.” Her eyelids flutter shut, like she can’t keep them open, and a soft smile tilts her lips up.
I bite my cheek, considering. “If you want…”
She arches an eyebrow. “What?”
“What are you doing today?”
“What day is it?” She checks her wrist, probably out of reflex, even though she’s not wearing a watch. “Fuck, it’s Saturday, right?”
I nod.
“Nothing. Maybe watch the basketball game.”
She’s a season ticket holder to the Panthers, and they usually send the team a few tickets once or twice a season. The only worthwhile way to take in a basketball game is courtside.
“Well, if you want to come over, we can game for a bit.”
“In person?” She hides a smile in her coffee cup.
“I mean, if you’d rather do it from two different places…”
“No. That sounds fun.”
A waitress comes over to us, a stained apron around her waist and a coffee carafe in hand. She sets a chipped mug in front of me.
“What’ll you have?”
“You hungry?” I ask Ceci, who nods.
I don’t even need a menu. I get the same thing every time. “Coffee and a three-egg scramble with wheat toast, please.”
When I go to sleep and wake up for real, I’ll eat my oatmeal. I don’t trust restaurant oatmeal very much. It’s always overcooked from sitting in a steamer tray all morning.
“And you?” She looks to Ceci.
“Pancakes and bacon. Two orders of bacon, please.”
“You got it. Coming right up.”
Before she leaves, she fills my mug and tops off Ceci’s, and then we’re left alone.
“So…” She trails off, looking out the window, where the early-morning darkness is giving way to the first cracks of daylight. A streak of yellow and orange tinges the skyline above the cityscape.
“So, what?”
“This is weird, right?”
“No, Annie, this isn’t weird at all.”
I have the strangest urge to reach for her hand, but we don’t do that, so I fold my hands around my coffee cup and let the warmth seep into my skin.
She hums. “I really like that we can still be friends.”
Friends. The word is like a knife stabbing into my chest. I don’t want to be friends with her. I want so much more.
If I could ever get over my baggage, maybe there would be a possibility of one day working things out. But I honestly don’t know if I can.
She’s the only woman I’ve had even the smallest interest in wanting to know further since my ex turned my world upside down, and not in the good way. I’ve been too gun shy to want to try again.
With Ceci, I want to try.
With Ceci, I see the potential for something real.
But she doesn’t date. She hasn’t had a relationship since we met. It would take too much time away from work and gaming.
Which… same. But I’m so fucking lonely sometimes, I have to wonder if maybe it would be worth it.
If this is the only way I can have her in my life, I’ll take it. But I don’t have to like it.
“Yeah, Annie. Me too.”
We lapse into silence until the food arrives. My eggs are cooked a little too well done, almost on the verge of rubbery, and the scent of the bacon wafting off her plate makes my stomach rumble.
She pushes the plate between us. “Have some.”
Some? How about all? How about I launch myself across the table and take what I really want: her.
I spear a piece of bacon as she digs into her stack of pancakes.
She gets about halfway through before she sighs and pushes the plate away. She sags on her bench, resting her cheek on her fist again. “I’m too tired to eat.”
“Do you still want to come over?” I’m desperate to spend more time with her, but I know she’s got to be exhausted. I know I am.
“I just need a catnap. Then I’ll be good.”
“Come on, then.” I lead her out of the diner and to my car, opening the door for her and then rounding the SUV to my side. She’s slumped against the window, her eyelids fluttering closed.
The drive to my place takes less than ten minutes, thanks to the lack of weekend traffic. I park in my assigned space and then help her from the raised seat.
“Come on, sleepy.” I sling my arm across her shoulders, and she slides hers around my waist, burrowing into my side. Her familiar bourbon-and-caramel perfume settles the anxiety churning in my gut.
This is us. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
“I’m so tired,” she mumbles.
“I know. We’ll put you to bed, and you’ll feel better.”
Since the team got back a few hours ago, we’re fortunate enough not to run into any of my teammates in the elevator. I’m able to inconspicuously escort her to my apartment and lock the door without anyone catching us.
“So this is your place,” Ceci says around a yawn.
“I’ll give you the grand tour later,” I promise.
My hand falls to hers, and I lace our fingers together before tugging her toward my bedroom.
She arches a sardonic eyebrow, but the effect is ruined by the yawn she lets out.
“I don’t do outside clothes in the house. Don’t make it weird.” Rummaging in my dresser, I toss her a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “There are two guest rooms or the sofa. Plenty of places to sleep.”
“Wish?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
I snap my mouth closed. “Shutting up.”
She takes the clothes I offered, disappearing into my attached bathroom.
I take the chance to kick off my shoes and socks, then change my outside joggers for inside-only sleep pants and a fresh T-shirt.
It’s more than I’d usually wear to bed, but it feels wrong to sleep naked with a beautiful woman in the house.
I’m turning down the covers on my bed when the bathroom door snicks open. I glance over my shoulder and freeze.
Ceci is wearing my clothes.
I repeat. Ceci is wearing my clothes. And fuck, does she look good.
My shirt hangs off her slim frame, the outline of her nipples visible through the thin fabric. She’s rolled the waistband of the sweats up several times, though the legs still drag on the carpet. And her bare feet, with her little pink toes…
A dull awareness settles deep in my gut, pulse thrumming.
“I’ll show you to the guest room.” My voice comes out husky and hoarse.
“Don’t make this weird,” she mimics me. She strides across the room to my bed, turning down the covers on the opposite side.
And then she slides onto the mattress and pulls the covers up over her chest. She reaches over and sets her glasses on the side table.
Oh.
She wants to stay here? I start to back out of the room, running into the door and stubbing my toe.
“I’ll go—”
Her hair spills over the white linen pillow. “Hey, Aidan?”
“Hmm?”
“Will you hold me?”
All the air rushes from my lungs.
“You want that?”
She nods. “I’d really like that.”
Closing the door, then locking it, I join her in the bed, pulling the covers over us. She immediately squirms closer, putting her back to me and drawing my arm around her waist. Ceci lets out a happy sigh, sinking into the mattress.
“That’s nice,” she slurs.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I could get used to this.” She hugs my arm around her, using me as her personal teddy bear.
Me too.
She lets out a loud yawn. “Good night.”
Unable to help myself, I press a kiss to her shoulder. “Sweet dreams.”