Chapter 31
Ilight a candle and have coffee already brewing, knowing that will make Haley feel like she is home. Ever since we got back from New York, I can’t stop thinking about her. I know it has only been a couple days, but her absence by my side is so noticeable that I can’t concentrate on anything.
On the plane ride home, I held her hand the whole time, knowing this hand-hold is different from all the other times I’ve held her hand before. I invited her with me to my European tour. There is no way I’m going to be without her for that long. It was hard enough being away from her when she was just my assistant. Now that we are officially together, I know I am going to suffer every second we are apart.
I invited her to stay over that night we got back to L.A., but she stubbornly insisted that she go home. “I promise that I’ll come by in a few days. I need to desperately do laundry and decompress from the weekend. Too much socialization for this introvert.”
Reluctantly, I let her go.
Even though it’s only been a couple days, I miss Haley’s presence so much. I can’t wait to see her flushed cheeks when I flirt with her or even come near her.
There’s a knock at my door. That’s weird. I told her to text me when she was in the driveway so I could come open the door for her. Maybe she forgot.
I open the door with excitement, ready to hold her in my arms and not let her go for the foreseeable future. But as the door swings open, my excitement is stifled immediately. Because the person waiting there on my doorstep isn’t Haley. The image of Haley is replaced by someone I never want to see again. Her caramel skin is barely covered by the nude dress she is wearing. It clings to her body in a way that leaves nothing to the imagination.
“Natasha, what are you doing here? I’m expecting…”
Natasha lunges forward, grabs the back of my neck and pulls me down to her lips. It is forced and messy and it feels so wrong. It’s amazing that six months ago, I thought there was nothing in the world that could compare to Natasha’s lips on mine. That kissing her would be the best part of my day. I was gravely mistaken, and I am so glad that I was.
I release her hand from my neck and break our kiss. I step back all the way to the edge of one of my couches. I lean against it and cross my arms. I watch Natasha close the door behind her, slowly walk over to the kitchen island, and put her Birkin bag on the counter. “Why did you stop kissing me? I thought you would be happy to see me.”
“Well you thought wrong. Look, I am expecting someone and you need to leave. Now.”
I head toward the door but before I could reach the handle, Natasha’s hand presses against my chest. “Wait. Aidan.”
This should be interesting. I cease walking and put my hands in my pockets. “What? Why the hell did you kiss me, Nat? What are you even doing here at my house?”
She looks down at her hands and starts playing with her nails. “I don’t know. I am just really confused right now. I don’t like seeing you with that little assistant of yours. I miss you, Aidan.”
I huff. “Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. I didn’t really like seeing you with Isaac either, but you had no regard for my feelings six months ago, or rather, what was it, more like nine months ago, right? How is your new boyfriend by the way? Does he know that you’re here, telling me you miss me and kissing me, no less?”
Natasha looks down at her feet. “He’s fine. He’s on location filming a movie on his days off from the show. I don’t know. I don’t really have butterflies anymore in my stomach. It’s not exciting anymore for me.” Is that what happened between us? She didn’t feel the butterflies so she decided to search for them in someone else? “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Aidan.”
“But it happened anyway, didn’t it.” I plaster my hand to my face and drag it down. “Look, it’s not my problem that you don’t feel butterflies anymore. You made it that way the moment you broke up with me, Nat.” I finally make my way around Natasha’s barricade and open the door, hoping Haley isn’t right behind that door. Luckily, she isn’t.
“Haley’s on her way here. I really need you to leave. Our relationship is in the past, Natasha, and I have no interest in going back.”
Natasha scoffs as she grabs her purse and starts walking out the door. She finally turns around in the hallway and says, “I don’t understand what you see in her. She’s a fucking nobody, Aidan.”
Unfuckingbelievable.
“She’s sure as hell a somebody to me. As a matter of fact, she might just be my everything. Goodbye Natasha.” I close the door on her shocked face.
I know that I will have to see Natasha in the upcoming months with all the premieres, and we’ll potentially be cast alongside each other in movies or TV shows in the future. Our paths will surely cross, but for the first time since Natasha walked out on me, that reality does not hold much weight. The only person who matters right now in my life is the woman I am waiting on right now.
I hear my phone ding and head over to the couch to look at my screen. My heart drops slightly when I read the text from Haley.
Sorry. Something came up. My stomach started bothering me. Probably should stay away. I’ll see you in a couple days on set.