Chapter 21

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I hugged my pillow tighter, making myself comfortable. Only that for some mysterious reason, the pillow chuckled. That was enough for me to wake up. Slowly, my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. It must have been quite late already, the only source of light being the streetlight outside.

The pillow shifted, and it dawned on me that at some point of my fever-induced slumber, I moved to rest my head on Aiden's chest, and now my leg was draped over him, and my arm was hugging his waist. Just great. I tried to get up.

"No, don't," he said softly as if he was unsure that I was awake. "Don't move. You are comfortable, stay this way."

I obliged, getting aware of the way Aiden's heart beat in his chest.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, pulling the comforter over the two of us.

"What time is it?"

"It was a little after eight when I last checked. You didn't sleep that much. Your mom called, I hope you don't mind that I picked up. I thought she'd get worried if you didn't answer."

"You did well." I smiled at his thoughtfulness. "What did she say?"

"She said the day had been crazy busy, the judge a pain in the...well, not gonna repeat that," Aiden laughed, "and that she was relieved to know you ate, took your meds, and slept. She thinks you should stay home tomorrow just in case. She also asked me to tell you she'd be back tomorrow evening, and warned me that if I did something to her little girl, she'd make me regret it."

"No, she didn't!" I feigned surprise, although I knew it was very much like my mom to say something like that.

"She loves you," Aiden said wistfully. My heart squeezed in my chest at the melancholy in his voice. "And she worries, although she has nothing to worry about."

"What were you doing while I was asleep?" I traced my finger along Aiden's arm right to his hand. His injured knuckles were starting to heal. I gently touched them, and he brought my hand to his lips, kissing it.

"Not much. I wrote the essay, and something else and just stayed with you. I was waiting for you to wake up before I leave."

"Stay," I whispered, lifting my head off his chest and looking up at him. "Not because I don't feel well, just because I want you to. Will you?"

"Are you sure?" His eyes focused on my face as if looking for some sign of doubt.

"Have never been so sure about anything."

"Okay."

I kissed him on the cheek, my lips lingering there longer than usual. "Thank you."

Aiden lifted my chin. "Don't ever thank me for that, got it? It's not a favor I'm doing. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

"You're something else, Aiden Kennedy." I mirrored his earlier words.

He ran his hands through my hair, his gaze molten, and this time I was the first to kiss him. It was the slowest kiss ever, but my heart was beating wildly, and as Aiden brought me closer to him and encased me in his arms, I realized his heartbeat was just as fast as mine, if not quicker. As his tongue caressed mine and my hands gripped the fabric of his T-shirt on his back, I broke the kiss, pressing my forehead to Aiden's. We were both breathless. I struggled to swallow.

"Wow." I heard Aiden whisper. My hands glided over his back, and he rubbed mine gently, only that instead of calming me down, it made me want to do the same thing all over again.

"Aiden...I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

I was suddenly very uncomfortable. My inexperience was never a concern until now. But being together like this, I wondered if he could tell I didn't have any idea about what I was doing. Or, on the contrary, if he thought the same thing his father said to me during that disastrous encounter at school.

"Aiden, I'm...I'm not like that."

"Like what, Ellie?"

"When your father said that ugly stuff about opening my legs wider, well, you know you're the first I've done things with, and I have no idea about what to do and if I do it and you don't like it...You have more experience, and I'm just...being stupid, so..."

Aiden got up so fast I barely noticed the movement. I flicked the lamp switch. He was standing next to the bed now, his hair messy and eyes bright, chest moving up and down as if he tried to rein in an emotion. Which, I couldn't tell yet.

"Repeat that, Ellie."

"What?"

"The part of my father saying ugly stuff. When did that happen? And why do I know nothing about it?"

"That was before you came here that night, before you and me..."

"Kissed." He finished the sentence for me.

"Yes. We saw him at school when Louise and I had a meeting with Miss Johnson. He thinks I'm not good for you, and he wasn't thrilled to know we were friends."

A pause followed. I was at a loss about what to expect now that all my insecurities were out in the open. I came to doubt whether I was better off keeping those thoughts to myself. Then, Aiden spoke.

"There's no way in hell I am good for you, with my fucked-up family life and my psycho of a father."

I hated the look of despair on Aiden's face.

"You know that's not true. You know it, right? You're smart, smarter than me, and look at my family history, Aiden. I have Louise because I was lucky, hadn't it been for her I'd probably be somewhere in foster care...or worse."

I despised Aiden's father for being the one person who made Aiden's self-esteem low, consistently hurting him and making him doubt himself.

"Don't get upset. I didn't want you to; that's why I kept quiet."

"Okay. You have to eat and take the meds, and then we'll talk."

I led the way to the kitchen.

"Are you in a mood for anything in particular?" Aiden asked, looking at the contents of our recently restocked fridge.

I wasn't hungry; my thoughts were already racing toward the conversation Aiden wanted us to have.

"A sandwich is enough."

"A sandwich it is, then."

He took out the ingredients he'd need and got down to work. I watched Aiden prepare the things without a hint of clumsiness as if he'd done it a hundred times.

"Who cooks your meals?" I asked.

Aiden looked at me over his shoulder.

"I do. And before you imagine things and picture me in an apron and all that stuff chefs wear, I have to disappoint you. I'm a decent cook, but I'd hardly meet Thierry's criteria. I do have an apron for when things get messy, but I just cook to get by. Although I quite like it." He turned around, handing me the plate. "Here it goes."

I waited for Aiden as he made another sandwich for him and sat down.

The combination of flavors was delicious. "It's really good," I said between bites.

"I'm glad you like it, although it's nothing special."

"It is for me."

When we were done eating and tidying up the kitchen, I made us some tea.

"Living room?" I asked Aiden as he took his mug from me.

"Yeah, let's go."

I hoped the conversation we were about to have wouldn't be like the one that happened here yesterday. I sat on the sofa and brought the mug to my lips, sipping the hot drink. To my surprise, Aiden stood in the middle of the room and took the cell out of his pocket. After fiddling with it for a couple of seconds, he placed it on the coffee table and came up to me. All of a sudden, my mug was taken out of my hands, and Aiden put it next to the phone. I stared in wonder at Aiden's extended hand, unsure of what he wanted.

"Dance with me." He touched the screen of his phone, and a beautiful intro started to play. Hesitant, I put my hand in his, and he pulled me up. Then, he put my arms around his neck and hugged me. As the song continued playing, we were gently swaying in the middle of the room. I heard him sing softly, making me pay attention to the lyrics.

Our closeness was making me dizzy. I put my head on Aiden's shoulder and relaxed in his arms. The next song started to play. He continued singing, his lips moving against my temple. I wondered if it was the talk he had in mind. His hand moved up my back and came to rest at the nape of my neck. I looked up at him. His eyes focused on mine, and he stopped moving. The music was still playing in the background, but I was more aware of the sound of Aiden's breathing. That was until he spoke.

"Yesterday, you asked me if I trusted you. Now I'd like to know the same."

It certainly wasn't what I expected, and I looked at him quizzically.

"Every time we get close, you blush in that adorable way of yours. When I say something, when I kiss you, and sometimes even when I look at you."

I knew I was doing just that right now.

"See?" Aiden laughed softly, but his expression turned serious just as fast. "I don't need you to repeat the things my father said to you, Ellie. Do you know why?"

I didn't, and he went on. "Because I'd never think about you in that way. It's been a short time, and I might not know everything about you, but I know you. And you know me. I don't know what we are, but I know what I want us to be, and that is together. And that's why it makes me see red when I hear you being insecure when it comes to us.

"I don't give a damn about the experience you don't have. I've never lied to you, and yes, there was someone before, not that it matters. I might know more than you do, but with us, everything is for the first time, and it makes me happy that some of the things you've done were with me. Everything with you is a first for me as well. So, believe me when I say it — I won't do anything you don't want me to do. I won't touch or kiss you if you don't want it. You shouldn't be afraid, and you don't have to hide from me. But if you want it, just say it, and it's yours. Just do it."

I gave Aiden a timid smile.

"Yes, dammit. Just do it, just take it, and never doubt whether I'd like it or not. I like everything about you. I've seen you in that pumpkin costume for God's sake, and it was the cutest thing ever." He chuckled softly. "And there she goes and blushes again."

"Can't help it." I pressed my forehead to the crook of Aiden's neck.

The music stopped, and we stood in the middle of the dark room holding each other. Aiden broke the silence.

"Do you trust me?"

My palm caressed the slight stubble on his handsome face. "I do."

"Thank you."

I took his hand in mine. "I want to do something. Come with me?"

Looks like Ellie and Aiden had 'the talk'😃
In case someone's missing more action, bear with me for a little while. Soon, very soon.
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