Chapter 14

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MARCH 11TH

H A I L E Y

I am going to jump out of my window.

He cornered me so that I couldn't escape.

"Hailey, just think about it. The Romano's have been running his company for over 100 years," my dad tries to convince me once again to take over his company.

I moved my eyes over to my window. I don't think I'd die if I jumped out of it....

"I don't understand why you're being so stubborn about this," he continued, his tone showing his frustration and lack of understanding.ย 

I rolled my eyes, "I'm telling you no and you aren't respecting that."

"Because this is what you are meant to do! Why would you rather be an accountant than a CEO?" he questions, and I feel as if he were belittling me and what I want to do with my life.

I stood up from my bed in frustration, "Because! Because. Thats all the explanation I need. I just don't want to, and thats a valid enough reason. I'm not taking over the company."

"Stop acting so self-righteous! Don't you care about our legacy?"

"No."

A scoff came out of his mouth, and I just shrugged. At least I'm being honest?ย 

My mom suddenly appeared in the doorframe and said to my dad, "Why don't you go downstairs, honey. I'll talk to her."

My dad rolled his eyes, but he listened. He exited my bedroom and once he was fully out I held two middle fingers out to where he had been standing. My mom smiled and walked over to me, "He's just stressed. He's retiring soon and was counting on you to take it over, so now he's going to have to find somebody else."

"I don't want to take it over, Mom," I confided in her, knowing her reaction would be different than my dad's.ย 

She nodded, "I know, I understand. He is just a very stubborn man."

I sighed, sitting back down on my bed. Now that there was tension in the air here, I didn't really wanna be here. She gave my arm a squeeze before exiting my room, and I got up to get changed. Once I was dressed I grabbed my bag before exiting my house, going to go for a walk to Central Park.

I can't wait for it to be April. I love the weather in April.

Once I got to Central Park I took a seat on a bench, letting my skin soak in the sun. It wasn't cold but it wasn't hot. I just wanted to be alone right now, my dad is driving me crazy.

But of course, I couldn't just be left alone. I felt somebody sit down beside me, but I kept my eyes shut. The familiar man's voice spoke, "Having a rough day?"

I opened my eyes and saw Ricard sitting next to me. I sighed, "Maybe."

He nodded his head, "Wanna talk about it?"

To Aero. Or Reid. Not him.

"No."

"No worries, we don't have to then. Where's Aero?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. We do this thing where we don't text each other."

"Romantic," Ricard said, making me actually turn to face him.

A smile appeared on his face. He had dark brown hair and eyes, looking to be in his mid-30s. He was wearing a business suit which made me ask him, "Why are you wearing a suit?"

"I was on my way to a meeting when I saw you sitting here. I thought you may want some company," he shrugged.

I raised my eyebrows at him, "I hope you know how weird that seems. No offense or anything."

He laughed, revealing his straight white teeth. He put his hands up, "Just wanted to check on Aeros girl."

Aeros girl?

I pulled out my phone secretly and texted Aero for the first time ever. I asked him, 'Talking about me to your friends again?'

I was expecting him to be busy and not answer me for a couple of hours, if at all. But instead, he responded instantly, 'Where are you.'

'1234 F-ing your dad lane.'

'Jk. I'm not actually. Don't tell him I said that please.'ย 

He just responded, 'Where. Are. You.'

'Central Park.'

I turned my phone off and turned back to Ricard, who was gone now. What the hell? I sighed, leaning my head back against the bench. I only have 2 days until Reid's party and I still don't know what I'm gonna get him. I know that he's all like, "You don't have to get me anything" but I know him well enough to know that if I don't he will probably bring it up for the next year.ย 

"Who was here with you?" Aero's voice spoke, making jump.

I held my hand over my heart, "Jesus, Aero. How are you so quiet?"ย 

He remained standing, not sitting down. He repeated his question, "Who was here with you?"

"My new bestie Ricard," I force a smile and say in an overly sweet voice.ย 

A muscle twitched in his jaw and he looked to the side. He asked me, "What did he say to you?"

I stood up and walked over to him. I grabbed his arm and forced him to walk with me, "Nothing."

His face remained cold, like he was pissed that I talked to Ricard. I know that he said they aren't friends, but its not like I asked him to braid my hair and buy me a friendship bracelet. After a while of walking in silence, he asked me, "What's wrong?"

I was still a little upset about my fight with my dad. But I didn't really want to drag his mood down or anything, my problems are my problems and I don't want to upset anybody else with them. So I looked at him with a smile, "Nothing. Do you want to get ice cream again?"

"No."

I couldn't help but frown. We continued to walk, and I remained silent. I didn't really want to go home, but if Aero doesn't want to hang out with me, then I don't have a choice. Reid is with Bruno, so I can't go and see him either.

I furrowed my eyebrows as Aero started walking away from me. I was about to ask him what he was doing, until I saw him walking towards an ice cream shop.ย 

He held the door open for me while staring. He asked me, "Well? You coming?"

I quickly walked into the shop with a huge smile on my face, and I could've sworn I saw him smile at this. Although it was probably just my imagination wanting to see him smile.ย 

We got the exact same thing as last time, but this time we sat and ate inside. We sat by a window and could see everybody walking past us on the sidewalk. I pointed to a random man walking past us with my spoon and asked Aero, "What do you think he's on his way to do?"

"Hopefully for him, not eat ice cream with a girl like you," he said with a teasing tone.

I shrugged, "I know I'm annoying. But hopefully, I have some other qualities that make up for it."

"You aren't annoying, Hailey," his response is instant.ย 

My eyebrows knitted together. He literally calls me annoying, like all the time. I started to talk, "But-"

He cut me off, "Don't listen to the shit I say, I'm an asshole. You aren't annoying at all, in fact your personality is so amazing that I crave it when I'm not around you."

My eyebrows went up at his words and his eyes widened like he didn't mean to say that. My stomach felt warm and he swore to himself.ย 

I could tell that he hadn't meant to say that, so I didn't want to push him about it. I changed the topic, "We had sex the other day."

What. The. Fuck.

What is wrong with my brain.

"We did," He leaned forward on his elbows to whisper the next part, "And it was the best sex I've ever had."

I could feel my cheeks grow hot so I looked away and took a bite of my ice cream to cool down. He smirked, being able to see what I was doing. I cleared my throat before talking, "What colour are you wearing to Reids party?"

"Black."

I shook my head, "No. I was thinking you could wear purple?"

"I'm not wearing purple."

I sighed, "Pretty please?"

"No."

I grabbed my napkin and pressed it into a ball before throwing it at his chest. He looked down at it once it landed back on the table and spoke in a monotone voice, "Ouch."

I laughed and continued to eat my ice cream. He ate a little of his, but not all of it. Once we were done, we exited the shop. The sun was now setting but the streets remained busy. We started walking towards where I assumed he left his car. Somebody walking past us in the opposite direction hit my shoulder, making me almost fall. Aero grabbed onto me to stop me from falling, before linking his hand with mine. My eyes widened at the sign of affection, yet my heart fluttered at it.

I could feel his veins on his hand with my fingers and said, "You'd probably have an easy time doing heroin."

He looked at me while raising his eyebrows and I quickly went, "Not that you should. Or do. I'd kill you if did. I just-"

He pressed his lips against mine, getting me to shut up. When he pulled away I was left speechless at how amazing he is at kissing. The corners of his mouth turned up at this and we continued walking. I furrowed my eyebrows, "You only did that to get me to shut up, didn't you?"

"Yup," He said with a smile. A real genuine smile.

We got to his car and I felt a little disappointed that he started driving in the direction of my house. I didn't want to see my dad, and I did want to be around Aero. But I bit my tongue until he pulled into my driveway.

I let out a breath of relief seeing that both my dads and moms cars were gone. Aero met my mom one time a few years ago, but he's never met my dad.ย 

I gathered the courage to ask, "Want to come inside for a bit?"

He stared at me for a second, like he was really considering the question. He took a moment, running his tongue along his top teeth. He eventually said, "I do."

We walked inside of my house and went upstairs to my room. I walked over to my bed and sat down on the end of it, watching his eyes scan around my room. He walked over to the painting that was pressed against the wall and I felt so stupid that I forgot to put it in my closet.

He bent down in front of it and I said, "I know its not great, its nothing like the original. I just-"

He cut me off, "It's beautiful."

It was a painting of his favourite one that he showed me at the art museum, but I used different colours. Black and Lilac.

I smiled at his words and he stood up, walking over to sit beside me. He turned to look at me and asked, "Do you have class tomorrow?"

I nodded my head. I have class tomorrow and then Reid wanted my help getting his party set up for the next day. Nobody loves their own birthday more than Reid.ย 

"Can I see you between classes?" He asked me.

Duh.

"Yea, I have a 1 hour break from 3 to 4."

He nodded his head, "Good."

He looked down at his watch and a quick frown formed on his face. He looked back at me and said, "I've got to go do something for work. I'll see you tomorrow at 3, don't be expecting a text first."

I laughed as he stood up to leave. I watched him as he exited my room and headed down my stairs. I heard my front door close and I turned to look at where he had been sitting a few minutes ago. I couldn't help but smile.ย 

I already can't wait to see him again.

Word Count: 2025


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