by Nikki Chase
“And that’s . . . okay?” I ask, confused.
“My plan has always been to make enough money so my mom won’t have to work so hard anymore. I’ll take care of her the way she’s always taken care of me. But princess, any financial hit we take will only be temporary. What we have . . . that’s forever.”
I look deep into Aiden’s eyes, searching for the truth. Does he mean that?
“Think about it this way,” he says. “Your dad’s money bought us time. If we didn't pay my dad’s loan sharks, we would've been on the hook for that. But because we already paid them with your dad’s money, they left us alone. We’ve had years of relative peace.
“I love you, princess. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he says. “I’ve wasted ten miserable years without you, and now I want you to be by my side for the rest of my days . . . if you’ll have me.”
“But Aiden… are you sure that’s okay?”
Bankruptcy sounds like such a scary word. I’ve heard stories of people committing suicide after bankruptcy, and I can’t wrap my head around the idea that it could be an acceptable option.
“I’ll go through anything to be with you. But I don’t know if you’ll still want me after that. If that’s the path we choose, maybe we shouldn’t get married or even live together. I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to a finance person about this. I don’t want my wrecked finances to affect you.
“I’ve been trying to come up with a plan on my way here, and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I’ll work out the details later. All that matters is I have you. I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I have you.”
I study his features. He seems serious.
I had trouble trusting him after that rainy night when I ran away from home ten years ago, and he didn’t show up to meet me.
But now that I know the truth about what actually happened, I can’t continue blaming him. It wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t even in Nevada. He had no idea I was waiting for him.
Still, there’s a small seed of doubt inside me…
“Aiden, there’s something else you should know,” I say, my heart hammering inside me. My body is shaking, and I don’t know if it’s because my clothes are wet, or because I’m terrified of Aiden turning back and running away after hearing what I have to say.
“Tell me,” Aiden says. “And stop looking so worried. I may not have money, but I’m resourceful, princess. With everything I’ve got, I’ll fix this for you.”
I wish he wouldn’t speak so soon. Everything he’s said so far sounds so good, and I don’t want him to take any of it back.
But I’m terrified that he will. And then I’ll end up lying in my bed every night, replaying all the sweet words he said while I cry myself to sleep.
Last time circumstances tore us apart, it took me a couple of years to fully function again, to be able to see color in the world again, to finally laugh again. If he has to leave me for the second time, after I’ve grown attached to the idea of sharing my whole life with him, I’m not sure I can survive that and still remain the same person.
I tried to date other people the first time we parted, but if it happens again, I don’t think I’ll even bother. I can’t love anyone else—not the way I love Aiden. After knowing how good love can be with him, I won’t settle for anything less.
If I can’t be with Aiden, I’ll be alone my whole life.
My dad’s wrong. No matter how long or how hard he tries, he won’t get me to marry any one of the rich guys he introduces to me. If anything, I’m more determined than ever to dismiss those guys.
“What is it, princess? What’s gotten you so worried?” Aiden asks softly, his gaze tender.
I swallow my nerves. I have to tell him, even if it means he’ll leave me, never to return again.
I can’t be selfish and hide something this big from him. I’d be just like my dad if I did that. Besides, he’ll probably find out once Dad hears news of us getting back together and does his best to get Aiden fired.
“My dad . . .” I pause. It’s so hard to get the words out.
I’m not used to talking to people about my family problems. I’ve always been taught by my parents that what happens in our home, stays in our home. It’s a screwed-up version of our city’s slogan.
I fight back against decades of conditioning and get it all out in one breath. “If my dad finds out about us . . . I mean when he finds out about us, he’ll talk to Dr. Harris and persuade him to fire you.”
Aiden’s lips tighten, but he doesn’t seem surprised. “I thought he might do something like that.” When he notices my bewildered facial expression, he adds, “I know your dad has a lot of influence. He’s capable of doing that, and I know from experience that he doesn’t hesitate to use all the weapons in his arsenal when he really wants to win.
“I’ve thought about this, believe it or not,” Aiden says with a big smile on his handsome face. “Listen, I’ve never had much money, and I’ve always survived fine. I’ve never needed money to be happy. Hell, I don’t have much money now, and I’m happy, just because I’ve found you again, and God, the way you’re looking at me right now . . . That makes all those threats seem so unimportant.
“I’ve always been a pretty happy guy, even without money. When you're around, I’m happier than I've ever been. When you're gone, I’m more miserable than I’ve ever been.
“Princess, you're all that matters to me. I don't care about money.”
“What about your career?” I ask. Seeing as he’s spent a lot of money on his education and he's about to get hit with a huge bill from my dad, I don't know how he's fine with everything.
“I don't have to practice medicine, princess. Do you know how much demand there is for med school graduates in the corporate world? They need people like me to evaluate insurance claims, translate medical jargon, provide medical advice . . . That's always been my backup plan should I not get an internship position.
“Princess, I’m telling you, you don't have to worry about me. I hate to say this, but the way you're ‘protecting’ me against my will?” Aiden draws quotes in the air with his fingers. “You're acting like your dad.”
I gasp.
“That's right. I said it,” Aiden teases me.
I can't help but see his point. I guess my dad and I aren't too different after all. “Don't ever say that anymore.”
“You seem so much more relaxed now.” Aiden smiles.
“Yeah. You always know exactly what to say.”
“Then listen closely.” Aiden gazes deep into my soul. “As long as you're in my life, I can be happy. I don't need anything else. So I don't care what your dad threatens to do to me. We belong together, and you know it. Why else did we keep meeting each other by chance?” Aiden blurs in my vision as tears spring forth. “We're meant to be together.”
“You think so?” My voice is tiny and uncertain.
“Yeah. I’ll bet even if we part ways now, we’ll find our way back to each other again. We’re like magnets, princess. We’ll always find our way back to each other.”
The corners of my lips tug up slightly.
“There's that smile,” Aiden says, watching my face intensely.
I close my eyes as he leans in and presses his lips against my smile.
He tastes like rain. And he feels like rain, washing away everything—all my doubts and fears. This is a new beginning.
For the first time, I’m hopeful about us. For the first time, it seems possible for our relationship to work in the long term.
“Don’t worry. Okay, princess?” Aiden says breathlessly as he pulls away from the kiss. “I’ll make sure everything’s fine. I’m like a cockroach. I survive. It’s what I do.”
“What about your mom?” I ask.
“We’re family. She’s like a cockroach too. She’ll survive. Besides, she agreed to that deal, too. She’s not innocent, princess.”
My chest tightens. This is bittersweet.
I’m happ
y beyond belief about Aiden finding me and showing me just how much he’s willing to go through for me. At the same time, I don't like having to make war with our own families just to stay together.
I look into Aiden’s resolute eyes, trying to borrow some of his strength.
“I know, princess,” Aiden says as he strokes my hair. “They’ll understand someday. Don’t worry. We’re not doing anything wrong. If we just keep resisting, I’m sure, eventually, they’ll see what a crazy circus they’ve turned this into . . . right?”
Did he just get inside my head and read my thoughts?
“I hope so,” I say.
“So for now, all we have to do is enjoy our time as much as we can, and save our strength for the next storm, when your dad finds out about me being here.”
“Ugh, I’m so not looking forward to that.”
“Me neither.” Aiden pauses. A smirk plays on his lips. “You think it’ll be harder for him to find you if you’re staying with me in my hotel room?”
“You have a hotel room?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure you were here.”
“So you flew here on a hunch?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” Aiden shrugs. “I’d do anything for you, princess. I told you. I love you.”
When the only man who’s ever reigned in my heart says something like that, there’s only one way for me to respond. “I love you, too.”
Maybe I’ve been a spoiled brat my whole life. I can’t imagine a good life without money. But Aiden’s right. There’s more to life than finances. Dad can do his worst, but we’re young; we’ll rebuild. If Dad goes after Aiden, he’s going after me, too, because his problems are my problems too.
“So . . . come to my hotel room?” Aiden asks in a low, inviting voice. “I have a big bathtub that can fit the two of us, and room service.”
I giggle. I feel like a schoolgirl who’s about to skip my class. My dad wants me to stay at Hannah’s, and yet here I am, pulling a jailbreak less than twenty-four hours since my arrest.
“Okay,” I say, returning Aiden’s wicked grin.
It’s crazy how my whole world was crumbling just a few minutes ago. But with just a few words from Aiden, suddenly, everything is fine again. Life is good again.
Aubrey
I slip into the hotel room as Aiden closes the door behind me. The bed sheets look pristine; not a wrinkle in sight. Aiden must’ve gone straight to Hannah and Earl's place right after checking in.
A dark-blue duffel bag lies on the lone sofa by the window. That’s probably the only thing that belongs to Aiden in this room. I feel a curious urge to go over there and see what's inside the bag. What does Aiden pack when he travels? Does he pack his own toiletries or does he just use whatever the hotel provides? Do his things smell like him? Every little thing about him makes me curious. I kind of want to go there and sniff.
But then again, the real Aiden is just behind me. I keep walking until I reach the window.
The building right across the street is a gray ugly monstrosity that blocks absolutely everything. I peer down to see a secluded alley, completely empty now, even though the rain has abruptly stopped. But hey, it's not like we were planning on people-watching tonight.
“Nice view.” I twist over my shoulder and grin at Aiden.
“Yeah, well, I booked this room from a cab at the last minute. I’m just glad there are sheets on the bed.”
I laugh. “What kind of hotels have you been staying at where they don’t have bed sheets?”
“I don’t,” Aiden says, approaching me from behind and wrapping his arms around my waist. “I don’t usually stay at hotels. When I travel on my own I’m more of a couch-surfer than a hotel-stayer. But . . .”
Aiden leans in and speaks softly in my ear, his hot breath sending goosebumps down my arms.
“But since I knew I was going to bring a girl back with me . . . You know, I thought it would be kind of weird to do it on my high school friend’s pull-out sofa bed.”
“Oh? You knew you were going to bring a girl back with you, huh?” I ask, trying to ignore the cloud of arousal fogging up my mind. “So let me get this straight, you knew this was going to happen?”
“Yeah.” Aiden whispers and nibbles on my earlobe.
“That was presumptuous of you,” I say in mock anger.
“And yet . . . here you are. So I was right after all,” he says as he drags his lips down my neck.
I shudder, unable to resist Aiden’s tempting invitation to turn off my thoughts for a while and let my instincts take over.
“Face it, princess,” he says as his hand slides up between my breasts to wrap around my neck—confident, firm, and possessive. “You’re mine. I know you. I knew you were not going to leave me unless you had to do it for my sake. I knew you were going to realize you were making a mistake as soon as you saw me. And you did, didn’t you?” Aiden asks, his face so close that I can feel his breath on my cheek.
“Yeah,” I sigh. I try to nod, but I can’t move my head because of Aiden’s hand around my neck. His hold is painless but firm. He’s not trying to hurt me. He just wants to show me I belong to him. Completely.
“Don’t run away from me again, princess. Don’t even bother. Because I’ll find you. I’ll always find you.” Aiden plants a light kiss on my neck. “Promise me.”
“I promise you, A. I won’t ever leave you again.” Emotions expand in my chest and rises up to my throat. Before I know it, tears spring up to my eyes and roll down my skin.
Aiden takes his hand off my neck and wipes my tears away with his thumb. “Are you okay, princess? I wasn’t hurting you, was I?” he asks nervously.
“No,” I say, my voice shaking. “I just . . .” I turn around to face him and bury myself in his broad chest. “I can’t imagine having to leave you again. I won’t be able to survive that.” More tears escape my eyes.
“Oh, princess.” Aiden wraps his arms around me and strokes my hair. “Nothing’s going to keep us apart again. I promise you that. You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I say, sniffling.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No.” I pause. “If anything, what you were doing . . . That was hot. I can’t believe I’m crying again. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s been an emotional day.”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
I melt into Aiden’s warmth. I can’t help but smile as his musky scent fills my head. I feel so safe here, with his strong arms shielding me from the outside world.
And then, Aiden’s phone rings.
“Let me just switch it to silent,” Aiden says as he reaches into the back pocket of his jeans. When he looks at the screen, he frowns. “It’s Earl.”
We look at each other. Should we take this call?
“It could be important,” we both say, almost at the same time.
We laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll take the call,” Aiden says. He taps the screen and puts the phone up to his ear. “Hello,” he says into the phone. He looks at me. “Yeah, she’s here. Just a second.” To me, he mouths, “It’s Hannah.”
I take the phone from Aiden. “Hi Hannah.”
“Hey. Where’d you go?”
“Oh, I’m at, um, Aiden’s hotel.”
“Oh, so that’s why you were in such a rush you forgot your luggage.” Hannah says in a teasing voice. She adds, “And your sister. I thought you were still in the hallway until Marcus told me you’d left.”
“Sorry.” I giggle.
“So you’re doing this? You’re going up against Dad?” Hannah asks.
“Yeah.” My heart beats faster.
I’m worried my sister’s going to tell me that’s a bad idea. We both know how difficult Dad can be and how much he hates to lose. That’s why he pushes us to excel in our studies—because he sees our wins as his own, and our losses too.
“Good for you,” Hannah says, to my surprise.
“Really?” I blurt
out.
“Of course. I hate watching Dad bully you like this. I was hoping the two of you were going to stand up to him, but I knew it was going to be risky. Are you prepared for the consequences?”
“Yes,” I say confidently.
“Good.” Hannah hesitates before she asks, “So I take it Aiden may lose his job and get hit with the debt?”
“Yeah.”
“What about you? If Dad told the hospital you quit . . .”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll try to talk to the hospital and tell them it was a misunderstanding. But if they won’t take me back, I’m sure Dad’s going to hire me anyway. He’s just as invested in my medical career as I am.”
“Listen, we can discuss the details later, but I’ve been thinking about staging an intervention. Dad’s controlling tendencies have gotten out of control.”
“Sounds interesting,” I say, intrigued.
“Yeah. I’m still reading up on it. Most of the articles I’ve found online, so far, address addiction, but I totally think Dad’s addicted to power. Like, power over your life . . . you know? I’m lucky that what I want and what Dad wants seem to overlap most of the time, but he’s trying to make you live a life that’s not yours, and that’s not okay.”
“Yeah.”
“So one of the things we should do, according to what I’ve read so far, is give Dad consequences for his actions.”
“Like what?” I frown. If there’s any way I can get back at Dad, I’d love to find out. All my life, I’ve been powerless against him.
“Okay, um . . . I feel like a bad mom for even thinking about this. But these articles say that consequences are important for an intervention to be successful. They motivate the addict to change his behavior.”
“What is it?” Now I’m really curious.
“This one article suggests not allowing the addict to see his children. I’m thinking if we band together . . . Dad can be a jerk, but he loves spending time with family . . .” Hannah’s voice trails off, as if she can’t bring herself to say exactly what she plans to do.
“So you mean we’re going to cut contact with Dad?” I ask as I share a look with Aiden.