“That’s enough!” I shout, and I’m surprised at my tone. I’m not one to get heated about things. The joke has always been that I’d agree to let someone in the house to murder us instead of being rude and asking them to leave. But right now, the only thing I feel is angry.
I’m angry that I agreed to this fake marriage with Savannah, I’m angry that the night was ruined because of it, and I’m angry that I can’t get to Caroline as fast as I want to.
Savannah lets out a humorless laugh and crosses her arms. “You can be pissed if you want, Aiden, but I’ve known you a very, very long time. And if you think I’m just going to let some freeloader march in and weasel her way into your life without any sort of fuss, then you really don’t know me.”
“I know right now you’re talking out of your ass. You don’t know her, and you don’t know what I feel for her.”
“Don’t tell me you’re in love.” She laughs for real this time and it’s like nails on a chalkboard.
I look out the window and think about what I feel when I’m with Caroline. I’ve never been happier than when she’s near me. We talk nonstop and it’s so easy. Isn’t that what love is supposed to be like? I’ve never been in love before, so I wouldn’t know, but I do know that the feelings I have with her I never want to end.
The limo comes to a stop and Savannah is all too eager to get out of the car. Before she closes the door she looks back at me and narrows her eyes.
“Go ahead and have your fun, Aiden. Just remember that you’re rich and powerful and aren’t the ugliest guy in the city. Women will use you and try to trap you. Make sure she isn’t trying to get into your pants just to get into your bank account.”
“It’s not like that,” I say as I grip the door handle.
Savannah gives me a smug smile. “Look me in the face and tell me you weren’t going to fuck her tonight if you didn’t already promise me you were going with me?”
“That’s none of your fucking business,” I say, grinding my teeth.
“Do what you’ve got to do, but leave the trash by the curb.” She slams the door and before I’m able to respond the driver hits the gas and we’re off.
I don’t know what the hell her deal is. When I got home I had intentions of getting dressed and rushing back out to see Caroline as quickly as possible. But when I got there, Savannah was already dressed up and sitting at the bar in the kitchen waiting on me. I couldn’t just leave her there alone and I felt really bad that I’d already promised her and made her get the tickets. She told me her dad was going and I knew I couldn’t let her go alone. He’s awful to her with his comments about her weight and her clothing, even how she wears her hair. She can’t ever win and I knew if she went without me it would be even worse.
It’s the reason why we got married to begin with. Not only did our families arrange it, but I knew that it would finally be a chance for him to ease up on her. It didn’t last long before he started the comments about her not getting pregnant. Never mind that the two of us are virgins and haven’t even so much as kissed. We didn’t even do it on our wedding day. We made the priest skip that part and we walked down the aisle as quickly as we could. This was all to make him happy and it’s taken some time to realize he never would be.
Me falling in love wasn’t part of the deal. I honestly believed it would never happen. I just assumed I was missing that part of my brain that found other people attractive, making me a perfect husband for Savannah. I had no attraction to her, and I wouldn’t need to have my own love life. But the moment I saw Caroline everything changed.
I found myself hanging off of her every word and unable to take my eyes off her. The simplest touch, the slightest movement and I catalogued it all. There was nothing about her I didn’t notice or remember and I’ve never been that way before. I’ve known Savannah my entire life and I couldn’t tell you what her favorite flavor of ice cream is, or which side she parts her hair on. But in the time I’ve known Caroline I’ve memorized it all and I’m desperate for all of it. I need to know every aspect of her life and habits and then I want to make a future with her.