“Yes. I didn’t care if anyone saw. What else are they saying?” I asked.
“I’m still chuckling over Tate’s headline a while back, Does LAPD stand for Love All People Dutifully or Dearly as a certain Bar Owner claimed or Just Los Angeles Police Department. I think she meant what she said. Love Dearly, just not the ‘all’ part. A certain chief deputy maybe? Quick thinking girl, but no one bought that.”
I groaned. “You know I don’t read the MC Scoop. What else?”
“I don’t read it often either. But people talk at the coffee shop. I think Tate’s recent headline is To Kiss or Not To Kiss. That’s not the question. But rather if a certain runaway bride is heading to a different groom. Love is in the air or something like that.”
“Say it’s not so,” I whined.
“Surprisingly yes. But honestly, people seem happy for you and him. I don’t think they liked your fiancé much,” she laughed.
“He was only in town a few days and didn’t talk to many folks.”
“Exactly. They thought he was a pompous ass.”
“They were right,” I said. My dad had been right too. Then I blurted, “Aiden and I hooked up, then he asked me to move in with him.”
She choked up for a moment. “Okay. I need to take this step by step. How good was he?”
“Mind blowing?”
“Okay,” she said. “Not surprised, considering the rumors. I’m also not completely surprised he asked you to move in. You two have been headed in this direction since high school.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I asked.
“Too soon for who? How do you feel?”
How did I feel? “I’m scared it won’t work out.”
“Why? Because you’ve dated assholes before?”
“Exactly.”
“And you’ve known Aiden how long? Do you think he’s an asshole, really?”
“No. But he didn’t exactly have the best reputation when it came to girls in school.”
“What hot boy in town did when girls threw themselves at him?” she asked.
“Girls like Darcy?”
“Exactly like her. She pinned that boy down to the point of pain.”
“Pain?” I asked.
“Yeah, like painful to watch when everyone knew he wanted you.”
I burst out laughing. “Would it be weird if I thought I was in love with him?” I asked.
“Um… Let me think. You’ve known him how long again? We covered that right. And his parents too. It’s not like he’s some random dude you met on the street. I’d be shocked if you weren’t in love with him already. The boy had mad puppy dog eyes when he came in this morning wanting to get you coffee.”
“That was sweet.”
“Sweet. He’s damn near perfect.”
“You never said this about Evan.”
“Evan was an asshole. I supported you because that’s what best friends are for,” she said. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. The line is getting long. Tell Aiden you’ll move in with him and say the L word too.”
She hung up before I could comment. I thought about what I could do to make the night perfect.
I went to work early to do the books, check inventory, and place orders. I left after the lunch rush. Jack had been cleared of any wrongdoing, so I would let him do the job my father had given him.
At home, when I walked in, I felt different. I’d come to the decision that I couldn’t live here with all the memories. I also couldn’t give it up. I texted Aiden to come by after work as I went to my room and surveyed it. My room hadn’t changed much over the years except for what hung on the walls. Posters were gone, but the furniture was the same. I made a plan and went to work.
When Aiden arrived, dinner was ready. I marveled how easy it was to be with him. He walked in and greeted me with a kiss. It all felt so natural.
“You’re spoiling me,” he teased.
“I actually like cooking.” Which was true. “Dad and I would cook together.”
“We could do that.”
I granted him a big smile. “We could.”
As we ate, I said, “There is a reason why I asked you here.”
His brow arched.
I took a deep breath before speaking. “I wanted you to share with me my last meal in this house.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
I did my best to hold it together because it still was home. It always would be. “Before you asked, I’d already decided to move. It’s hard to be here without my parents.”
“You’re selling?”
I shook my head. “I can’t do that either. I thought about maybe turning it into a bed and breakfast. I think my parents would approve. It’s not like we have lodging in town.”
He looked impressed. “Wow. That sounds like a great idea.”
“I thought so. Plus, it will be something I did. A business I created on my own.”
“I like. You would have to get approval by the town council.”