“I do, Dad.” I smile. “I remember the past.”
Agnus doesn’t move and his expression remains the same. He really is ready, isn’t he?
“You do?” Dad’s face hardens. I don’t think he wanted me to remember.
Like Aunt, he doesn’t like me exposed to all that trauma. However, I think they understand that in order to overcome the trauma, I needed to have a recollection of it.
“I remember that night.” I nod in his right hand’s direction. “Agnus saved us all.”
“That he did.” Dad appears almost proud. “He really did.”
Agnus raises an eyebrow in my direction. Aiden simply smiles, shaking his head.
I meet Agnus’s unfeeling eyes with my own.
“We’ll talk later, princess.” Dad smiles at me then at Agnus and exits the hospital room.
Agnus nods at me. “Thank you.”
“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Dad.”
“My gratitude still stands. Ethan deserves a daughter like you.”
And then he’s out of the door.
“Ethan deserves a daughter like you,” I repeat with mockery. “Can you believe that shady man?”
“I can, actually.” Aiden strokes my hair back like he can’t stop touching me, a small smile lifting his lips.
“Hey, what do you keep smiling about?”
“Well, Agnus was certain you’d tell Ethan the truth because you’re righteous like your father. He was actually wrapping up things at the company. I told him you wouldn’t.”
“How could you be so sure?” Even I wasn’t until earlier.
“Because you love your father, and you’re the type who sacrifices for those they love. You know how much Ethan suffered by losing his family and that it would destroy him to lose his best friend of thirty-four years. Even though you don’t agree with what Agnus did, you understand why he did it and you know he’ll never hurt him. Deep down, you’re comfortable that there’s someone like Agnus protecting your father.”
I groan. “How the hell do you know me so well?”
“I stalk you on Instagram.” He winks.
I can’t help but chuckle. The sound soon turns into a cough.
“Hey, take it easy.” He strokes my cheek, his thumb caressing my lips. “If you give me such a fright one more time, I swear —”
Lifting my head, I close the distance between us and seal my mouth to his. I was dead for a moment, but he brought me back to life.
I can only feel alive if he’s touching me.
If he’s saying my name and calling me back to life. If he’s telling me things —
What I feel for you isn’t only love, obsession, or addiction. It’s all of those and more.
I pull back from his lips with a jolt. “Did you… Did you by any chance tell me you love me while I was feverish?”
A gleam sparks in his eyes. “Maybe.”
“Aiden! That’s not fair. You’re supposed to tell me that while I’m conscious.”