We drive through town, and when I think he’s going to merge left onto the interstate and head toward the city, he surprises me by turning right.
“Please? You know how much I hate surprises.” I give him my biggest puppy dog eyes, and he folds.
“Fine, one hint, and then you have to promise never to look at me like that again.”
I laugh. “Just give me the damn hint.”
“I’m taking you to the place we first met.”
“You’re taking me to my parents’ house?”
Aiden glances at me like I’m crazy. “You really think I’d take you to your parents’ house on our first date?”
“It’s the first place we met.”
“Actually, it’s not. Think a little harder, Ms. Donovan.”
“Fine, your parents’ house?”
“Nope.”
“Yes.”
“Nope.”
I roll my eyes, and he laughs. “We first met when I moved in next door to you.”
He shakes his head. “No, we didn’t.”
“Yes, we did. You were in the driveway trying to play basketball. You took a shot and missed. Your ball rolled into our yard, and I grabbed it.”
“That was the second time we met.”
Is he crazy? “No, I’m pretty sure—”
“Look.” Aiden pulls into a parking lot and nods toward the front of the car. I’d been so busy arguing with him that I didn’t realize we’d made it to our destination.
I turn in my seat, and when I see the giant grey building, I laugh and shake my head. “Oh, no. Hell, no.”
“Yes.” Aiden smiles, puts the car in park, and gets out. I turn around, watch him grab a duffle bag, and when he stops outside of the passenger door, I hit the lock.
“You do realize that I have the keys, right?” he says through the glass.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I fake whine.
He reaches into his pocket, and a second later, the doors unlock, and he opens mine. “Because this is where our friendship started,” he says, holding out his hand. I slip my fingers around his and let him help me from the car. “It’s only fitting that it’s where our relationship starts.”
“Or ends. I’ll probably kill myself in there.”
He laughs. “Haven’t you learned by now?”
“Learned what? That I suck at this? Yes, yes I have.”
Aiden wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me to the front door. “That I’ll never let anything bad happen to you.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Wallace.”
He kisses the side of my head and opens the door to the building. “Trust me.”