Eventually she falls asleep. I hold her close. Hold her tight. She slides her way inside my heart. Whitney is the one.
I wake up to the sunrise and Aaron. What more could a girl ask for?
“Morning, gorgeous.”
That. I could ask for that. Aaron’s sleepy voice in my ear telling me good morning. I’ll take this moment every day, please and thank you.
“Morning,” I say, looking up. He’s watching me closely. Snippets of last night flash through my mind. Oh no. I broke down, and Aaron, he was great. More than I could have asked for.
Sitting up, he reaches for me. “Come here. I want to watch this with you in my arms.” He points to the sky.
I don’t waste time settling between his legs. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. Neither one of us speaks as we watch the sun rise above the trees. The silence is comfortable; so is he. I relax further against him and he holds me a little tighter. It feels like this is different, but I know it’s just because my emotions are raw. I’m embarrassed that I fell apart last night, but Aaron, he doesn’t seem to mind. He just holds me close as we enjoy one of nature’s beauties.
Once the sun is high in the sky, I know I need to break the silence. “Aaron, about last night.” I turn to face him.
“Shh.” He places his fingers over my lips. “Last night, I got to spend time with this amazing girl. She’s fucking gorgeous, kind, sweet, and she needed me. I held her while she finally felt what she’s been holding in for far too long, and I wouldn’t change it, not for a minute.” He leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “I take that back. I would change one thing. I would take it away if I could. I would take away every tear, every ounce of pain, but I can’t and I know that. So instead, I’m going to be there. Every time you need me, I’ll be there. I’ll get you through this, Whit. I know you miss her, babe. I know it hurts. Hell, I can’t even imagine, but you are not alone. Not anymore.”
I try hard to fight the tears, but my emotions are just too raw. I feel the hot tears slide down my cheeks. Aaron wipes them with his thumbs. “I got you.” He winks. I smile through my tears. “There she is.” He caresses my face. “Now, what are your plans for today?”
“Laundry.”
“Right. Okay. Let’s go back to the house, grab some breakfast. I need a quick shower. I’ll have you follow me over to Evan and McKinley’s to return her car, and then we’ll head to your place and do some laundry.”
My mouth falls open in shock. “You want to hang out at my house and do laundry?”
“Are you going to be there?”
“Well, yeah—”
He cuts me off. “Then yes, that is exactly what I want to do today. Up you go.” He pats my thigh, and I stand up.
I help him gather the blankets and pillows. It doesn’t hit me until we get back to his house that it’s also his parents.’ “I can’t go in there,” I tell him.
“What? Of course you can.”
“Aaron, your parents.”
“What about my parents? We’re adults, Whit. Besides, my momma would kick my ass if I didn’t make sure you had breakfast. Trust me.”
I nod and follow him into the house. “Uncle Aaron has hugs. Anyone know of a little girl who might need one?” he calls as we enter.
The pitter-patter of little feet comes barreling down the hall. “My do!” Lexi says, launching herself at Aaron. I’ve seen him with her so many times, and it never ceases to melt my heart.
“Mamaw made eggs.” Lexi sticks out her tongue.
“Yum, I love me some eggs. Bacon too?” he asks her.
Lexi nods.
“Whit.” He reaches his hand out to me. I place mine in his and he pulls me to them, still holding her on his hip. “You like eggs and bacon?” he asks.
I do, but I have a feeling I need to play it up for Lexi. “Love it, actually.” I smile at her.
“Rewilly?” she asks, surprised.
“Definitely,” I assure her.
“Did your mommy and mamaw make vem for you?”
Aaron stiffens beside me. I rest my hand on his chest, letting him know I’m okay. “They sure did. We always ate them together. It was kind of a tradition.”
She scrunches up her little nose. “What’s that?”
Aaron and I both chuckle. “It’s something you do at the same time. Like eating breakfast with your family every morning. Those are important times, memories you will never forget.” Lexi leans out and holds her arms out to me. I step out of Aaron’s embrace and take her.
“You eat wif me?”
“Of course I will.”
“Yay!” She wiggles out of my arms, so I set her on her feet. She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the kitchen. I feel Aaron grab my other hand and that’s how the three of us enter the kitchen. His parents take in the scene and smile, shaking their heads.
“Lexi girl, let our guest sit,” Aaron’s mom tells her.
“She sits wif me,” Lexi says, climbing into the chair. Aaron immediately holds the back of it, bracing it for her to climb up safely. He then pulls out the chair next to her and motions for me to sit. He squeezes my shoulders before walking to the stove, kissing his mom on the cheek, and then sliding into the seat across from me.
“Dig in,” his dad says, taking a heaping spoon of scrambled eggs, adding a little to Lexi’s plate, and passing the bowl to me.
“Thank you,” I say softly. I take a small spoonful and pass them over to Aaron. His hand brushes mine and he winks. His mom grins.
“So what do you kids have planned for the day?” she asks.
“Laundry,” Aaron says, passing her the eggs. She stares at him for a minute before she schools her features and adds some eggs to her plate as well.
“Really?” she asks.
“Yeah, Whit needs to catch up, so we are heading to her place after we drop off Kinley’s car.” He looks at Lex. “You ready to go home, kiddo?”
“My brover’s here too,” she reminds him.
We all laugh at her. “I know, we’ll take him too,” Aaron agrees.
“Otay,” she says, shoveling in a huge bite of eggs. For a little girl who didn’t seem thrilled about them, she sure is eating good.