Can this day get any worse?
White knuckling the steering wheel, I shake it violently in exasperation.
A line of blood trickles down my temple mixing with my tears. Slowly, I unbuckle my seat belt and step out of my car into the freezing rain to make sure the driver of the other vehicle is all right.
Serves me right for taking my eyes off the damn road.
The driver’s door swings open.
My heart leaps into my throat when Aiden steps out—suit, disheveled hair, fucking perfect. He instantly rushes to my side. I didn’t even notice the car he’s driving is actually Mike’s.
“You’re bleeding.” Aiden takes a handkerchief from his pocket and presses it to my head.
I grimace at the jolt of pain as he places it against me, but honestly, just having him near me right now is making everything better. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t see where I was going.”
“Why are you crying?”
“What do you expect?” I pause a little, trying to catch my breath. “What are you doing here?”
Aiden exhales. “I was coming to see you.” He pulls my chin up so I can look at him.
“You were?”
“I love you,” he states convincingly.
My heart stops, then thuds back into motion, pounding hard and fast as all the emotion of the past month rushes over me. Those butterflies come back with a vengeance, but this time in a particularly good way. I smile slightly as I stare into his eyes—his bright blue, mesmerizing eyes that are staring right back into mine.
“I love you, too. So much. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t blame you for anything. I was just angry, no… frustrated, because I didn’t know how to handle any of it. I dealt with everything so badly. Then Sandy—”
Aiden puts his finger up to my lips to quiet me. “Shut up and kiss me.” He pulls me into a tight embrace, leans down, and kisses me. That familiar surge of electricity flows with ease between us, sending those butterflies into a flying frenzy. The feel of his lips on mine again after so long apart, fills me with pure happiness. His tongue finds mine, and every emotion I’ve ever felt for Aiden floods back like a whirlwind, reminding me why I should never have left him in the first place. It’s like time stops, and at last we’re here together, like we were always meant to be.
Cars honk their horns as they drive past, splashing water over us, pulling us back into reality. Aiden takes his lips from mine as we both laugh. He tucks some loose, drenched hair behind my ear and stares into my wet eyes lovingly. “Jeni, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“No, it wasn’t your fault. I was frustrated that Jason could get to me so easily. I think it confused everything. There’s so much leftover anger toward Jason which was directed at the wrong man. So, I took it out on the one person I love the most. I’m so deeply and utterly in love with you, Aiden. I always have been. That’s why it hurt so much. It tore me apart to be away from you, but my head and heart were telling me completely different things. I never want to feel that way again. The pain, the hurt, the confusion, the frustration… it utterly paralyzed me.”
Aiden says nothing, but he places his arms around my body and holds onto me tightly. The feeling of being back in his arms once again gives me goosebumps like never before. He makes me feel safe. I don’t know why I ever thought any differently because right now, in his arms, I couldn’t feel more loved, cherished, and above all, protected.
Aiden picks me up by my waist and twirls me in a circle. I giggle, feeling lighter and undeniably happy to be in his arms again. Back home, right where I’m meant to be.
My eyes slowly flutter open. I’m in my bed as I recall my dream of crashing into Aiden and us getting back together. It was perfect and exactly what I needed to get me out of this godawful slump I’m in. I sigh as I roll over, but my eyes widen when I turn to see Aiden in my bed.
He’s actually here.
And for some reason, it shocks me.
“It wasn’t a dream,” I blurt out loudly, waking him.
Aiden’s eyes open slowly, his lips turning up into that panty-dropping smile he’s known for. “What wasn’t a dream, baby?”
In my excitement, I lunge on top of him, smothering him in kisses repeatedly all over his face.
“Jeni,” he chuckles, steadying me.
“I’m so glad you’re here. It wasn’t a dream,” I blurt out again.
His giant smile turns to a frown.
I tense instantly. “What’s wrong?”