Chapter Twenty-Three

Aiden

 

The anxiousness that had been swarming me all week was gone, just like that. Waking up with Blake in my arms brought a peacefulness that I’d been missing back into my life.

She looked so sound, so happy, as light snores rolled through her nose and throat. I didn’t want to wake her, but instead, stay in bed all day once again. I wanted to go back in time, to the place where we were working, where we were growing closer, and a future didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Blake squirmed under the blanket, her body turning towards mine. She worked her way into my chest, her warm breath soothing my skin.

“Good morning,” she grumbled without opening her eyes.

My hand stroked her blonde hair, pushing it gently away from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

“Good morning,” I whispered, leaning down to gently kiss her on the cheek.

Her eyes opened, staring up at me with innocence and a purity that made my heart ache. Why had I been such an ass?

“Are you going to work?” she asked, looking up at me with a bright smile.

I nodded, even though I really wanted to stay.

“Can I meet you for lunch?” I asked, figuring seeing her in the middle of my day would make it go easier.

“Sure,” she replied softly, rubbing her eyes with her small hands.

“Good. I’ll meet you at the diner around noon,” I responded, gripping her tightly to my chest for a squeeze.

I hated to leave her, to leave the warmth of the bed, our bed. I knew I’d made enough mistakes over the last week that getting out of work again would only cause more problems, more stress.

“I’m gonna make all this up to you,” I whispered in her ear and then slid from the bed.

I showered and dressed, and by the time I made it back to the bed to kiss Blake goodbye, she was already back asleep. I leaned down, kissed her gently, and then slipped out of the room unnoticed, leaving Blake undisturbed.

We hadn’t exactly made up, but having her stay the night was a start, and lunch would be another step in the right direction.

At work, the mess I’d left behind was piling up, and I didn’t get a moment’s rest from the time I walked in until nearly time to meet Blake. It was my own fault. I knew that.

“Hey, you look better,” I heard and turned to see Luke standing in the main showroom.

“Thanks, I feel better,” I smiled.

“Did you ever find out who that man was, the one Blake was talking to?” Luke asked, concern in his eyes as he spoke.

“I did. Some tool named Graham, an ex-boyfriend,” I informed my friend.

“What’s he doing here?” Luke asked.

“Blake said he was passing through town, that he would only be here a few days and wanted to see her,” I sighed.

“Who the hell passes through this small town?” Luke laughed.

I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and nodded in his direction. He’d passed through and never left. I was beginning to wonder if he was ever leaving, or if he was working on finding a way to stay.

“So, you talked to Blake?” Luke asked eagerly.

“She came home last night,” I smiled.

“Came home?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, and actually stayed the night,” I added.

Luke looked surprised but happy. He patted me on the back.

“Good. I sure hope things work out,” he encouraged.

“I’m meeting her for lunch at the diner in just a few minutes,” I informed, hating to rush him off after all he’d done for me, but not willing to miss my lunch date with Blake.

“Great. I’m meeting Liam at the diner too. I was actually just on my way, and wanted to check on you,” Luke said.

“You wanna walk with me?” I asked, moving towards the large front doors.

“Sure,” Luke agreed, following me as we exited the building.

The diner was a few blocks down, and it was a beautiful day to walk. I wondered if the birds had always chirped so loudly, or of the sky had always been so blue.

“Have you talked to your abuela or your mother yet?” Luke asked.

I shook my head. My hands stuffed into my pockets, I focused on the walk ahead. I couldn’t deal with facing my family just yet, not until I at least got things settled with Blake.

“You don’t think Blake told her, do you?” I asked, realizing I’d never gotten any details of how she found out.

“I can’t imagine she’d throw you both under the bus like that,” Luke assured me.

“Yeah, but she was pretty guilt-ridden, and then I started acting like an ass before she went to see her,” I pointed out.

Luke’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as if he was contemplating the idea that Blake could’ve been the one to spill the beans, blowing this marriage out of the water purposely. Not that I could blame her; I’d pretty much sunk it already by the time she visited my abuela.

We made it to the diner, and I had it on my mind that the topic of discussion at lunch would be how my abuela found out, and if it was, in fact, Blake that told her. I wasn’t sure how I’d react to the news if it were true, but I was hopeful I could understand her reasons.

I pulled open the door, walked inside, and was immediately greeted by Liam. He stood in front of me, a strange look on his face, and seemed to be unwilling to move.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I think we should go somewhere else,” Liam stated firmly.

“I’m meeting Blake here. She should already be here,” I explained, looking past his shoulders to see if she’d arrived yet.

Liam moved with me, shifting his body like he was trying to block my line of sight. I noticed Blake, sitting in a booth, with that man, Graham, sitting beside her, not across from her, but beside her. What the fuck? She knew I was meeting her here. Did she think she could get rid of him before I arrived?

Rage rushed through my veins as jealousy spilled into my heart. I lunged forward, ready to confront them, but Liam gripped me tightly around the arm, pulling me back. As I shrugged to break loose from his grip, my other arm was contained. I turned to Luke, who was now helping Liam pull me back towards the door.