“No, shit. But I couldn’t let them ruin you.”
My mouth twitched. “That was very sweet, Aiden. Thank you.”
We came out on the other side of the hills, and Aiden took the turn onto the freeway back to my neighborhood. We were just wandering—no place to go. He … he was such a hero.
“I’m so sorry I accused you,” I said quietly. “I should have known better.”
“Uh, yeah. You should have.” He looked sideways at me, his face hardened. But when I met his gaze, he rolled his eyes. “But I forgive you.”
My breath caught. It was just like my father had said. “Thanks.”
We didn’t say anything else until he pulled up in front of my house, parking at the curb. He rested his head against the seat as if he were so tired he was going to fall asleep right here. “No matter where we are, Tess,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I’ll never let anything bad happen to you.”
I watched him. His eyes were closed, and his lips were slightly parted. His chest rose and fell with his breath. It would be so natural to just lean over and kiss him; kiss him like I’d done a million times before. It would feel so right.
“Who was it, Aiden?”
“I’m dying without you, Tess,” he said quietly, not opening his eyes. Not answering me. His words went straight to my heart, pulling it open and making it hurt. I wanted him so much, but I couldn’t have him. I couldn’t accept this life. My eyes started to water.
“Fine, if you’re not going to tell me, then I have to go.” I couldn’t sit and listen to him anymore. I’d agreed to move on with Joel. The past was over. I reached for the handle of the passenger door.
“Wait.”
I paused, glancing back at him. He straightened up and looked at me, his eyes weak. “Can we grab an ice cream or something first?”
Dang it! He knew how much I liked ice cream. “I shouldn’t.” I didn’t sound all that convincing.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything I know. I talked with Darrell last night.”
I widened my eyes at him. “You weren’t going to tell me that?”
He smiled. “I was holding out for ice cream.”
I tsked, but in a way, I appreciated the fact that he had continued investigating. After Chloe had accused Aiden, Leona had closed the case.
“Fine,” I said. “But only because I wrongly accused you. Well, that and the fact that everyone needs a pistachio ice cream once in a while. It helps with morale.”
“I don’t know about that. But strawberry sounds pretty good. And, yes,”—he glanced into his lap—“I’ll tell you what I know.”
It was all so ominous. And although I appreciated Aiden’s chivalry in wanting to protect me, he’d have to realize that I’m a grown cheerleader and could handle myself. He couldn’t always save me.
But maybe just once more wouldn’t hurt. Aiden shifted the gear, and I looked out the window. There was nothing wrong with getting ice cream with Aiden. I mean, we’d been getting ice cream for years. It wasn’t like he was painting my nails or something.
Luckily, the mall was only a mile away and had a Ben and Jerry’s. I wasn’t sure I could wait much longer for the information—my mind had run through all the suspects with no obvious choice. But now I was totally craving ice cream.
When we got there, I reached into the back to grab my crutches, and then slowly got out of the Jetta. Once I was balanced, I glanced over the top of the car as Aiden stretched, his long, muscular body in full display. His face was so content. Calm. When he met my eyes across the roof, he pressed his lips together.
“Let’s go,” he called, walking around the car. When he got to me, we both paused. I half expected him to take my hand. But instead, he reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail behind my ear. When his finger touched my earlobe, my entire body tingled.
He smiled, close to me. “I know how much you like to be pulled together.”
I blinked heavily. “I’m letting go of some of my control issues.” His eyes were green, beautiful. I remembered how often I used to stare into them completely lost. I felt lost now.
He laughed. “Sure you are. Shall we?” he asked, motioning toward the mall.
“Never understood why you liked that kind,” Aiden said, biting into the top of his strawberry swirl as we sat just outside the Ben and Jerry’s in the food court, the smells of hamburgers and Panda Express filling the space between us
“And I never understood how you could bite ice cream. Some things are meant to be licked, Aiden.”
He choked on his mouthful.
“Besides, I think the green is sort of cute.”
“Of course, you do,” he said, still seeming to laugh at some inside joke and wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Can I ask you something?” Aiden took another bite.
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking questions?”
“Humor me?”
I took a long lick from my ice cream and then nodded. Truth was I was curious about what he had to say. Now that I knew he was innocent, I felt so much more comfortable. And a little guilty for jumping to conclusions.
Aiden looked down at the metal table. “Are you in love with him?” he asked. “Are you in love with Joel?”
Stupid Cupid! I wasn’t expecting that! His question made my muscles tense, my jaw tighten, my hand scrunch my cone. So many feelings ran through me. Sad that Aiden had to ask. Worried that I didn’t know how to answer.
When he finally looked up at me, I felt all of my air escape as if I’d been sacked. His eyes were glassy even though he continued to bite at his strawberry swirl as if the answer didn’t matter. But I knew it mattered.
“Were you in love with Mary?” He flinched at the question, then looked me straight in the eyes.
“No. I’ve never loved anyone but you.”
Although I should have been upset at my mention of her name, his answer somehow released me. Like an unknown fear.
“Are you in love with Joel?” he asked again quietly, this time not looking away.
My pride wanted to take over. Scream an answer, maybe make myself feel something that wasn’t there. But instead I stared back into his eyes, thinking about how rough Aiden was around the edges. How he bit his nails. How he swore even when he was trying not to. I thought about all the imperfect things that made him perfect to me.
“No.” I said, simply. “I’m not in love with Joel.”