Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“Are you insane?!”
“Maybe a little. The right amount to make it charming.”
“You’re not charming. You’re annoying. You’re like the annoying person who never goes away,” she told me. “If America knew how annoying you were, you’d never be Superman.”
“Am I giving off Clark Kent vibes? Because that counts, too.”
She rolled her eyes, her favorite hobby to do with me. My new favorite hobby to watch. “No. You’re more like Goofy from The Goofy Movie.”
“I know you meant that as an insult, but honestly, that’s one of my favorite movies.”
“I already knew that.”
Of course, she did.
We reached the inn, and I held the door open as she walked inside. “What time are you off work?” I asked.
“You’re not walking me home.”
“Of course not. To be honest, this was more than I thought you’d allow me to do, but if I just so happen to be walking around the same time you’re heading out…”
“For a famous Oscar-winning actor, you sure lack a life.”
“It’s a moment of stillness.”
“And how’s that going for you?”
“I feel the best I’ve felt in a very long time.”
“Good.” She smiled. “I have to work. Leave me alone.”
“Have a good day, Jerry.” I opened the door to leave the inn, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Wait. Did you honestly just come all this way with me just to leave right away? You’re not going to your room?”
“No. I have a session at the gym in a few. I’m a little late, so I better hit it.”
“The gym is right next to the bakery shop where you were.”
“Yes.”
“Right. Okay.” She frowned as if confused by why I’d walk all that way with her only to turn back and leave. She walked over to the counter and pulled out her chair to take a seat. “Six thirty. I’m off work at six thirty.”
I tried to hide my thrill from her comment. I nodded once toward her. “I’ll see you then.”
35
Hailee
* * *
For the next week, Aiden showed up at my apartment wearing that ridiculous clown mask to walk me to work, and then he traveled beside me on the way home. After the first week, I told him to go mask free. It seemed pointless after photographs of him showed up online claiming he had a mental breakdown and he’d been seen walking around in a mask. I guessed it wasn’t a good enough disguise.
He didn’t seem fazed by the tabloids at all, though. His main objective still seemed to be…me.
He was a persistent man. Each day, he offered to walk me up to my apartment door, but I always declined. Still, he asked. I wasn’t ready to have him in my space again. The last time he was on those steps, well… things moved very quickly. I wasn’t certain I was ready for things to hit that speed again.
Now, because of my openness, I had the chattiest famous actor walking me to and from work each day. If there was one thing about Aiden, it was the fact that he’d find a reason to talk. He’d talk about anything, too. Most of his thoughts didn’t stay in his head—he had a way of spitting out all kinds of things. Some of his random facts were interesting; others were just plain dumb. Secretly, I liked hearing them all.
Walking beside him was odd, though, because our walks were oftentimes interrupted by townspeople coming up to communicate with him. Everyone made it their mission to befriend Aiden, and with the kind of person he was, he welcomed the friendships. He was able to converse with any and everyone who crossed his path. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the interactions were with him, or how many masks he put on daily. How many roles was he playing?
“Great talking to you, Ruby! Good luck at the dog show with your pup!” Aiden waved to Ruby as she walked off with her dog.
“See you later, Aiden!” Ruby waved, grinning ear to ear. That was how most people left his side—smiling.
Whenever people talked to him, they overlooked that I even existed. Aiden made sure to introduce me to everyone who crossed our paths, though, making sure I didn’t feel left out. The joke was on him—I wanted to be invisible. It was exhausting when an introvert was befriended by an extrovert. They went out of their way to make you feel included when all you really wanted to do was be invisible, binge-watch some television, and read some books with a dog or cat companion.
One day, I’d hope friends would understand that we introverts were fine not talking. It was literally one of my favorite pastimes.
“I’ve noticed something about you,” I told him as we approached the bakery. “You talk a lot more now to strangers than you did five years ago. I mean, I can tell you still hate it, but you handle it well.”