Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“Nice to meet you, Paul. You have a lovely place.”
He beams. “It’s been ours for forty-two years in November.”
“Congratulations. That’s incredible.” I’m smiling because this man is so friendly and warm.
Something I’m not used to from most people.
Because your past won’t allow you to trust.
“Thank you. What will it be for you two?” He looks back and forth between Aiden and me.
“I’ll take my usual,” Aiden says, not bothering to look at the menu.
I quickly glance at it and find my usual. “I’ll have the Reuben and fries, with a side of pickles, please.”
Paul looks at Aiden with a smile and wide eyes. Aiden quirks his brow before leaning back, and the man shuffles off again.
I don’t even need to ask what that shared look was. I messed up. It hadn’t even occurred to me that Aiden or anyone would find that weird.
Based on Paul's reaction, I’m almost positive he ordered the same thing. It’s something we both always chose when available.
“That’s…an interesting order,” Aiden says.
“Is it?” I try to play it off like it’s no big deal. “If you ask me, Reubens are entirely underrated.”
“I got the same thing.”
His eyes narrow, and I realize my blunder. It’s something I’ve said a few times before. The part about Reubens being entirely underrated. Not only did I order something that was a mutual thing between us, but I’m using the same phrases.
Are you trying to get caught, Cass?
I don’t react, keeping my face neutral and lifting my glass of water to my lips. After a few seconds, Aiden moves on to the topic he planned for us to discuss.
“About your responsibilities…”
I sit up straight and pull out my phone to take notes. He lifts a brow, and I bite my lip.
“I don’t want to forget anything.”
“Mainly, I’ll need your help confirming certain things are always in place. I’ll provide a list by tomorrow, and I’ll ensure you know where everything is. The rest of it will be pretty basic. Run errands, like dropping my laundry off to the dry cleaner. Shopping for me if I have an event I need to attend. That sort of thing.”
I nod, not hearing anything I didn’t expect. The thing is, I know Aiden. I know him well, and he’s leaving stuff out. It’s fine. I’ll figure out what still bothers him and if anything is new. I’ve always been good at seeing right through him.
“Outside of that, you’ll be free to do whatever you want.”
“Where will I be staying?” I ask, realizing we never discussed that.
“With me,” he says.
My eyes widen, and I wonder what that means. We aren’t going to have sex again, so where am I staying? “Do you have a second room?”
“I do.”
I let out the breath I’ve been holding. But then another thought pops into my mind. He might not date, but it’s clear he has sex. So if he’s not having sex with me before games, will he have sex with someone else?
“Cassidy, look at me.” I look up to find his brows furrowed. “Now speak.”
Clearly, I’m not good at hiding my emotions. “Will you be having—” When I stop speaking, he lifts his hands and gestures for me to continue. “Umm. Will you be having any guests visiting to, umm, help you before a game?”
“No, I don’t allow people into my home. It’s my private space. Somewhere I can…”
His words trail off, but I know what he’s getting at.
“Be yourself.”
He takes a deep breath. “Exactly.”
I’m being an idiot. I knew this about him already. I suppose I just needed it confirmed.
“And when we’re on the road?”
“We’ll cross that sleeping arrangement when we get there,” he responds, shutting down the conversation. I welcome it because he might not have guests over, but he never said he wouldn’t go somewhere else, and that’s not something I want to consider.
The fact that the thought of him with someone else bothers me should be a huge red flag. One that should be screaming for me not to continue with this crazy plan.
The only problem is I can’t walk away.
I’ll take every second I have with Aiden because this will all end one day far too soon.
13
AIDEN
Home.
It’s the only place I feel safe and connected to my past. A past that most don’t know about.
It’s something I keep close to me.
It’s personal.
We’re finally here, and as the front door of my apartment swings open, I watch Cassidy’s face closely. So many emotions are running through me. Each more concerning than the next.
Will she be impressed?
Will she be comfortable here?
Will she find it lacking?
Most importantly—why the fuck do I care all of a sudden?
It all goes back to my past and how much damage was caused. It was ingrained in me at a young age that I’m not good enough. I pushed against that with everything I had, but that little voice in the back of my head, that sounds a little too much like my mother, still whispers you’re not enough. You’re not normal.