Chapter 52
Sunlight spills through the windows of the cozy café, dappling the small tables and comfortable decor. Fiona and I sit across one of the small tables from one another with a few small bites between us.
The conversation between us flows as easily as it always does, as we catch one another up on our lives. These little meetings have become a weekly ritual for us. It gives us a chance to unwind and share our updates over a hot cup of coffee and a plate of delicious pastries.
Considering how hectic my life has been recently, this meetings a welcome escape. Dealing with hockey players, team managers, and important businessmen was not my usual crowd. I canât help but smile fondly at Fiona as we fall into familiar
patterns.
âSo! Tell me about this new job of yours,â Fiona says brightly, clapping her hands with excitement. Her energy and curiosity are contagious, and I smile as well.
Discussing my job always comes with a mixture of both excitement and nervousness. Itâs almost unbelievable how much my life has changed in the past few months- and I think it all began with a chance meeting with my handsome neighbor.
âItâs been busy â very busy. Itâs quite a bit more dramatic than my last job, too. But Itâs busy in a good way. I feel like Iâm finally starting to get in the swing of things. It feels like Iâm finally finding my place on the team.â
Although the hockey players were a bit standoffish with me, at first, I didnât hold it against them. It makes sense that they would be suspicious of some nobody trying to scam their way into celebrity status. Despite this, I can feel that their respect for me has begun to grow.
âThatâs great to hear! Still, I have to askâ¦.. Things are moving pretty quickly, arenât they? Itâs been, what, less than half a year since you met Aiden? It seems like youâve only been back to your old apartment a few times since then. Are you thinking about making the move more Permanent?â
ning. Thatâs the
My gaze drifts to the window. The bustling city streets outside suddenly seem overwhelming instead of charming. exact question that Iâve been grappling with for weeks.
I feel like Iâve read the pros and cons dozens of times by now. Although my life has unquestionably changed, something about giving up my old apartment feels like burning my safety net
âIâm considering it,â I admit. âIt would be ridiculous not to at this point I mean. Aidenâs place is better in every way, and weâve practically been living together alreadyâ¦â
Fiona reaches across the table, her hand, warm, and reassuring on mine. âHey, hey, I didnât mean to stress you out Itâs OK to feel uncertain. Whatever you end up deciding, all that matters is that you decide whatâs best for you. You deserve to he happy, Carol. Donât let anything hold you back.â
st what toy,â I say. âThank you. That means the world to me.â
I squeeze Fionaâs hand gratefully. âYou always know just
âDonât get sappy with me now!â Fiona says good-naturedly. âI mean it. I care about you.â
The two of us fall back into a comfortable conversation. Fiona tells me all about how journalism has been going for her â I canât think of a job that suits her better. And surprisingly, her work has led to her being well aware of everything going on with Aiden and me in the news.
Fiona takes a few minutes to question me all about the most recent game and Aidenâs injury â it sounds like the press has picked up on it after all. I raise my hands and feet.
âYouâre making me nervous, Fiona. Is this a lunch date or is this an interview?â I tease, and Fiona looks slightly embarrassed.
âListen, I canât help it. I go into journalism, and suddenly, my best friend is the hottest topic to do journalism about! This is off the record. I promise. I only want to know for my selfish reasons.â
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Chapter 52
I describe a recent experience at the hospital. After some hesitation, I mention our encounter with Mr. Cruz, too. As much as I feel uncomfortable talking about Aidenâs family matters, Iâm really happy to get this off my chest.
Fiona lets out a long whistle as I finished my story. âD*mn. No wonder youâre so stressed. I canât even imagine facing someone like Johnathan Cruz and making it out on the other side unscathed.â
I shrug helplessly. âI didnât feel unscathed,â lâhave to joke.
âItâs probably best you didnât say anything. People like him will take anything you say, twist it, and use it against you.â
I swallow nervously. âReally?â
âYes, really,â she said. âItâs obvious he doesnât approve of you â no offense- so I wouldnât be surprised if heâs trying to stir up
some sort of blackmail.
I rub my forehead. I can feel a headache coming on already. âThatâs what Iâm afraid of,â I admit.
âYour life has gotten crazy,â Fiona says emphatically, âI canât even imagine living like you. Itâs like youâre in some sort of dramatic TV show or something.
âOr something.â I echo.
Fiona and I spend a little bit more time catching up before our lunch hours end. Fiona goodbye. I wave back, genuinely sad to see her go.
gives me a
a tight hug and waves
Reflecting on my relationship with Aiden, and the drama in my life has given me a new sense of perspective. Things have been difficult, of course, but somehow theyâve been better than they ever were. Thereâs only one reason I can think of.
Aiden. It was Aiden that made all of this worth it. Never since our relationship began have I genuinely regretted the path that I followed. Even in my worst or most frightening moments, Iâm thankful for what I have now.
Iâve always been a cautious person. Iâve never been able to dive into a meaningful relationship like this before. Holding onto my old apartment. Itâs exactly the sort of Safetynet that the old Carol wouldâve relied on. But Iâm not the old Carol anymore.
Iâm struck with a sudden sense of clarity. I know what I need to do.
Later that evening, as the sky turns into a deep shade of purple, wait outside the front door of Aidenâs villa. Our villa, as heâs always said. I feel uncharacteristically nervous as I step inside.
Aiden comes to the door quickly after I enter. He greets me with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up at the side of me, âHey, youâre home early,â he remarks. Iâm touched that even while using crutches, he rushed to the door to greet me.
I return his smile, although I canât help the undercurrent of nervousness I feel. âThereâs something I need to tell you, I say. Iâm shocked that my voice is steady, considering the nervousness inside of me.
Aidenâs bright expression is clouded with concern. âOf course, is something wrong?â He asks. As attentive, as always, I think fondly.
âI think I want to end the lease on my old apartment,â I say, quietly. I canât bring myself to meet his eyes just yet. For some reason, my heart is pounding out of my chest. Iâm suddenly afraid Aiden will see in me what his family does and cast me
away.
Instead, I feel Aiden, strong arms around me as he pulls me into a tight embrace. He immediately understands the underlying meaning of my words â I want to move in, permanently.
âOf course, I would love that,â he whispers, pressing a kiss to my forehead. His voice is as excited as Iâve ever heard it before. I feel my heart fluttering, my nervousness melting away.
Aiden is so pleased by my proposition that he leans in for a passionate kiss. Reluctantly, I put a hand over his mouth.
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Chapter 52
âAs much as I would love to let you whisk me off to the bedroom right now, I was hoping to start packing. Tonight, if possible.â
Aidenâs disappointment doesnât last long. He happily agrees. We decide to part ways as Aiden plans to sit in on his practice for the evening. He offered to drive me back to our apartment complex, but I declined.
âGo to practice,â 1 urge. âI know itâs important for you to be there, even if you canât play just yet.â
Aiden smiles gently. âFine. You have to let me pick you up as soon as Iâm done.â
I agree, and we share a short but sweet kiss. Aiden drives off to practice, and I spend some time gathering a few bags. After a while. Aidenâs private driver stops by and takes me back to the old apartment
I head straight up the stairs to my old floor. Although 1 feel nostalgic, I feel even more eager to embrace this new chapter of my life. I paused for a moment outside the front door of my apartment, unable to help but reminisce about the moment that Aiden and I met
When I finally decided to unlock the door and step inside, I fumbled over the light switch for a moment. I expect my apartment will look somewhat empty and abandoned, just like Deft it. Instead, when I turn on the lights, a very different sight greets me.
The apartment is in disarray, furniture, overturned, and my belongings strewn about haphazardly. My hand stays frozen on the light switch as panic seizes my heart.
Something is very wrong. I realize.
My body tensed, ready to flee when I feel a large hand cover mine on the light switch. In an instant, the room is drowned in darkness yet again. Before I can scream, another hand covers my mouth. I have no time to react before I am dragged into the darkness.
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