“When I heard you were moving to town, I knew it was only a matter of time before you and Nessa crossed paths again. You’re looking good, Aldridge.” Jemini caressed his arm. I loved my mother, but rarely did I like her. She was a habitual line stepper. Aldridge was off limits. I’d already set a hard boundary around him years ago.Danessa you can’t be implying your mother would try to fuck Aldridge?Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. She’d slept with my boyfriends in the past. Aldridge would never, but Jemini Irwin most certainly would.
“Mom could you?—”
“What? Aldridge came all the way over here. The least you could do is apologize for not having his back.”
My face contorted with disgust. “I don’t have anything to apologize for.” Jemini was not a girl’s girl. Often taking a man’s side over her own daughters. That shit irked the fuck out of me.
“Actually, I’m here to offer apologies,” Aldridge said. Despite our differences, he would never allow my mom to throw me under the bus. He’d fall on his sword whether he was in the wrong or not.
“I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong. You know how Danessa can be.” My mother flashed a cold look in my direction.Mothers are their daughter’s first bullies.
“Mom,” Anika chimed in. “I think we should let Aldi and Danessa talk without an audience.” I gave Anika a silent thank you.
“I was just trying to help,” Jemini said. All she knew how to do was make things worse.
“They’re grown and don’t need us butting in.”
My mother grabbed one of the vases before leaving, and Aldridge closed the door behind her.
“Some things never change.” I attempted to excuse her behavior.
“You know your mother just wants the best for you.”
“In her opinion, the best always requires me to forgive some man who fucked up.”
“I’m still just some guy to you?”
Standing, I threw a stress ball in the shape of a rainbow at him which he caught in his hand. “You’re an asshole, Aldridge.”
“So, I’ve heard. I thought I was a lovable goof but now I realize it’s reading more assholeish. Asshole adjacent. Bordering lovable goof and asshole. Skirting the vicinity of assholary.”
I laughed in spite of myself and immediately regretted it. “You do know this was all part of my mother’s plan. She concealed your identity and hoped us seeing each other again would stir something up.”
“I’m not going to act like your mother’s plotting didn’t work. Being around you again got me thinking about what I missed out on.”
Neither my brain nor heart were prepared to have a conversation about missed opportunities and what could have been. I revisited that topic periodically and always settled on the same conclusion. If I hadn’t ended things with him … time, temptation, and travel would have done it for us. “Aldridge?—”
“I’m talking about our friendship.”
I released the breath I was holding. My life was complicated enough without my ex-boyfriend pining for me. But just to be clear was he friend zoning me? Me!
“You were my best friend and then you were gone. I’ll admit the first few months … shit the first few years without you were pretty bad. There were so many times I just wanted to call and hear your voice or honestly, cuss you smooth the fuck out. But as time passed, I accepted not hearing from you was probably better as long as you were happy, that’s really all that mattered. So suddenly being confronted with the one person I secretly hoped to never see again was daunting.”
My heart sank from my chest. “You never wanted to see me again?”
“No, Danessa. You hurt me … real bad.”
I moved closer. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Aldridge held up his hand silently asking me to stop. “I’m over it. I moved on years ago. But the thing I’ve never stopped wishing for was you as my friend. Did you know white roses signify new beginnings?”
He moved on?“No, I didn’t.”When did he move on?
“Yeah, white is linked with honor and reverence which is how I remember us.”
“So you got me hundreds of roses because you want to try to reestablish a friendship?” I should be relieved, but my heart dropped another two feet.
“Yeah, I’m in your city and we’ve both matured since college, and I was just hoping we could hit the reset button and be friends.”
