Diana gestures to my bag. “I know you have to get back to the city, but I wish you could stay longer.”
“Me too.” Suddenly I remember the pie Aidan hid. “I have a surprise for you.” I walk to the kitchen and pull open the pantry. Moving aside some boxes, I pull the container from its hiding spot.
“Pumpkin maple.” I hold it out to her.
“You made pie?”
“When you all were watching that movie on Thanksgiving Day.”
“I thought the turkey had gotten you and you were napping.” Diana removes the lid and brings it to her nose, inhaling. “Oh my god. I need this right now.” She walks to the cutlery drawer and removes two forks. She takes a bite and moans.
“It’s better than mine.”
“No way.”
She takes another bite, pointing down at the pie with her fork. “Did you make this for Aidan?”
I take a bite and nod.
She smiles. “I’m glad he has you, Natalie. He needs you.”
I stuff another bite of pie into my mouth so I don’t have to say anything.
Aidan walks in and stops short when he sees us. He strides over and we both hand him the pie. He takes my fork and eats the final slice in complete silence. He groans when he’s finished and tips his head back.
Diana laughs, but I have to look away. It’s the second time today I’ve seen him do that.
We thank Diana for everything, and she apologizes that Aidan’s dad and Shawn are out and unable to say goodbye.
“We’ll be back in the city in a few days,” she tells Aidan as she hugs him goodbye.
To me, she says, “I’ll call you soon.”
Aidan loads our bags into the back of the tiny car, and we get in. Diana waves from the porch until we are gone. As soon as we are out of her sight, Aidan presses on the gas. I squeeze my eyes tight and enjoy the ride.
* * *
We’ve managedto keep our relationship secret for two weeks now. We meet in places neither of us would usually go and hope this means our friends wouldn’t go there either. Savannah spends the night at Drew’s place often, but not often enough. By the time we’re in bed together, we’re starving for one another.
New York City is alight with holiday cheer. Last Christmas, I was separated from my husband and living alone in our apartment. It’s amazing what a difference a year can make.
Last night was one of our lucky nights. Savannah stayed with Drew and plans to be there all day today. Aidan is snoring softly beside me. I stretch out and look up at the ceiling, laughing silently. Last night Aidan commented that he ended up christening my new bed after all, and I didn’t correct him.
Aidan sleeps for another hour. I get up, make coffee, order bagels and cream cheese from the place on the corner, and read the news on my iPad. When Aidan comes out of my room, his hair rumpled and it makes me want to take him right back into the bedroom. He got a haircut soon after we came back from the city, but he still has the best bedhead I’ve ever seen. Apparently, bedhead turns me on.
“Hey you,” he says, climbing onto the couch behind me and wrapping his arms around me. I take a bite of my everything bagel and hand it to him. He reaches over my shoulder and takes it.
“Lizzie’s?” he asks.
“Duh,” I reply, scrolling for the next headline. Lizzie’s makes the best bagels. Once I asked them why theirs are better than everyone else’s. They told me what sets them apart is that they boil their bagels. Who knew?
Aidan finishes my bagel and gets up. He pours himself a cup of coffee and slathers cream cheese on another bagel. He sits down beside me and offers me half.
“What are we doing today?” He glances at me and brushes crumbs from his lips.
“Whatever we want.” I lean forward and kiss away the spot of cream cheese he missed.
“What do you think about starting the process of changing your name back to Maxwell?”
