I’m not sure I expect a scolding, or something, but he just looks at me. That is until the beer guy comes up and Aiden asks me again if I want anything, which I shake my head no to.
Did I just fuck this all up?
Have I been reading him wrong, is he truly just kind and giving? I swear it felt like he was flirting with me, and the way he looks at me screams that he’s attracted to me.
“Good call, with the office here,” he says, and I take a drink and nod my head. Just like that the conversation is over.
The rest of the game feels like I’m walking on eggshells. Do I just play it off? It was just a kiss on the cheek; Europeans do that shit to complete strangers. Or do I own up to the fact that there’s something here. Something I want to put my finger on, maybe I really need to tamper down this crush and find a different outlet.
When I was with Sean, we would go to a club in DC every now and then. It was invite only, but people came solo all the time, people like me who need an outlet. Maybe there’s something like that here. A place where I can get what I need, and try to not maul my boss in the process.
“You good?” Aiden asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yes,” I reply, smiling at him. “Thanks again for the seats. It’s been special, even more so knowing you played on that field.” He nods and drops the conversation there.
I definitely misread the signals—someone shoot me.
I see a few girls with their faces painted, and I look around. Maybe it’s stupid, but it looks adorable, and I want a fucking glittery butterfly on my face.
A woman sits three people down, and I have to stretch over Aiden to touch her arm. “Sorry to bother you, but where did you get your face painted?”
She smiles. “Just two sections over, I guess it’s for kids’ day.”
“Do you mind if I go?” I ask Aiden. He shakes his head no and stands up.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to come with me.” He gives me a stern look, and I shrug my shoulders and we walk in silence to the face painter. It’s all kids in line and my full-grown-adult-ass. I can’t help but to fidget with my shirt. “We don’t have to wait in line.”
“Jessa?” he says.
“Yeah?”
“Get your face painted.”
“Okay,” I say, looking up at him. He doesn’t complain as we wait. The woman doing the face painting smiles at me and pats the chair.
“What can I do for you, sweetheart?”
“Maybe some butterflies?” I ask and she nods. Picking up her paint brush, I close my eyes as she works. And even though my eyes are closed, I can feel Aiden staring at me. I just can’t discern if it’s in embarrassment, affection, or confusion. I really shouldn’t have kissed his cheek. This is what I get for being bold.
I just… need direction.
I sigh as the face painter finishes up. I blink my eyes open as Aiden looks at me. “Pretty,” he says with a smile. We’re definitely back to square one, where I feel confused about how Aiden Carlson feels about me.
9
YOU’RE NOT MY DADDY ANYMORE
The work weekcontinues with no mention of the kiss cam, and Aiden goes back to being a hermit in his office. Is it wrong I wish there was some other tragic phallic-looking sticker ordeal to spend more time with him?
No… bad Jessa.
If he were interested, he would have said something at the baseball game. He didn’t, and he’s my boss. It’s time to look for affection somewhere else. Of course my phone rings, and I’m so fucking frustrated I finally grab it and go out of the office.
“What?” I answer the phone.
“Come home, baby, Daddy didn’t mean it.”
