Traffic drags, and after slogging through it, I’m finally home. I park my car and head up to my apartment. I kick off my shoes, drop my purse on the kitchen countertop, and let Mochi and Matcha out of their condo. I nestle each of them to me, giving them kisses, and take them into the living room so they can run free for a bit. I take a video of them that I’ll send to Aiden later when he’s up from his afternoon nap and smile when I think of him watching it. He loves my chinchillas, and he likes getting cute videos of them when he’s on the road.
Mochi pops up onto my leg, and I stroke his silky fur. “You’re my sweet boy,” I coo to him. “Aren’t you?” He gives me a happy squeak that makes my heart happy.
Aiden has brought Milo over a couple of times, but we always keep them separated. Milo is the sweetest, and I adore him, but he’s still a dog, and chinchillas can be prey in his eyes. But he can still hang out with us, and I do love that.
Because when we’re all together like that—both of us in the same place, with all of our pets—it feels like home.
It feels like forever.
My phone buzzes next to me, and I see it’s a message from a new group chat Hadleigh has created called XOXO, with me, Ava, Marley, and Isla in it.
Hadleigh: NEW GROUP HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU ALL. Isla is included because if she were here, she would 100 percent be going out with us tonight.
I grin at that. Hadleigh is a very loyal friend. I have a feeling she values the friends she makes, too, and always makes them feel included.
Even when they’re in Monaco.
Hadleigh: Scarlett, are you sure you want to be the sober driver tonight?
I grin and reply:
ABSOLUTELY. Just tell me where we’re going and I am at your command. Unless you want me to drive to Boca or something. Then you all need to chip in gas money.
Marley: HA, NO TO BOCA! Thank you in advance, Scarlett!
Ava: Yessssssss, thank you!
Hadleigh: How does sushi sound tonight? THEN WE DANCE.
Japanese food! I reply that I’m in for that, and so does everyone else. I agree to pick up Hadleigh first, then Marley and Ava together, since Ava is going to crash at Marley’s house tonight.
After Mochi and Matcha have had their free-roaming time, I put them back in their condo and take a nice, hot shower. Then I wrap a towel around my body and one around my hair and flick through the outfits in my closet. I choose a black halter minidress that will be perfect for dancing. I slip into the slinky dress, dry my hair, and apply my makeup. Aiden should be up by now, so I send him a picture of me in the bathroom:
If you like this, I can wear it the next time I see you.
I grin wickedly.
Brooks is typing …
You do not want to know the ideas that are running through my mind right now. None of them are decent.
Another text quickly follows that:
Damn. You look so freaking hot.
A shiver of excitement runs through me from Aiden’s compliment.
Brooks is typing …
Save the dress for our first night out together. I can’t wait to let the world know you’re mine.
My excitement is tempered by fear.
I want this more than anything. To have a normal relationship with Aiden, doing things like going on a grocery run or eating out in a nice restaurant.
That is going to happen. We both want it.
But at what cost will we have it? Aiden being shopped to another team? Dad humiliating him? My parents not speaking to me? What if Aiden is shipped off somewhere like Seattle? Where will that leave us?
