“No. To be honest? I like what you said.”
“You did?”
“You said we’re navigating thistogether. That means a lot to me. Coach is your dad. Of course you’re going to think about him. You don’t need to hide those thoughts from me.”
Relief fills me. Because I know I can always be honest with Aiden, even if it’s awkward.
“I know if we go forward, we’ll have to deal with this. But I don’t want to go to your dad and make this bold declaration without the proof to back it up. When we go to him and explain our situation, I want my intention to not only be clear, but something he cansee.”
How could I have ever thought dating Aiden would be wrong? Or a mistake?
Because being with him might be the best mistake I’ve ever made.
“I agree,” I say, nodding.
“Good. Now let’s go have some fun,” Aiden says.
He turns onto the streets of South Beach, and we drive past some palm trees all lit up for Christmas, white lights wound around the large trunks in a festive display. Some Christmas decorations have been up since early November, but now they’ve been put out in full force with the end of the Thanksgiving season.
I lift my gaze from the twinkling lights back to Aiden’s profile. “How are we going out in public?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise,” he says. “But I’ve carefully thought this out and I think we’re going to be good. I just want to do a few things during Christmas that aren’t in either one of our apartments, and this ticks that box. But if you aren’t comfortable, we can go back to my place.”
“I trust you.”
I trust us,I think.
“Good,” he says, reaching for my free hand and bringing it to his lips. Aiden sweetly brushes a kiss on my knuckles and then releases my hand. “First stop is in MiMo.”
MiMo is the Miami Modern neighborhood, and more likely to be less crowded than South Beach on a Friday night. It’s an interesting choice.
“And you think we’ll be okay in MiMo?” I ask.
“It will still have people, but I don’t think I’ll be recognized where we’re going.”
Hm.
I turn back to Aiden as he drives. “I met Beckham Bailey’s girlfriend tonight.”
“I saw you standing next to her. What’s she like?”
“She’s very nice. And an artist! We got to talking, and I’m going to help her with some photography for her business, actually.”
“I saw Becks toss a bracelet to her. Wyatt gave him a hard time about it. Becks told him to say whatever he wanted, but he was lucky to have Georgie.”
Okay, the romantic in me melts a little bit, hearing how Beckham openly professed his feelings for Georgie.
“When I see Georgie, I won’t say anything about us. I know Beckham is your friend, and Georgie might become one of mine, but there’s no need to involve anybody other than Wyatt and Jamie. I don’t want to make anyone feel awkward.”
“Agreed,” Aiden says, turning down another street.
Eventually he spots someone backing out of a spot on the street and puts on his blinker. I look at the shops nearby, and then my eyes land on one called Matcha Garden.
“Aiden! Are we getting matchas?” I ask excitedly.
“We are. And then we’re off to somewhere else. This is a matcha bar and art gallery, so I’m thinking I’ll be under the radar here.”
He’s probably right.
