I burst into laughter and shake my head. “No, but I won’t hate you if you do it again. Just give me a warning next time, okay?”
He grins and kisses the tip of my nose before rolling off of me. “Sounds like a plan. Now about that date.”
Aiden dropsonto the plush seat beside me in the boba tea cafe. He sets a cup on the table in front of him while holding the other to his mouth. He wraps his lips around the pink straw and slings his arm over my shoulders.
Pursing my lips, I squint at him in a mock glare. “That one is mine, isn’t it?”
He tosses me a wink while he takes two more pulls through the straw before swallowing. “Strawberry boba tea.” He moans and licks his lips appreciatively. “My new favorite.”
Warmth blooms in my chest.
It’s like night and day between him and Brandon. I’m so embarrassed that I entertained the idea of being with that asshole when Aiden has been right beneath my nose the entire time.
I hold back my smile and put on a show of being upset by folding my arms and huffing. “There’s probably only half of the drink left. Aren’t you supposed to be a gentleman right now?”
He grins and trades the cups.
“Good thing both are yours.” He sips the second drink with a wink.
“You just can’t help yourself, can y?—”
Aiden catches my jaw between his fingers and presses his lips to mine. I sigh into the kiss with a smile and open my mouth, tongue flicking against his lips. He smirks right before pursing his lips and spitting the boba tea into my mouth.
“Swallow,” he murmurs.
I close my mouth and swallow the mixture of tea and his spit. A blush crawls up my neck to my cheeks.
Aiden leans forward and licks the corner of my mouth to catch a drop I missed. “That’s my girl.” He kisses the other corner. “You’re adorable.”
I giggle and don’t feel an ounce of guilt for it.
He grins and relaxes in his seat. “So I’ve been thinking. What if instead of a movie, I take you out shopping?” He glances at my nails and smirks. “I’ll pay for your new set, and we can test if my cum will change the col?—”
“Shhh.” I slap my hand over his mouth and check around us to make sure no one overheard.
Aiden cackles and circles my wrist with his fingers. His tongue drags along my palm, and his laughter turns maniacal when I scrunch my nose, pretending like I’m grossed out.
Spending the rest of my life with Aiden has always been my dream, but I was too afraid to believe it was possible. Now I can say with confidence that I want it, and I’m thankful to have it.
When I die, bury me next to Aiden. Write on my tombstone that I lived a good life with my foster brother, who showed me what it’s like to love and be loved.
EPILOGUE
AIDEN
My boots scuffagainst the dirty basement floor, each step thumping against the cement as I stroll toward Brandon, who’s tied to a chair beside his friend.
I don’t know how the guys were able to keep the motherfucker alive after Hawk stabbed him multiple times, but I can’t be any more grateful for it. I’ve been dying to fuck him up ever since my friends told me they’ve been keeping Brandon in the safe house’s basement for me while I was on the mend.
The bastard is clinging to life, patched up like Frankenstein’s monster with staples in his chest. His disfigured face tells me he took more than just stabbings to the chest and stomach.
I glance at my friends over my shoulder as they stand against the far wall, sharing the same somber expression. Turning to Brandon, I lick my front teeth beneath my closed lips.
I don’t know if I want to question him using torture methods like I was planning. Now that he’s within reach, all I want to do is stomp his skull into the cement.
I pull my strawberry-flavored vape from my pocket. “You know, you deserve to suffer for what you did to Nova.”
Brandon remains still, head lolled back. The only sign that he’s alive is his fucked-up chest rising and falling.
