Aiden takes my hand in his and leads me out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I say.
He flips off the lights, lets go of me, and sinks onto his stomach on the mattress. A groan rumbles from him as he buries his face in my pillow and hugs it.
“Going to sleep.” He peeks at me. “I don’t want you sleeping alone for a while.”
“Because of what happened?”
He closes his eyes. “Mmhm. I’m not taking the risk of something happening to you.”
I take my meds, strip out of my pants and underwear, then unfasten my bra before crawling into bed beside him. Keeping my back to him, I stare at the shadowed wall and listen to his even breaths, needing the reminder that he’s okay and here with me.
It feels like we’re oceans apart despite there being only a foot of space between us.
How could I have been so stupid as to catch feelings for him? I missed the warning signs and kept going along with his plan, realizing too late that I’m now in the deep end for him.
Aiden shifts behind me, the mattress dipping as he turns onto his side. He lets out a frustrated breath.
“Fuck the rules,” he growls. He drops his arm around my waist, then yanks me into his chest. “Just for the night. Let me hold you.”
My breath hitches, and I peek at him. He kisses my shoulder and tucks me against his body. The towel falls away, and his dick presses against my bare ass. But he doesn’t try anything. He just holds me.
And suddenly, I’m not as heartbroken about my demise.
THIRTY-TWO
NOVA
I sitat a table in my favorite boba tea shop, waiting for Brandon to bring our drinks. Wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, he stands out in the tiny cafe with pink-and-yellow striped walls. I would have found it endearing weeks ago, but my mind strays to Aiden and how he’d look in here with me.
I frown and rest my palm against my cheek, my elbow propped on the table.
I should have talked to Aiden this morning before he rushed out the door, but there was barely any time to mention what I overheard. So I stayed silent while he got ready, then kissed him before he left, telling him to be safe. The heated look he gave me after ending the kiss was enough to make me question the legitimacy of what he said to Ryder.
In my desperate attempt to wrangle back these feelings, I called Brandon and flirted with him, needing that spark betweenus—or at least the spark in me for him. He seemed to take an interest and asked if he could take me out today for a drink and a movie.
“One strawberry boba tea for you.” Brandon sets a large purple cup in front of me. He settles into the chair across from me and holds a regular coffee cup with a proud smile. “And one regular hot tea for me.”
I stare at his cup as he cradles it between his palms. Frowning, I turn to mine and toy with the pink straw poking out of the drink.
Aiden would have sat beside me, his arm slung over my shoulder.
“Have you ever had boba tea?” I peek at Brandon through my lashes.
He eyes my drink, his lip curling in disgust before he catches himself and relaxes his features. “It’s kind of weird that it has those pearls in there. I don’t like my drinks having floating pieces in them.”
“It’s not that bad, and it’s tasty. You should try mine.” I hold my drink out to him with a smile, willing my old feelings for him to return so I’m not being a fool by falling for my playboy brother.
Brandon rubs the back of his neck with an awkward smile. “Nah, I’m good. Besides, I don’t like strawberry-flavored anything. It’s pretty gross. But enjoy your drink.”
My smile falls, and I lower the drink to the table, along with my gaze.
Aiden would have leaned forward and wrapped his lips around the straw while holding my gaze and drinking half of my boba tea. Then he would have winked, licked his lips, and come up with a half-hearted apology about how everything of mine tastes better.
My eyebrows pinch together.
No, he would have sat beside me, already drinking my tea, and winked. I wouldn’t have had to ask him to try it for him to taste test and say how much he loves it.
