Aiden cups my face in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing away my tears. “Baby, I wish we could get those years back. God, I do, but we can’t.
“What we can do is make the most of what’s in front of us. We found our way back to each other. That’s what matters. We’reexactly where we’re supposed to be, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
He pulls me in and presses our mouths together, not with heat but with tenderness, a slow rediscovery of something familiar and unbreakable. Eventually, we curl into each other, our arms and legs tangled, holding each other tight.
“I could take a nap,” Aiden murmurs, sounding blissfully spent, kissing my head.
“Yeah,” I say softly. “Me too.”
Between the drive, the emotional conversations, and the mutual orgasms, it doesn’t take long before we’re both out.
Chapter 21
Aiden
I’ve been awake for a while, watching Jay sleep beside me. He’s pressed against my side, my arm wrapped around him as if letting go will break me. Having him here like this, warm and safe, is something I’ve dreamed about for months.
Nothing about today was what I expected, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Telling him I’m in love with him, and finally being able to touch him the way I’d wanted, was long overdue.
From what he’s said, both today and over the last few months, I know he doesn’t see himself the way I do. He carries too many scars, too many lies about who he is and what he deserves.
But that ends now. I’m going to spend every day showing him just how wanted and worthy he is. I’m done letting his father’s cruelty or Ray’s manipulation echo in his head. He’s mine now, and I’ll make damn sure he never doubts how deeply he’s loved again.
When he stirs, I brush the hair from his face and press a soft kiss to his forehead.
“Hey, sleepy,” I whisper.
“Mmmm.” He barely cracks one eye open, blinking at me in a daze. “What time is it?”
“Almost six,” I tell him.
I only got an hour myself, but he’s been out for much longer. After everything that’s happened, he needed it.
“Did you get any sleep?” he asks, his voice gravelly as he clears his throat.
“Yeah, baby, I got some,” I say with a small smile. “I’ve been watching you for a while, though. You hungry?”
“I’m starving.”
“Me too. There’s a restaurant next door. Let’s go grab dinner,” I suggest, stretching as I climb out of bed.
I head to the bathroom to wash up and get dressed, then I feed the cats while I wait for him to do the same. Maisy and Daisy are quick to remind me how impatient they are. Once I have them settled, we head out.
The only place to eat is a small family-style diner with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, wooden bowls of peanuts on every table, and flickering battery-operated candles trying their best to create atmosphere.
We slide into a booth across from each other and order soups and salads, something vaguely healthy after two straight days of fast food. When the waitress leaves, I reach across the table and take Jay’s hands.
“Hey,” I say quietly. “I want to talk to you about something.”
He raises a brow. “That sounds ominous.”
“It’s not, I promise.” I squeeze his fingers. “I just want everything on the table. Even though I haven’t been with anyone since Florida, I’ve still kept up with regular testing, and everything’s negative, and I’m on PrEP. I never want you to worry about that.”
“Oh,” he says, blinking, caught off guard. “Um… I got tested at my annual checkup a few months ago. I was negative. I’m still on PrEP, too.”
“That’s good,” I say softly.
He offers me a tentative smile. These conversations are always awkward, but they’re important. And I want him to understand that he’s safe with me, in every way.
