She’s gone.
And once again, I wasn’t here for her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JESSICA
I reach for my phone, lighting up the screen to check for any new messages, but there’s nothing. I nibble at my lip, my fingers itching to text again, to check in with Matthew. We’re both working today, and the last I heard from him was hours ago before he went into a meeting about the kidnapping and murder, but nothing since.
So freaking needy,the little voice at the back of my head chastises.
Maybe they found something, and he’s busy and can’t text me back. Between the break-in at my place and finding the body of that girl, they’ve had their hands full.
Or maybe he’s just sick of you.
“What’s so interesting over there?”
My head snaps up, heart speeding at the sudden intrusion. Aiden is leaning against the counter, a small smile on his lips as he looks at me with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“Dang, you scared me.” I chuckle softly, placing my phone on the desk. “I’ve just been thinking.”
His brow quirks up. “About?”
“Matthew has been working longer hours lately, so I might stop at the station and bring him some refreshments.”
Maybe I should text Becky, see if she’s still at the Reading Nook, and ask her to have something prepared so I can just stop by to pick it up.
Aiden’s low grumble snaps me out of my thoughts. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s just… you two have grown close,” he comments, watching me with interest. “I thought it was supposed to be fake.”
I glance around, checking the space for anybody passing by who could have overheard him. “Can you lower your voice, please?”
“There’s nobody around.” Aiden rolls his eyes but leans closer, his dark eyes fixing on mine. “So? What’s really up with you two?”
“I—” I tuck a runaway strand that slipped from my braid behind my ear. “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it since…”
Since we agreed to this whole thing.
It doesn’t feel fake, though.
Did it ever really?
Being with Matthew makes me feel alive in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. Yes, he drives me nuts from time to time, but it’s also been fun. Spending time with him, going on these dates, his kisses… God, that man knows how to kiss a woman. And when he touches me, it’s like my skin is burning. He makes me feel cherished, safe, lov?—
My heart skips a beat as the realization hits me.
I’m in love with him.
Actually, head-over-heels in love with him.
I’m not sure when or how it happened. Hell, maybe I’ve never really stopped loving him since I was seventeen. Maybe those feelings only grew stronger, evolved since he’s been back, and I’ve just been trying to fool myself this whole time.
Fool myself that I got over him. Fool myself that this is just fake. Fool myself that it’s going to be different this time.
Because the thing is, this is Matthew Williams we’re talking about.
The boy—the man—who has always been my weak spot. My biggest desire and my worst heartbreak.
