“Damn.” I laugh nervously. “Very bleak.”
He shakes his head. “It’s too much.”
“Not if you trust someone.” If you trust someone, it’s the best feeling in the world. Unfortunately, to prove Aiden’s point, I did trust someone and he broke my heart.
“Yeah, well. I trust no one. Easier that way.”
That little flicker of pain grows into a flame.
“Well, I know my person is out there. I’ll find him.” I’m not settling. I know if I’m patient, the right person will find me. He’ll be the sweetest, most caring, loving man who has ever lived. I want someone to look at me like I’m everything they’ve ever needed. Hunter makes fun of me all the time for these romantic ideas I have, but what he doesn’t realize is all the things he has are the things I want. He’s just lucky he found the love of his life when he was in college.
Same with Jamie and Noah.
Now Cam and Bo. Cam is literally obsessed with Bowen. It’s really funny and kind of sweet. “Safe to say you’ve never been in love, then.”
Aiden’s lips curl and he shakes his head. “Fuck no.” He pulls off onto another road, and I start to recognize the buildings as we pass. “Still. That guy was a douchebag. You can do better, even if I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“How can you feel that way when you’ve never even experienced it? Being in love is amazing.”
“Have you been in love?”
“Yes.”
“And where is he now?” The cold look in his eyes shocks me a bit. The words hit hard, and I sink back into the seat, looking out my window as he turns down Main Street. I hear him blowout a breath, while I can barely breathe through the tension. “I’m sorry,” he says softly as he pulls into my bakery and parks.
I unbuckle, ready to get out of this car, and swallow hard, my stomach twisting itself into knots. Heat claws up my neck, embarrassment prickling under my skin. I need some air. I need to get away from him. I don’t want him to see the mess growing in my chest.
“It’s fine,” I lie, my voice thin as I reach for the door and open it.
I’m halfway out when his fingers wrap around my arm. Firm, with cold hands that jolt me.
“Wait.” His grip softens slightly as if he’s realizing what his touch is doing to me. He forces himself to meet my eyes, and something raw flickers behind his. If I’m not mistaken, it looks a lot like pain. “I’m sorry.” He drags in an unsteady breath. “I didn’t mean it like that. Not like that.”
I stare at him, my foot already on the pavement, my body halfway out of the car. I slowly pull my foot back in and shut the door. “You’re not wrong.”
“Still doesn’t make it right.” His fingers slip from my arm, but he doesn’t move away. It’s like he’s afraid to give me space, as if I’m going to bolt. I want to. His jaw works before he finally opens his mouth. “It’s just...” He exhales sharply. “I’m bad at this.”
“Bad at what?” I laugh.
His hands fall into his lap, his head tilting back onto the head rest. “People. Their emotions.” He laughs, the sound hollow. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m really sorry.”
The inside of this car feels too small, the air in here thick yet fragile. “I accept your apology.”
“It was a dick thing to say.”
I smile. “Yeah, but you’re owning it. That almost cancels it out.”
“Almost.” He smiles like he’s afraid to. The corners of his lips lift, and it’s like he catches himself then his mouth falls. He lolls his head toward me, and something softens on his face, unraveling all his edges.
For a moment neither of us speaks, and I look straight ahead.
It’s too warm in here.
The air’s too thick.
He’s still watching me. It’s dark in here, the only bit of light coming from the streetlight on the sidewalk and the tiny light on the door of my bakery.
My eyes swing back to his and I jolt. My pulse slams against my ears.
