Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Now, years later, I still don’t waste the heat.
When I walk into the kitchen, I find Aiden sitting at the countertop of the island. He must hear my footsteps because he pushes the stool back and strides over to me.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
“Good.” He leans down and takes my lips with his. I sigh into his mouth. Every time he touches me, it feels like a heavenly dream, one I never want to wake up from.
My eyes close, and I wrap my arm around his neck to deepen the kiss. He laughs against my lips and pulls away, making me whimper. “Now that I’ve done that, let’s go.”
“You suck.” I playfully stick my tongue out at him.
He laughs at that. “I do. And I promise if you’re a good girl today, I’ll do just that.”
That makes me groan. “Tease.”
Now I’m all hot and bothered and being forced to leave. Mean man.
“Okay, enough stalling, though. Let’s go.”
Aiden reaches his hand out and takes mine in his. Then he leads us out of the apartment and to the elevator.
Within minutes, we’re back in his Jeep and driving to God knows where.
It isn’t until we’re pulling up to a small college that I know where we are. But the question is why.
“What are we doing here?”
Pulling over and into a spot, he throws the car in park. Then he’s pivoting in his seat to look at me.
Our gaze locks. A world of emotions plays within his beautiful blue eyes.
Reaching out, he takes my hand in his, lifts it to his mouth, and places a kiss on my knuckles. “You said you wanted to get your master’s in social work. Redville University has a great program.”
“We’re here for me?” My heart hammers in my chest.
“Yeah. I thought we could look around. Speak to admissions.”
“You want me to go to school in Redville.” My words come out low, almost a whisper. Almost like I’m afraid to voice my question for the fear it might not mean what I hope it means. Does this mean he wants more? That he sees a future here.
I’m scared to hope.
“I do.”
If someone had told me when I first started this insane journey with him, that we would be here right now, looking at a school for me, I’d have said they were crazy.
But here we are.
Now the question is, what to do with this?
Is there a future here?
I hope so.
But the truth is, we still have secrets between us.
Secrets that might ruin us.
45
AIDEN
Things have been good.
Of course, practice has been as grueling as ever, but what did I expect when we’re about to start round three of the playoffs? While in the past we’ve had a good team, we’ve never gotten this far.
But we have a shot this year.
Only a few days are left until we head to New York to play the Empires, so as much as I want to spend time with Cass, it’s been hard. Today, I asked Coach if we could have an early practice. That way, I can surprise Cassidy with a fun day together.
I never thought I’d be this guy.
The type of guy who changes my hockey schedule for a girl. I’ve always been so closed off about dating, but I realize now that I wasn’t closed off to the idea. It was rather that I had never met anyone I wanted to change for.
With Cassidy, I want to be a better man.
The thought scares the fuck out of me, but it’s true nonetheless. I want to put her needs before my own.
Be the man she deserves.
Which is why we’re currently in my car, and I’m taking her on a date. “Where are we headed?” she asks from where she’s sitting in the passenger seat.
“It’s a—”
“Surprise. Yeah. Yeah. I know.” A dramatic and playful sigh escapes her mouth.
“If you know it’s a surprise, why bother asking?” I make a turn, bringing us closer to our destination.
It’s funny how little she’s changed all these years. She didn’t like surprises then, and she doesn’t like them now.
“To be difficult, of course.” She laughs, and the sound warms me. Moments like this with her make all the bullshit better.
I continue to drive, and it’s only another five minutes before we’re pulling up to an amusement park.
It’s not a large one, only featuring a few games, a small roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel, but it’s still fun.
When I throw the car into park a moment later and look at her, I know I picked the right activity for our date.
Both of us step out of the car, and I make my way to her, grasping her hand in mine and leading us to the entrance.
Once we have the tickets in hand, we start to walk, and I point in the directions for the different activities.
“I love this.” I turn to face her, and she looks around with the bright eyes of a woman remembering the first time she ever saw the neon lights. “The way the signs glow. The vibrant colors. The sounds and the laughter. And don’t get me started on the smells. I swear I can smell the funnel cake from here.” She inhales deeply, most like inhaling the sugar-sweet smell that permeates through the air. “I love this.”