~Joan~
“No, I’m good. Do I really have to stay here? I could always rent another apartment, you know,” I muttered as Aaron helped me into his penthouse, carrying my bags. He didn’t respond, and I knew that was a definite no.
I had just been discharged from the hospital after the doctor confirmed I was okay to go home.
He insisted I avoid anything too exhausting, and then Aaron decided-without asking-that I’d stay with him. In his words, “for the time being.”
But I knew Aaron. He wouldn’t let me leave, even if I fully recovered. Not that I minded. I liked his apartment. It held memories, just like the other house.
I glanced around, searching for something to distract myself.
“Nothing’s really changed around here,” I murmured. Aaron hummed in response, dragging my bags along. I stood in the middle of the living room, watching his back.
“Are we sharing a room?” I asked, because I really wanted to know. My relationship with Aaron was undefined, and I had no idea what we were-friends? A couple? Something in between? Trying to categorize us was confusing.
He turned and looked at me like I’d grown two heads. “We’re sharing a room, of course,” he said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
I tilted my head. “What if I don’t want to?”
He straightened up, dropping the bags. “Do you want to share a room with me?”
I pursed my lips before nodding. “Yeah, well, it’s not like we’re going to do anything.” I met his gaze from under my lashes.
His eyes darkened slightly, and he bent down to pick up the bags again before staring at me.
“Right,” he said curtly, then turned and walked toward the bedroom. I followed at a slower pace.
It was ironic. I had sworn never to step foot in this house again after Rhoda and I crashed his party, yet here I was-twice.
Aaron placed my bags in one of his closets, then turned back to me.
“You want me to run a bath for you?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Aaron. I can take care of myself.”
He crossed the space between us in long strides, cupping my face.
His thumb brushed over my cheek.
“Oh, I know you can,” he said softly. “But I want to do this for you. Will you let me?”
Something about the way he looked at me made my chest tighten. I gave a small nod, trying to ignore the warmth of his hands on my skin.
He nodded in return, then pulled back. His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he walked into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the silence as I sat on the bed, glancing around.
Memories clung to every corner of this house. I had spent a night here because of a storm. It was here that I got the first text from Matthew about my parents.
It was here. Everything happened in this house.
A few minutes later, Aaron walked out of the bathroom, slightly damp, his clothes clinging to him. He looked-well, sexy.
He raised a brow. “You okay?”
I nodded, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt wondering if was right to undress in front of him.
“I’ll go make something,” he said, then left the room. I had a feeling he noticed my hesitation and gave me space. Once the door shut, I undressed quickly and slipped into the bathroom.
The scent of something fresh filled the air. Steam rose from the bath, letting me know the water was still hot. Exactly what I needed. I stayed in the tub longer than I meant to, lost in thought, until the water turned cold.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I stepped out-only to run headfirst into Aaron.
I stumbled back, rubbing my nose with a scowl. “What was that for?”
He cupped my face again, scanning me. “I was coming to check on you. Thought maybe you drowned yourself in the tub. Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?”
I glared at him and moved away from his touch. “Okay. Stop treating me like I’m something fragile, like I’ll break if I’m not handled with care.”
“Does it seem that way to you?” he asked as I walked past him and farther into the room.
“Yeah.”
He fell silent, and a strange discomfort prickled my skin. I turned fully to face him. He stood in front of the bathroom door, looking like a scolded puppy.
Something tugged at my heart.
“You’re doing your best,” I said quietly. “But sometimes, it feels suffocating.”
I wasn’t used to people taking care of me, doing things for me. I had lived alone since I was eighteen, handling everything myself.
Aaron exhaled. “I’ve never loved someone so much that I wanted to do everything for them. This is a first for me.”
My chest tightened.
He stepped closer, his voice softer. “So let me know if I overdo it. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
I sighed and wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his chest.
“I will.”
I bit my tongue to stop myself from asking what we were. It wasn’t the first or even second time he’d told me to my face that he loved me. But I never said it back because…
His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer.
“But that won’t stop me from doing what I think needs to be done,” he murmured.
Something in his tone told me he was referring to the meeting with Alessia and Luna two days ago.
I hadn’t contacted them yet. I was still debating whether I even wanted to. I wasn’t ready to let new people into my life-not when I wasn’t sure they were worth it.
“Thank you for the other day,” I muttered. “Even though I was pissed, I needed that.”
Aaron hummed, the sound vibrating through his chest.
We stood there for a while before he pulled away. His gaze flickered down my body.
“I’ll leave you to get dressed,” he said.
On impulse, I rose on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“You can watch if you want,” I teased, as my lips tugged up in a smirk.
His jaw clenched. “Not a good idea, kitten. Not a good one.”
Then he turned and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
I chuckled to myself.
If I wanted him, I’d have him. He wouldn’t be able to run forever.
–