Chapter 67 — His Girlfriend

Emily's POV

We spent the following two days in and out of the hospital. Noah and William had made sure that only the best doctors were appointed for my mother's checkup, and William had paid for pretty much everything.

He didn't even let me pay for my own sandwich.

If it was someone else, I would've felt so uncomfortable and ashamed, but somehow him and Noah made me feel like that was how it was supposed to be.

They made me feel home.

They made me understand that home wasn't just a place; it was a feeling, a feeling you develop while being with some certain people.

And Noah and William made me feel at home.

Noah didn't judge me one bit for what I told him that day. He didn't even mention it after that. Neither Noah nor I had talked about that little 'moment' we shared, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.

I didn't even know how Noah would react if he got to know that I responded to his kiss while being in a relationship with Aaron.

I sighed and put on a smile when I saw William walking towards me with a bag of chips in his hands.

"Here," he offered me the chips and took a seat beside me.

"Thanks," I smiled and he nodded his head, returning the gesture.

"When will they move her from the ICU?" I asked him the question that had been on my mind since I woke up.

"Tomorrow."

"Oh," was all I said before both of us fell into another round of comfortable silence.

After some more moments of silence, I decided to break the ice and thank him for his kindness.

"William I.....I wanted to thank you for everything. I can't even put in words how much all this means to me. Your presence, your financial help, your love, and support I..."

He nodded his head understandingly and gave me a wide smile, "You don't need to thank me for anything, Emily. You are just like a part of our family. I'm honored that we were of some help." He chuckled lightly and warmth spread through my heart.

"Emily?" he spoke after a good five minutes of silence.

"Yes?"

"Noah really does care for you more than anyone else," he said and stood up, straightening his clothes he walked away.

"I know," I whispered to myself and brought my knees up to my chest, hugging them and closing my eyes.

**********

"Here," I put the breakfast on the table beside my mother's bed and handed her the medicines.

She took a sip of water from her glass and gulped down the meds. When I was sure that she had taken all the medicines I stood up from her bed and walked towards the door.

"Emily?" she called my name and I stopped right outside her bedroom door.

"Yes?"

Mom did not say anything after we came back home from the hospital three days ago. She only nodded or used single word answers. And surprisingly it didn't bother me at all. I knew her, I was used to all of this. So when we were in the same room and no words were exchanged it didn't feel awkward at all.

"Come inside," she said and I nodded, making my way towards her bed and sitting at the far end corner.

"Did you need something?" I asked when she didn't speak for a few moments.

"How did you afford the hospital expenses?" she looked up from her untouched pancakes in the tray and I sighed.

"I somehow did," I whispered and looked away towards the open window.

"How did you?" she tried once again. But one thing that I noticed was that her voice didn't have the usual edge in it. For once it seemed as if we were making a normal conversation.

"I told you about my friend Noah. His father, who is also the owner of the restaurant I work at, paid for everything but I'd somehow have him cut it from my salary monthly."

"Hm," she hummed as if she was in deep thoughts and I took the cue to walk out, not wanting to be bombarded with more questions.

As I took a step outside her room she said from behind, "Tell them we're thankful."

"Will do," I said and walked upstairs towards my room.

It had been three days since we came back from the hospital. I hadn't seen Noah since then and I'd lie if I'd say I didn't miss his presence around me.

I told Aaron about my mother's accident and her surgery, skipping the part about her drunken habits of course. Aaron, as sweet as he was, came to my house the day I told him with flowers for my mother and dinner for all of us.

Thankfully mom was sleeping at that time so Aaron couldn't meet her, and of course, I didn't even want him to. He called me twice a day after that and asked if we needed something or if it was okay if he wanted to see me and come over.

I obviously politely denied, making up some random excuse.

Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to face Aaron after what I did. I wanted to tell him about the kiss. The time when I slept in Noah's bedroom. I wanted to tell him that it was because of Noah that my mother was alive. I wanted to tell him about my troubled past. About my mother's behavior.

But I just couldn't.

So I did what any sane person would do to have some time to think about things, I started ignoring him.

William had given me a week off from the restaurant to look after my mother. Because of that, I didn't have to see him every day.

I was just thinking how I would tell him about everything and how would he react. He would break up with me that I was sure but I didn't want him to be hurt because of me.

He had been nothing but kind and sincere to me. But I just couldn't develop 'that' kind of feelings for him. Sure I wanted him in my life but as a friend.

But seeing what I had done, I didn't even deserve his friendship.

********

The rest of the week went by faster than I thought and before I knew I was walking inside the restaurant for my evening shift. William had offered me to take some more holidays if I wanted but I decided against it because honestly, I didn't have anything to do at home either. No matter how much I wanted to avoid Aaron, I had to face him one day.

I walked into the kitchen and was surprised when Aaron didn't cross my way.

Well, that was a good thing.

I greeted Cody and he asked me about my mother's health. We talked for a little while before he went back to cooking and I started arranging everything like I always did.

After some time I heard the kitchen door open and sighed when I realized that it was my cue to plaster a fake smile on my face.

"Emily," Aaron came from behind and wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me closer to his chest and I stiffened.

I wasn't expecting that at all.

Sure we were in a relationship but we were never this intimate. It felt rather weird, him hugging me like this. But nevertheless, I decided not to show my discomfort.

I didn't want him to be more hurt because of me.

"Hey Aaron," my voice was cold and stern that even I was surprised at myself.

"How have you been?" he asked pressing a soft kiss to my temple, still hugging me tightly from behind.

"Good," I nodded and placed my hands on his arms, gently pulling them away and turning around to face him.

"I missed you," he said, brushing his fingers along my cheek.

If he had done this a few days back, I would've blushed like a tomato but today I wasn't even shy to make eye contact with him for longer than necessary. I was just embarrassed.

"Me too," I lied and smiled, knowing that he couldn't see through me.

Not like Noa— 

Not like a certain someone did.

"I'm glad you're back," he chuckled lightly and I smiled again.

God, how was I supposed to tell him everything? 

I contemplated for a long time, debating whether to tell him everything right now or gather some more courage to tell him after two-three days more.

Then decided to go with the latter.

"How's your mother?" he asked, rubbing small circles on my cheek with his thumb.

"She's fine," I said and he nodded. Leaning forward he kissed my forehead and backed away, standing at a two feet distance now.

I started doing my work and Aaron took a seat beside me, looking at me while leaning on the counter.

After a few minutes, when I started to get uncomfortable under his gaze I looked at him and saw him still dreamily looking at me "Aaron?" I called out his name "Mhm?" he just hummed and kept on staring "Don't you have work?"

"No," he simply stated, unfazed by my utter discomfort.

I rolled my eyes and went back to doing my work. After arranging all the spices and random stuff that was sprawled on the counter in their right place I turned around and saw Aaron still sitting in the same posture.

"Aaron!"

"Yes?" he finally broke his gaze away from me and frowned.

"Stop looking at me like that," I mumbled and looked away, too embarrassed about everything.

"Why?" he smirked and took a step dangerously close to me that now I could feel his cinnamon breath on my lips. I squirmed as he caged me, placing both of his hands on either side of me that I was locked between him and the counter.

"Can't I stare at my girlfriend?" he asked as he dipped his head down in the hollow of my neck, moving my hair to the other side and placing a trail of soft kisses along my jaw to my collarbone. 

Oh yeah, I was his girlfriend. 

My mind seemed to keep forgetting that I shuddered as he lightly sucked a sensitive spot on my neck and felt him smile against my skin.

His kisses moved up to my face and I felt completely helpless.

I should push him away. 

My mind screamed at me and I found myself asking the same question again.

How?

"Aaron," I placed my hands on his chest, gently pushing him away but he didn't seem to budge.

"Aaron," I tried once again, my voice more stern and devoid of any emotion now.

"Mhm," he hummed against my skin as he placed another kiss on my jaw.

"Stop," I said and he stiffened. He stayed like that for a while and then reluctantly pulled away and stared at the wall as if it was the most fascinating thing to see.

"I'm sorry," he scratched his neck and I nodded.

"No, it's okay," I reassured him and went back to my work, not wanting to talk about what just happened anymore.

I felt him move but didn't look up to meet his eyes and then after a while, he was gone out of the kitchen, leaving me with my thoughts alone.