Chapter 70
AURORA.
‘You won’t ever have to wait in line when you’re with me.’
I stared at Winter, genuinely taken aback by his words. Well, it wasn’t so much his words than it was the sincerity that swirled in his eyes as he spoke them. There seemed to be some underlying meaning to them that I couldn’t quite place my finger on.
I would admit that I had not taken Winter’s advances towards me seriously in the past. It mostly had to do with the fact that I’d convinced myself that he was only after the thrill of the chase, given his reputation as a playboy. However, his words seemed undeniably sincere that I had to stop and really look at him.
What was I supposed to say to that? I had no idea. So, I offered a small smile in response and began browsing through the store’s exquisite collection, knowing that he would follow behind me. Winter was nice and funny but he was not the type of man I was usually attracted to. There was something about him that caused me to chuckle whenever I thought of starting anything romantic with him and it was not because he was ugly.
Because he wasn’t. Winter was quite positively one of the most handsome men I’d ever met and I was sure most women were begging for just a tiny speck of his attention. But I was not most women and I would never be.
To me, there was absolutely nothing romantic between Winter and I. He was better off as a friend and I hoped one of these days he would come to understand that. Besides, I was married to his best friend. It would be absurd of me to think of him like that.
“So, Aurora,” Winter spoke up as we moved, “what did Nathaniel do to get you to want to buy him a present?”
I was momentarily taken aback, surprised by Winter's perceptiveness. It was as though he had effortlessly unraveled my intentions. How did he know Nathaniel had done something for me first? Was I that obvious? Scoffing, I replied, “You’re quite the mind-reader, Winter.”
He smiled warmly and spoke with a knowing tone, “Don't be surprised, Aurora. Nathaniel has been quite candid with me about your marital situation. He and I are currently in fair competition.”
His words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of awkwardness. I couldn't shake the sense that there was more to his statement than met the eye. Was this a subtle confession or admission of feelings?
The curiosity got the better of me. “Competition, you say? What kind of competition?”
Winter chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, you see, Nathaniel and I have both recognized something special in you. We admire you for different reasons, and it's become a friendly rivalry of sorts.”
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, my interest piqued. “And what, pray tell, are the stakes of this rivalry?”
He leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in his eye, and replied, “Ah, now that's a secret we've both agreed to keep. But rest assured, it's all in good fun.”
Even though his lips were stretched in a smile, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more he was not telling me. Nathaniel had told Winter that we were married then. I wanted to know when but I probably would’ve felt some type of way if it turned out that Winter had found out before me so I did not push.
We finally selected a tie that Winter assured me was going to be a hit with Nathaniel. Satisfied, I walked to the counter to pay. When Winter offered to cover the cost, I reminded him that it would not be a present from me if I didn’t pay for it. Laughing, he acquiesced, stepping back.
I tried not to think about the price as I handed over my card to the cashier. I mean, if a mere tie was that expensive, how much was a whole suit? Rich people made me sick.
Once I was done, Winter and I walked out of the store, with me safely holding the small shopping bag along with the shopping bags containing the things I bought for Abuela. We saw that the evening sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mall's polished floors. With a courteous smile, Winter offered, “Would you like a ride home? It's getting late.”
I considered his offer for a moment. If I rejected it, it would mean I would have to walk all the way to the bus top to get a bus. One of these days, I really had to think about getting a car. “Sure. Thanks.”
Five minutes later, we were driving to my apartment in his car. I was pretty excited about the present I’d gotten Nathaniel. I hoped he would like it or this would have all been for nothing. I was also giddy about telling Abuela Thane had arranged for her to have a caregiver. When I’d brought it up with her, she had swiftly rejected it. If Thane was the one offering, I was almost certain she would not say no.
From the corner of my eyes, I glanced at Winter. Ever since his admission earlier, I’d been meaning to ask him something. A growing curiosity bubbled within me until I couldn’t fight it anymore. “Can I ask you something, Winter?”
He gave me a quick curious glance before turning back to the road. “Sure thing, love.”
“You admitted earlier that you have feelings for me. Why?”
There was a moment of thoughtful silence as if he was turning the question over in his head, broken only by the soft hum of the car's engine. Then, with a gentle smile, Winter suggested, “Before I answer that, may I share a story with you? It might help you understand.”
I nodded, waiting for him to speak.
“When I was younger, I fell in love with a woman named Lena. She was my first love. We were very happy together and I felt I could conquer the world if only I had her by my side. We’d planned it all out; after college, we were going to get married, start a business together and have kids of our own. Then her family business fell into some very difficult times and she didn’t tell me. Instead, she allowed herself to get pressured by her parents into breaking up with me and marrying some rich England heir to save their business. By the time I found out, it was too late. Lena was already married.”
As I listened to Winter speak, I could tell he’d gone somewhere far away, where only he and his pain existed, a pain that sounded very much like one he didn’t want to stop feeling. With my heart breaking, I listened attentively to him, wishing I could do something, anything to alleviate his pain.
“The man Lena married was, simply put, a shithead. He didn’t love her, just as she didn’t love him. Their marriage was purely transactional. I thought many times about going to England to get her back. I imagined fighting for my love, for eventual happiness. But I couldn’t because she wasn’t mine to keep anymore. They had only been married for about three months before her husband began flings with various mistresses of his. He humiliated her and made sure she was a laughing stock. Lena died a year later from heartbreak.”
His voice cracked at the end. I swallowed, the bridge of my nose tingling. “I’m sorry. She deserved better.”
Winter sniffed and when he met my eyes briefly, they were red. “It’s in the past. I’d like to think I’m over it but it seems like I’m not.”
“I understand.” If there was one thing I’d learned from my breakup with Mateo, it was that hiding away from the pain did not make it go away.
“You remind me of Lena. She was independent like you, always wanted to earn everything herself, a woman with a mind of her own. There’s not a lot of them anymore,” he said, turning into a lane. “She had Hispanic roots too and I know this is weird, but you look like her a little.”
I pondered over his words. Winter and I had been through similar situations. The only difference was that Lena had married the man her parents pressured her into marrying but Mateo had not. Instead, he’d chosen to leave home and make something out of himself. Nevertheless, Mateo had broken up with me under the same circumstances and I’d only found out her reason weeks ago.
However, something else gnarled at me. I could understand Winter because I knew too what it was like to fight for someone to love me, to choose me. But in all he’d said, I didn’t hear him say he liked me for me. Plus, he knew the situation surrounding my marriage with Nathaniel. What if…?
“Winter,” I began. “Can you genuinely say you like me for me or if you just don’t want me to become another tragedy?”
He stared at me thoughtfully for a long time, but he did not say a word.