Chapter 28 28
Chapter 28 28
Lily's POV
I looked at the photo on my phone until I couldn’t see straight. Aiden and Sophia leaning in a window at the office, close together, her hand on his chest. The image seared itself into my brain.
I shook while scrolling through the comments with my hands. It seemed everyone — including me — could agree: I’d been dumped. That he had found somebody more appropriate. Somebody who was a part of his world.
The worst part was, I’d almost thought we had something. Almost let myself fall completely.
My phone buzzed with a text message from Daniel. "Saw the article. I'm sorry. Want to grab coffee tomorrow?"
I should have said no. Shoulda stayed home and wallowed. Instead, I typed back: "Yes. Ten AM?"
"Perfect. I'll pick you up."
I hucked my phone across the room and curled into a ball. I wouldn’t be shedding any tears for Aiden Cole. Wouldn't give him that power. But my eyes burned, anyway, and tears threatened as I looked toward the heavens despite myself.
Hannah called around midnight. I let it go to voicemail. She called again. And again. Finally, I answered.
"I listened," she said without preamble. “And hold your fire until you hear the whole story.”
“So there’s a whole backstory about another woman touching him?”
"Lily? A single photo from a single angle doesn’t tell you what has happened.”
"It tells me enough." But my voice broke on the words.
"Call him. Let him explain."
"Why? So he can give me some bullshit about it’s business?” I laughed bitterly. "I'm not that naive, Hannah."
After we said goodbye, I lay in bed looking at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn't come. That picture was all I could see every time I closed my eyes. Sophia's perfect face. Her hand on his chest like she possessed him.
I abandoned sleep around three AM. I poured myself a glass of wine and went to grab my phone. My fingers acted before my brain could stay them.
I had a hands-free wank over the guy. His fingers, his mouth, in the way he made me come undone. I was angry at him, hurt by him, but my body didn’t give a shit. My body only wanted him.
I came, and when I did it was his name on my lips. And I hated myself for it.
A buzz from my phone on the nightstand. Aiden's name flashed up on the screen. I looked at it, with a finger over the answer button.
It rang four times, then went to voicemail. A minute passed, and it rang again.
When the fifth call came, I picked up. "What?"
"Lily, thank God. It’s been hours — I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.” His voice was rough, panicked.
"I was busy."
"Did you see the article?" He didn't wait for an answer. "It's not what it looks like. I swear to you, nothing."
“Her hand was right on your chest, Aiden.”
"She was making a pass at me. I turned her down." He rushed through the words. “I took that picture just before I left. I didn't touch her."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why should I believe you?"
Silence. Then: "Because you know me."
"Do I?" I stood, pacing. “The man I thought I knew wouldn’t have left for three whole months. Wouldn’t have accepted a deal with a woman who is trying to fuck him.”
"You're not competing with anything." His voice was desperate. "You're the most important thing."
"Then act like it." Tears streamed down my face. "Come back. Choose me for once."
"I can't just walk away. There are contracts, obligations."
"There's always another obligation." I wiped at my tears. "I can't keep waiting."
"What are you saying?"
"Maybe we need a break. Figure out what we want."
“No.” The word was clipped. "Don't do this."
"I need space."
"How much space?"
"I don't know." My voice broke. “I can’t be doing this tonight.”
I hung up. My phone rang immediately, but I switched it off.
I cried until morning came. Big, ugly sobs that left me gnashing and gasping. When Daniel texted me at 9:30 there was an almost cancel. But I would go crazy if I were to stay home.
Daniel arrived at ten. "You look tired."
"Rough night."
He drove us to a quiet cafe. We got coffee and I nudged a croissant across my plate.
"He's an idiot," Daniel said. “If he can’t realize how much he has.”
"Maybe I'm the idiot."
"You're in love with him."
When he reached for it, I yanked my hand away. "Doesn't matter."
We sat an hour, Daniel to divert me. It almost worked.
As we said goodbye, Daniel accompanied me to his car. My lips were against his before I could think of anything to say in response. Soft, gentle, nothing like Aiden.
I should have yanked away then. Instead, I kissed him for a few seconds and felt how I did. Seeing if there was anything I could feel.
I felt nothing. Just emptiness.
I recoiled, prepared to apologize. Then I saw him.
There was Aiden, on the other side of the street, frozen. His expression was one of rage and despair. Our eyes met.
I attempted to move in the direction of him, but Daniel’s palm was on my hold. From Aiden's perspective, we were a couple.
Aiden turned and walked away.
"Was that him?" Daniel asked.
I nodded, unable to speak.
"Shit. I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
Daniel took me back home without speaking. Once I’d made it inside, I turned my phone on. Fifty three missed calls. Thirty seven texts.
I opened Aiden's messages.
"Please call me back."
"I'm booking a flight. I'll be there in six hours."
"I just landed."
"I'm at your apartment."
“Hannah said she went to get coffee with Daniel."
"I'm going to find you."
Then: "I saw you. With him. Well, I think you’ve made your choice.”
My hands shook as I typed. “It was not what it appeared to be.
Three dots appeared and disappeared. Finally: "Funny. That's what I said. "But you didn’t believe me, either.”
"Let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain. You kissed another man."
"I didn't kiss him. He kissed me."
"You didn't push him away."
He was right. "Where are you? Can we talk?"
No response. I called but it went to voicemail.
My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. A video file with no words.
The footage was from an elevator security camera. Aiden and Sophia pressed close. Her hands in his hair. They kiss, mouths held together.
The timestamp showed last night. After our call. After he promised nothing happened.
I saw it three times, my heart breaking even more with each viewing. But then I noticed something. Aiden’s hands settled on her shoulders about fifteen seconds in. Pushing her away.
There was someone who wanted me to see this. Wanted me to think the worst.
I tried calling Aiden. Still voicemail.
“I watched the video,” I said after the beep. "I know she kissed you. I know you pushed her away. I’m sorry I doubted you. I'm sorry about Daniel. Please call me."
I waited hours. No response.
By midnight, I was frantic. I called everyone. No one had seen him.
Hannah came over with wine. "He'll call. He needs time."
"What if he doesn't?"
I fell asleep on the couch. Aiden’s messageless number was the first thing\\xa0I did not see when I woke at dawn. There was, however, a text from an unfamiliar number.
"If you want to locate him, visit the Chelsea Hotel. Room 412."