26. A
"More maple syrup?"
Aiden held up the ceramic jug with a raised brow on his questioning face. The aroma of coffee and hot food was comforting but the best part of this breakfast was being seated beside Aiden. His disheveled morning hair and shirtless frame was dizzying.
Unfortunately I hadn't been able to finish the the delicious hot waffles. Their fluffy centres and toasted edges were so well done that I hadn't hesitated to tell Aiden how impressed I was at his efforts. He claimed that he wasn't the best in the kitchen but I doubted that I was the first girl he'd cooked breakfast for.
"I don't think I could stomach another bite," I swallowed and averted my gaze. I felt awful for not scoffing them all down like I usually would. Perhaps I was still riddled with anxiety or my stomach had shrunk in the last couple of days. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," he set the jug down with a soft smile and leaned over, pressing a kiss against my cheek. "Just help yourself whenever you want to eat. You're welcome to whatever."
I felt relieved and a little ridiculous for worrying that he would be upset with me for not finishing. "Thank you."
"The only thing that I would suggest not touching in the fridge, is Po's protein shakes. Simply because they're disgusting."
I laughed as he gave me a cautious look and popped his forkful of food into his mouth. Zoerina wandered in. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt, sweatpants and her hair was a mess. She was a beautiful girl but it was clear that mornings weren't her specialty. However she did perk up when she spied the tower of waffles on the kitchen countertop.
"Fuck yeah," she mumbled with enthusiasm. She stood on the other side of the island and snatched one up, not bothering with knives or forks, she just took an enormous bite. She gave us a thumbs up as her eyes rolled backwards. "Scho good."
Aiden didn't seem concerned. He carried on eating with his head down, ignoring his sister who burped so loudly that it startled me before she took another bite. The food was great. I couldn't blame her.
Her eyes suddenly flickered over to the entrance and Po came strolling in with his active wear on. Aiden mentioned that he and Zoerina did a lot of working out as a form of channeling their desire to fall into old habits. It's something to focus on. A goal to obtain. It was doing well it would seem because both of them were super fit.
Zoerina watched him collect a water from the fridge as she took another bite of her waffle. Her glance fell down to the food in her hand and then back up to Hunapo who was guzzling his chilled water as if his life depended on it. Zoerina suddenly spoke with her mouthful. "Po, lets go and get breakfast."
It made me smile when I saw how soft his expression towards her was. Her hair was a mess, she had a mouthful of food and crumbs all over her lips. But he still stared at her as though she was a rare and precious diamond that was worth more than life itself.
His brows furrowed and he began to shake his head. "We probab—"
"I wasn't asking," she interrupted and wiped her mouth clean as she started out of the kitchen. "I'm going to shower and dress. Be ready in twenty."
Aiden's green gaze was narrowed at Hunapo with exasperation. But he didn't notice. He was watching Zoerina drag her feet out of the kitchen, her t shirt ridden up as she wiped her mouth with the bottom of it.
Hunapo moved his curious glance to Aiden, as if he was seeking permission. I wanted to giggle at his child like stare. It was unusual in comparison to his often flat expression. But Aiden chuckled and waved him off. "Go."
"I'll see you guys later," he offered us a brief goodbye as he left the kitchen. It felt so nice to smile for them. I wanted nothing more than for them to get their second or third or fourth chance together. Whatever it was, I hoped that it brought them both happiness.
My mouth opened to suggest that Aiden and I leave soon when a loud thud echoed through the kitchen and I felt my heart painfully thud in my chest. The coffee cup in front of me was almost knocked off the bench when my hands flew up and I turned around to find Maddie starting with a regretful wince.
"Sorry," she bent down and picked up the cardboard box responsible for the sound. "I didn't mean to drop that."
Aiden turned to me and looked me over with concern. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah of course," I nodded despite the fact that my chest was swelling at the intense pounding of my heart. "I'm good."
Maddie wandered over with the large box and not long after, Cameron followed with one of his own. They set them down in the corner and Maddie arched her back as though she was a frail old woman with back pains. Her red waves were pulled back in an unkempt bun. The kitchen lights almost created a halo as they shone down on her head. "We just went to your apartment to get as much of your stuff as we could. Brian and Kyle are bringing up the rest."
"Oh," I glanced between them with a grateful smile. "You didn't have to do that."
"Saves you doing it," Cameron said.
Maddie nodded with a concerned grimace. "You don't want to go back there right now honey. It hasn't been cleaned up."
She didn't elaborate. But she didn't need to. Images of the bloodshed were still vividly etched in all corners of my mind. I'd slept well for the most part last night. But a few nightmares startled me out of slumber. However, Aiden was always there beside me when I woke. Which made it that much easier to fall asleep again.
"Thanks guys," I nodded with a deep breath. "I really appreciate it."
"Do you need us to do anything else?" Maddie questioned. She sat on the stool beside me and Cameron leaned on the countertop. "Anything at all?"
"You've done so much already."
"They want to help," Aiden said. His fingertips caressed the nape of my neck as he stood up and rounded the island to clean up.
A smile stung the split in my lips. It was hard to accept how selfless these people were. I didn't want to inconvenience them but it was obvious that there was a strong support system. "It's fine for now," I pushed my plate across the counter for Aiden to rinse off. "I need to contact work. I don't have sick leave left."
"I've spoken to them," Aiden announced as he ran a plate under the faucet. He glanced up and fixed me with his soothing green stare. "Your spot will still be available whenever you're ready to return. Take your time."
"But I have no money," I mumbled. Apart from savings. But that wouldn't last forever.
Aiden flicked the faucet off and leaned against the kitchen island, his arms and chest flexing with his movements. He was so breathtaking in the most effortless way. "You can cook? How about that?" He suggested as a form of earning a keep.
"I'll do more," I pushed a hand through my hair, flinching when I grazed the bruising around my temple. "But of course I can cook."
"Looks like we'll be coming for dinner more," Maddie clacked her tongue with amusement.
Cameron chuckled. "Mhmm I would be keen on some more tortellini."
"He's been talking about it since his birthday," Maddie gave him an amused grin. "Ya know, in between asking how you are since you saw—" she let her sentence trail off but after all that I'd been through, that seemed to be the least concerning event that I'd experienced.
It felt like a life time had passed since I was oblivious to this life that Aiden led. Since I believed that I was falling for an incredible but for the most part regular man. Sure his presence was captivating and his gaze was as green as the gates of emerald city. But I would never have imagined his secrets to have been so deep. It didn't change what I felt though. After the initial shock, I realised that he was even more perfect. His need to protect, his selfless attitude and patience. He was so much more than regular. And I was falling so much harder.
As Aiden finished washing up, a couple of tall, enormous muscled men wandered in to the kitchen with two boxes each. They set them down beside the rest and turned to Maddie. The one with almost white blonde hair gave her a thumbs up and smiled as if he was a child that had earned himself an ice cream.
"Brian, Kyle," Aiden said as he came and stood behind me. "This is Arian. Arian these are a couple of my staff."
The one with no hair and a thick short beard who I believed was Kyle gave me a small wave. But Brian scoffed and folded his arms. "We're his right hand men. All vigilantes have faithful henchmen dedicated to supporting the cause."
Aiden exhaled an exasperated breath. "Brian has an overactive imagination."
"It's how he copes with what he witnesses Aiden," Maddie sighed and stood up. "It's called a protective mechanism."
"It's called my life is a movie," Brian nodded at me with a subtle wink. "You're the leading lady."
"Not that I disagree with that last statement," Aiden laughed, his hand rubbing small circles on my shoulder. "But you two can get out of here now."
Kyle nodded and the two of them wandered out, leaving me to dwell on his choice of words. My father - not a reader, but a lover of Mom who drowned herself in fictional worlds - always told me that I was destined to lead the life of a leading lady. He believed that I was deserving of breakfasts in bed. Moonlit walks along the beachside's in Bora Bora. Tours and wine tasting at the most prestige vineyards in Venice. I deserved to travel the world and be doted on. That's what my father told me time and time again. I had so much love to give that I ought to give it to someone who made me their leading lady.
It never failed to make me feel guilty when I was reminded of just how far from his dream I had drifted. He'd wanted so much for me. He wanted a relationship for me, just as beautiful as the one that he'd had with my mother. The taste of metallic was almost identifiable as I bit down on the inside of my cheek to avoid tearing up.
"You alright?" Aiden offered me his hand and I stood with a semi convincing nod and smile. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on my battered cheek. "Should we get organised to leave and go and see this girl?"
"Girl?" Maddie raised a thin brow in question as she stood up.
"Arian met a young street girl a couple of days ago. She thinks that her step father might have been a victim of mine. Her mother has kicked her out in light of her husbands death so I'm going to do what I can to help her out."
Maddie and Cameron nodded at the summarised explanation and Aiden excused himself, letting me know that he'd be in the shower. His caramel torso tensed with his movements and as much as I wanted to watch him leave, I turned to the couple in front of me instead. I didn't want to seem awkward but I needed to shower and change as well and while Aiden seemed more than comfortable leaving them in the kitchen, I felt odd not seeing them out or hanging around until they wanted to leave.
"Arian," Cameron said as I ran a hand through my long copper locks which were softer than they had been in a while, courtesy of Aiden washing my hair. The fresh scent of wild berries and milk lingered on the tips of my fingers. I raised a brow at Cameron to show him that I was listening. "When's your birthday?"
"February 9th."
"Ahh," he smiled. Maddie rolled her eyes with mild amusement as her fiancé pointed a factual finger. "You're an Aquarius."
The marble countertop was cold against the revealed skin on my hip as I leaned against the edge with folded arms. My shirt had lifted so I straightened up and pulled it over the waistband of my pants before I relaxed again. "What does that mean? Sorry, I just don't follow star signs and all that."
"Don't get him started."
Cameron ignored his fiancées exasperated mumbling. "Oh it's just interesting because Aiden is a Gemini. So you're quite compatible. Your trust and ability to share should be high. See, as a Gemini, Aiden feels free enough in a relationship to be truthful. It's one of their traits."
"Yeah but a Gemini's traits are also the dislike of routine and they're nervous and indecisive," Maddie countered, pulling at the bottom of her shorts. "That doesn't sound like Aiden."
Cameron's gaze narrowed at the distance as he tilted his head from side to side. "Well, no. But," he raised a finger. "They do love friends and family."
"That's a terrible argument. Most people love their friends and family."
"You're such a cynic."
I watched the couple with a soft smile. I admired how different they were in all aspects. Maddie had pale, silk smooth skin. Her frame was larger. But as much as I'd heard her put down her own heavier legs, I had no negative opinion on what I saw. Her cream complexion and curved stems were flawless. Because who had the right to decide that size was a flaw?
Cameron was slimmer with long bean poles that held up his lean torso. His skin was the shade of golden sand and his light brown hair was given highlights from the sun. Their appearances differed, their personalities were unique and contradicting. But despite all of that, I could no longer imagine one without the other. It was a perfect fit. Two pieces of an abstract puzzle that might seem impossible to fit with one in each hand, but the minute that they're connected, it creates a beautiful and unique piece of art.
"I am not disregarding your beliefs," Maddie sighed.
"You so are."
"Ya know," she cocked her head to the side. "You would think as a lawyer you wouldn't believe something that's so . . . inconclusive. It's not supported by hard evidence and it's so wrong too often to trust."
"It's the stars of the universe and personalities Maddison," he shook his head. "Not a murder or theft case."
"Yeah babe," she patted his shoulder. "So you tell me. Come on. Let's go so that Arian can get on with her morning."
Maddie embraced me in a gentle hug. She was fast becoming one of those hugs that were a comfort the moment that her arms were wound around me. There was no awkward side on holds or standing a meter apart while she winced and gave me a pat on the back. She pulled me in and solidified our friendship and bond with her actions.
The sound of the elevator doors closing came through the apartment corridor as I dashed towards Aiden's bedroom. The bed was made. The sun outside of the floor to ceiling windows was attempting to come through the white clouds. I watched them being pushed by the breeze and imagined that I was walking amongst the lords pillows as the soft carpet padded my footsteps.
I'd always loved the views and wanders of the universe. That was something that had differed between Mom and I. While I loved reading, I loved experiencing what the world had to offer more. Mom settled for spending hours in her favourite arm chair which had been her first and most expensive purchase when she began working as a teenager. It still sat in the living room in Tampa. Gathering dust in the grooves where she sat with her legs over the arm. But I chose to escape whenever I could. Road trips with girlfriends during the weekends. The beach. Hiking. Camping. As well as creating exquisite food, seeing the world in its raw and pure form, was something that I had thrived on.
Being with Desmond meant less travel, less friends, less experience. But the desire to reform and be who I once was, gave me hope. I hadn't lost me. She was still there and I wasn't naive. I wouldn't be the same as I was before I left Tampa. But I could be that girl again. The one that inhaled the fresh air of the Forrest. The one that dipped her feet in the shallow clear water of the rivers. The one who jumped from the cliff sides of waterfalls. The one who was grateful for a world with so much to be grateful for.
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