Spinning around, a surprised cry escaped my lips. I froze to the floor, my limbs refusing to move. Aidan held me strongly in his gaze, the cool blue pools twinkling in the light from above. I blinked, uncomfortable.

"We- I um, -Aidan," I stammered. "You can't be in here, this is the ladies room."

"I'm aware," he replied, looking around before returning his eyes to me. "Don't change the subject."

I laughed nervously and turned away, staring at the wall. There was no getting away from this now, was there? Never thought I'd be trapped in the womens bathroom, least of all because of him.


"You can start by telling me why you took off two years ago, without so much of an explanation."

I cringed and sighed, squeezing my eyes closed. What was I going to tell him? That I took off 'cause I couldn't handle being around him; seeing her in his eyes everytime I looked at him? It was the truth, sure. But it was a shit reason to take off. He probably wouldn't even buy it.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Well you're going to," he sighed, crossing his arms. "I'm not leaving until you tell me."


"Then I guess you're gonna be in here a while," I replied dryly, smirking. "You might as well lean on something."

Aidan much to my surprise, fell silent. I could feel his eyes burning holes in my back as I stood there, studying the tiles pasted on the walls before me. Well alright, so I wasn't all that much into the tiles. My fucking mind was running a mile a minute.

I couldn't fathom why I was acting so uptight, to be honest. I didn't want to be mean to him, to deny him any more than I already had. But I couldn't bring myself to turn around and apologize, to explain. I knew he deserved both. Why was it paining me so much when it was the right thing to do?

"This is ridiculous," he groaned, leaning hard against the sink. I listened to his boots scuffle the floor as he crossed his feet. "Why are we doing this? Why can't we just say what we feel?"

"I don't feel anything."

"Yeah, and you're a fucking liar," he spat, eyeing me. "You feel plenty. For some unknown reason to me, you don't want to admit it."

"I suppose you know everything?" I retorted, turning around and glaring at him.


"I know what I felt when you kissed me." I rolled my eyes and tightened my arms around myself.

"You kissed me, Aidan."

"Yes, I did," he admitted, offering a sly smile. "But you kissed me back. Stronger than I anticipated."

"You're so full of it," I groaned, rolling my eyes and turning away again.

God, he so wasn't full of it! I had kissed him back, and stronger than I had anticipated. I almost wanted him to kiss me right then and there- but then I'd lose myself. I always lost myself in him.

"And right now," he continued, his eyes on me. "You're thinking about it. Kicking yourself in the ass because you got lost in the moment; the last thing you wanted to happen, or for me to know."

"Shut up."

"You're angry because I'm right," he went on, laughing. "I could always read you like an open book."


"It's all in your head."

"You," he replied, almost a whisper. "Are in my head."


"So kick me out!" I barked, turning and walking past him towards the door. He jumped up and grabbed me, pushing me against the wall. I turned my head away to avoid eye contact, but he turned my face back. I stared hard at him with tear filled eyes.

"You're crying," he whispered, studying my face.


"What's the matter?" I groaned between tiny sobs. "Upset you can't read me as well as you used to?"

"Aimee," he replied. "Don't talk like that."

"How am I supposed to talk, then? 'Cause you know everything, right?" Sighing, he closed his eyes for a moment.


"Obviously you're upset," he continued. "Tell my why a woman that is supposedly so angry with me -and I have to wonder why that is, 'cause you left me- is so full of sorrow, and can't tell me why when I was the love of your fucking life?"

I didn't want to open my mouth; I didn't want to say the words. And yet, as I watched tears welling in his eyes, I felt sorry. Sorry for the hurt I had caused him, and in turn, myself. I had to ask myself why I was even doing this. Why I was fighting off the person I had grown up with, the one person who really understood me. The only person that really ever loved me. All I had to do was say it.


"I'm sorry," I offered weakly between sobs. "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry that I found you, or that I caught you in here and am making you talk?" he pressed, balling his hands into fists at my side. "'Cause you know, Aimee, you're the only person in my entire life that has made me so happy, and yet so miserable. Do you have any idea how much I've been fucking aching for you to come home, and tell me what the hell I did?"

"You didn't do anything, Aidan," I whispered, my heart sinking as the dams exploded and his tears washed onto his smooth skin. "I just -couldn't take it anymore. I saw her everytime I looked at you."

"And then I find out you're married to some guy and have a son," he cried, shaking his head. "I couldn't believe you just abandoned me and moved on to some -replacement."

"Ben's not a replacement," I replied softly, touching his hand. "He doesn't even compare."


"Then why are you with him!?" he cried, pushing himself away. Thrusting his hair angrily out of his face, he let out a terrible growl. "I don't understand it, Aimee! If you don't love him, why do you stay?"

"I don't know!" I screamed. I closed my eyes and listened to him pace the floor.


"You know, I tried hard to convince myself that night that you really did love him, and you were just freaked out by some wack-job calling you and asking strange questions," he continued, staring hard at me. "I lay in bed every night begging God to help me forget about you, to let you be happy like you deserved."

But I didn't deserve to be happy. I ran away from everything that should have kept me there! Rather than disappearing to 'save' myself from the pain, I should have stayed behind and helped him through his. Maybe right now I'd be married to him instead, and Drake would be his. That was all I ever wanted, and like a fool I ignored my heart and screwed myself over.

"Aidan," I pleaded, joining him. I touched his arm but he backed away.


"I am here, Aimee," he pressed, watching me sadly. "I traveled hours and hours to get here, all for you. Tell me you love me, or this whole thing has been a waste. I just need to hear you say it."

This was the moment I'd been fearing, and longing for since I'd seen him earlier in the evening. He still loved me as much as before, perhaps even more; and all I had to do to get exactly what I wanted and needed so badly, was to just say so. This was my chance. I couldn't blow it.


"You know I do," I whispered, brushing my hand over his cheek. "I've loved you all my life."

"Do you mean that?" he asked, studying my eyes. "'Cause I don't think my heart could take it if you ran off again." Either could mine.

"Yes, Aidan." He sighed in relief, relaxing his tense shoulders.

"Then come home with me," he whispered, extending his hand out. "I'm not asking you to stay forever 'cause I know your son needs you at home. But please, just stay with me tonight. I've missed you so much more than you know."


My heart pounding, I placed my hand in his with shy eyes. Why did I feel like a teenager again?

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