AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He turns his head toward me, lifting a confused brow.
“The one who fits the shoe. Isn’t that how the story goes?” It’s been a long time since I saw the movie Cinderella. I was never into princess movies, so I could be wrong. I’ve seen current movies with Lexi, but the classics…it’s been awhile. He turns his head to his other side, looking at the shoe. He chuckles softly, picking it up.
“They say the woman it fits will forgive her prince for being a jealous asshole.”
I run my hand through my hair, looking up at the sky. I sigh heavily. “I can handle you being a jealous asshole. I’ve come to terms with that.” I turn back to meet his pleading eyes. I can see he’s sorry and I’m sure he’ll do anything to make it up to me. “But your words cut right through me tonight, hitting a target that they should never have been pointed at. Especially by you.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, blinking back his tears. His hand scrapes over his jaw. “I shouldn’t have ever said that. You know I don’t think that way.” He reaches for my hand. “I just…” He pauses, shaking his head. “There’s no excuse. Nothing I say will justify my actions.”
After a few silent beats, I let out a long exhale. “It’s been a long night. Let’s go back to the hotel.” I stand up and wait for him. He pushes off the cement, grabbing my shoe. He shows it to me as if to ask if I want it. “I’m a little afraid to ask, but where is my other one.”
He looks toward the dirt field across the street. “I threw it over there,” he murmurs. It’s pitch black over there. There is no way we’re going to find my shoe tonight.
“Well, it’s a good thing I was given some shoes, then.” I step down a few stairs and notice Aiden isn’t walking with me. I look back up at him. He’s staring at me with one hand stuffed in his pocket and the other holds my shoe. “Are you coming? Because I need a shower.” He nods. My heart hurts from the sad look in his eyes but my mind tells me he deserves it.
The taxi pulls up in front of our hotel. A valet opens my door, and I slip out while Aiden pays. I look down at my lovely orange flip-flops, waiting. The valet looks down too and cocks his head, staring at them. When his eyes meet mine, I slightly narrow my eyes at him. “You’ve had some of these, haven’t you?” I chuckle, holding my foot up a little.
He laughs and holds his hand up in the air. “I plead the fifth.”
When Aiden exits the car, he notices the valet and puts his arm around me. Really? Now is not the time for your jealous bullshit. I look up and glare at him. He removes his arm from my waist. I shake my head in disbelief and walk into the hotel, proudly displaying my orange flip-flops, and feel Aiden walking behind me. I wait for him to pull out his room card to show the security guard so we can pass to the hotel elevators. The security guard catches a glimpse of my shoes and cocks his head, assessing me. Aiden whips out the card and ushers me past the asshole security guard. He can take his judgmental stare and fuck off. I’m not in the mood tonight.
I kick off my shoes the second we walk into the room. Next stop, shower. My dress slides down my body easily, and I’m about to step into the shower when Aiden appears.
“Wash off and I’ll run you a bath.”
I manage a soft smile. I scrub the grime and stink off my body. I blow my nose, trying to get the smell of urine out of it. When I’m done, Aiden has left the bathroom, but my bath waits for me. After braiding my hair, I sink down into the hot water and listen to the television that Aiden has on in the next room. My eyes drift shut as my body finally relaxes.
“Addison.” I open my eyes and Aiden is sitting on the tub. “You should probably get out now.” I move my arms out of the water and look at my wrinkled fingers. My knuckles on my right hand are already starting to bruise. Aiden stands up and holds out a towel for me to step into. He dries me off and I’m taken back to the first night we had sex. Goose bumps spread over my body. He pauses for a beat, noticing them on my legs, but continues just drying me off. He wraps the towel around me and lifts me, carrying me to bed. He’s already turned all the lights out except a dimmed lamp on the nightstand.
The only thing he has on are basketball shorts. When he tucks me in, he slides in on his side then turns off the light. I quietly sigh, rolling to my side and stare at him. It’s pure blackness in here because of the thick curtains, but I have a feeling he’s looking at me, too. I blink a few times, wondering if I should say something.
I close my eyes when I feel his hand on my cheek. His thumb caresses it. I turn and kiss the palm of his hand. He scoots over, pushing me over and lying on top of me. “I’m sorry,” he repeats as he presses his lips up and down my neck.
“Shh,” I finally say. “I know.”
His mouth captures mine and he pours his apology into his kiss. I skate my fingers up his back and weave them through his hair. When he pulls down his shorts, I help him slide them down his legs with my foot. “I love you,” he whispers on my lips as he enters me and I moan into his mouth. Our rhythm is slow and sensual. We’re chest to chest, heart to heart. There are no words, just the sounds of our heartbeats. His telling me he’s sorry and I’m saying I forgive you.
Was that my phone? I rub the sleep from my eyes and open them to a dark room. Slits of light squeeze around the hotel curtain. I groan from the headache wreaking havoc in my brain right now. Rubbing my temples, I roll my head to an empty bed.
“Aiden?”
The only thing I hear is the air conditioner. I sit up and pull the cool sheets over me, covering my naked breasts. I squeeze my eyes shut, wincing. Maybe I sat up too fast or maybe I didn’t and just sitting up makes my head feel like it’s splitting open. My phone dings again, reminding me of what woke me up in the first place. I lean over to grab it and find a note from Aiden right beside it. He’s left me Advil and a bottled water with a demanding “take these” note. I drop my head on his pillow, taking deep breaths through the pain.
Take the pills, Addison. Forcing myself back up, I swallow the pills and the entire bottle of water.
Memories from last night flash through my mind and my eyelids fall heavy as I drift back to sleep. My phone rings, pulling me out of my sleep. I look around the still dark, cold room. No sign of Aiden. Reaching for my phone, I already know who’s calling because of the ringtone.
“Good morning, Sydney,” I say, my voice raspy from sleep.
“Good morning? It’s almost noon, girlfriend.” Noon? I sit up and run my hand though my hair. The Advil did its magic, but I wonder where Aiden is. “I’ve tried texting you, but you didn’t answer so I had to resort to calling you. Wake up,” she snaps into the phone.
I chuckle into the phone. “I’m up.”
“We’re all meeting for lunch at one. We have some news for you.” I hear one of the girls in the background telling Syd to be quiet.
“News? What news? Please, don’t tell me anyone else went to jail last night?”
Sydney giggles. “Nope, you’re the only jailbird in our group. Drake ended up meeting back up with us and telling us the whole story. Addie, only you.”
