It was six am and I was awake. There was not a reason good enough in this world for me to be awake at six am, yet there I was, awake and hosting a meeting in my living room at six am. Sanders sat in my plush chair, staring down at a folder of information, completely awake. Always the morning owl.
Aiden sat on the love seat, still wearing the same clothes as the night before. That outfit would forever be "Aiden's fake date with Laliana outfit." His suit jacket was laid out on the back of the chair, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his tie gone, the top button of his shirt unbuttoned, giving him a business casual look.
The whole thing betrayed my determination to not glance in his direction. I knew better than to humor the part of my brain that believed in stupid things, yet I couldn't quite help but glance ever so often in his direction. And to some, he looked put together and well-rested, but I knew better. It was the look of a man whose sleeping schedule was sporadic at best.
We'd barely spoken since he brought me home the night before. The silence that normally filled the space between us had transformed into a confusing, awkward ball of weird filled with unspoken questions. Then he left me at my front door without a word.
I was thankful he didn't stay. But that didn't mean he didn't watch my apartment complex to make sure I was safe. I just didn't have to be a part of the awkward silence that was involved with that job.
Standing in the kitchen, I watched the coffee brew in an attempt to avoid Aiden for as long as possible. After pouring myself an unusually large cup, adding more creamer than coffee, I brought Aiden a cup of tea and Sanders the rest of the coffee.
"Sit," Sanders said, motioning to the spot next to Aiden.
"I'll stand," I muttered, staring down into my coffee. I wanted to keep space between myself and Aiden.
Sanders raised a brow. "The last time we spoke, you fainted. Just humor me please."
Relenting I shuffled over and sat down next to Aiden on the love seat. So much for space.
Sanders closed the folder she had been glancing at and looked at me with a serious expression. "How was your date with Decklan?"
I sunk deeper into my "people are coming over at an unholy hour hoodie," too tired and flustered to offer a coherent response. Instead, I took a deep gulp of coffee taking comfort in the warmth that sank down my throat and hit my belly.
"He didn't show," Aiden replied after a beat. "It seems that Carter and Decklan made plans together that night."
I continued to stare at my coffee, pretending to be fascinated as the creamer swirled around, erasing all evidence that there was ever coffee inside my mug. My dating record consisted of two fake dates, one ending terribly and one no-show. I'm a freaking heartbreaker in the romance department. Look on my dating history, ye mighty and despair!
I shrugged, trying to look unphased. "Decklan was a no-show."
Sanders brows furrowed, her dark eyes taking on a flash of protective momma bear anger. "Are. You. Serious." I nodded. Sanders ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, that certainly explains this morning's tabloids."
Pulling several magazines out of her folder, she dropped them on the coffee table before us. Aiden and I sat motionless, staring down at the tabloids. Neither one of us dared to pick them up. Sanders continued. "It would seem you at that restaurant last night were worthy of taking up several pages of several different tabloids."
I put down my mug and tugged on a strand of my hair, nervous. "How bad is it?"
Sanders motioned to the contents on the coffee table. "See for yourself."
I picked up the pile and began to go through, stopping at the site of a large spread picture of Aiden and I sitting across from each other at the restaurant, Scherzo. We were leaned towards each other. Aiden's hand holding mine, tracing patterns on my wrist. I was caught in a deep blush, staring up at him with a shy smile. The look of open vulnerability and desire on his face was now permanently marked in millions of copies of the tabloid. The sight of it sent a shiver down my spine and set something in my stomach on fire.
You are a pretty good actress, Aiden had said. Well, now I had proof of how amazing his own acting was. It left a strange ache in my chest, and I tried to ignore the strange whisper that tried to make itself known. But the demand of its cry was too great until finally, like a gentle whisper it made itself known. How I wish it was real.
I dropped the tabloid back on the table like it burned my fingers. "So they think we're dating," I said looking up at Sanders.
She nodded. "And they LOVE it. Carter was just a shadow of what this did. Which is why I am here..." Sanders looked over at Aiden. "You went above and beyond to protect Laliana not only from people who try to hurt her physically but her image as well. And for that, I am very grateful." She cleared her throat, looking a little flustered. "Thank you."
Aiden nodded, silent. Sanders cleared her throat and looked back at me. "You don't have to go on any more blind dates." I slumped back into the love seat, relieved and overwhelmed by this piece of news. I had been wrestling with telling Sanders about the stalker reaching out to me about Decklan over the phone, but now that everything seemed to be calming down, there wasn't a point. I was free.
"Oh my gosh. Thank you, Sanders," I laughed. "I really didn't want to go on any more of those fake dates."
Sanders smiled, looking amused. "Let me finish Bright-Eyed girl. You aren't being let out of your relationship clause."
I blinked, confused. "I don't understand." Why did I end up in so many morning meetings? It left me looking clueless. "What then?"
"You don't have to go out with strangers. The studio liked how you looked with Aiden."
My eyes shot wide and my heart took a dive, dying as it hit my stomach. Oh my gosh. Is she serious?
Sanders continued in a rush, no doubt trying to finish before I jumped into a verbal sporadic panic attack of word vomit. "Think about it Laliana. You already spend a lot of time together. He can protect you and you don't have to date anyone else."
I stood up, suddenly more flustered than I had ever been. "I... I..." Words failed. I was left to a loud silence that threatened to swallow me. I didn't want to fake date Aiden. Not when I felt so confused around him already. Not when his acting left me breathless and strangely heartbroken over something fake.
"Laliana, it's up to you and Aiden. But considering how..." Sanders paused, choosing her words carefully. "Interestingly your last two dates went, this is the best choice."
I tried to speak again. "I..." But sadly, I was still incoherent.
Sanders downed the rest of her coffee. "I'll leave you to talk it over." She stood up and walked towards the door. "Don't forget we leave for Canada later today for your book signing tour up north."
"Okay... Yeah. Canada. That's a place. Yeah... I've heard of it. Yep. Makes sense," I stuttered eloquently as Sanders left the apartment.
Then I was alone with Aiden, an unspoken question hanging between us. To fake date... or not to fake date... that is the question.
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Thank you for reading chapter twenty-four! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes! Add this story to know when the next chapter drops!
UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY FRIDAY!
Laliana has just been offered a way out of going on blind dates. Will she take it?
What do you think Aiden thinks of all this?
If they start dating, how will that affect Aiden's rules when it comes to being her bodyguard?
CHAPTER QUESTION - If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?