36.
Panic is definitely an understatement for what just happened for the last couple of hours.
When London's water broke, I couldn't help but shriek, because what the hell was with all the water gushing down from between her legs?
"Okay sis, calm down," I repeated to London as I held her to try and keep her steady. I really don't know who I was trying to fool.
Never in the history of 'calm down' has anyone ever calmed down after being told to calm down, like seriously, I myself was even shaking, and then I was starting to hyperventilate. I think I needed to calm down more. How do you even help a woman who was about to give birth? They didn't teach us that back in high school and I have to say, that skill would really come in handy.
London was handling the situation better than me; she was trying to breathe evenly even when sweat was starting to trickle from her forehead down to the sides of her face.
I slammed my fists at Cade's door. Where's that guy when you need him, "Cade!" I shouted as I knocked. "Cade I really need your help. Are you even in there?"
Cade's door swung open, revealing a hot guy with a towel around his waist. Talk about déjà vu.
I didn't have to explain to him what was happening because the moment he saw London, he immediately carried her bridal style and rushed down the stairs and to the nearest vehicle, all while only having a towel around his waist.
"Call her doctor, and Sam, quick!" Cade ordered as he started the car. He still wasn't wearing anything but a towel. I swear to God, any girl who ends up with Cade is super lucky. I smiled at the thought, but I can't stand seeing Cade shirtless. And it has nothing to do with his six-pack abs. Oh no.
"I'm having a really bad case of déjà vu," Cade muttered from the driver's seat.
"Are you having a déjàvu about the whole towel thing, or the rushing London to the hospital thing?" I joked.
"Both...actually," Cade replied and and I couldn't help but stifle a giggle.
~
Eight long hours later, London gave birth to my new baby niece, Holly. I would like to assume that my sister named her after a flower and not Hollywood. She was so cute and small and pink and squishy. Too bad I didn't get the chance to hold her because 1. All the adults were hogging her attention and 2. Doctors and nurses were too busy checking her vitals and bringing her to the baby room and 3. London was back to being queen and ordered me to go buy chicken wings in a fast-food from the other side of town.
I was driving back to the hospital with a bucket of chicken wings on the front seat. My hair was probably a mess because the lady back there in the fast-food was staring at my head like it was a bird- a vulture's nest and there was really nothing I could do but shrug at her pitiful stare.
I got out of the car and almost tripped on a pebble. A freakin' pebble! Thank God I didn't drop the chicken wings or else London would go berserk. I walked as fast as I could through the entrance and to the first hallway, careful to avoid the busy nurses as I reached the elevator door.
"I'm begging you I have to see her, please."
My head turned to the sound of a man's voice shouting from the nurse's station. The nurse had a phone tucked in between the side of her neck and her ear and was holding a logbook between her hands. She was looking at the man like he was hysterical. And he was practically begging her, restless as his hand covered his face.
"I'm telling you sir, her name is not on any of our records. I'm trying to call the nearest hospital if you could just-"
I flinched as I watched the man slammed his hand on the desk. I don't know what the security men are going to do about this situation.
"No, I've been told that she's here. I need to see her please." The man said and just as he said those words he turned to my direction and a look of recognition crossed his worry-struck face.
"Asia," he said as he looked between me and the nurse who now shrugged and went on her duties as if the guy didn't bother her at all.
"W-what on earth are you doing here uh-Aiden?" I asked him, after probably choking ten times. I didn't know what else to say. What was he doing here? He looked as tired as me but he still had a clean white button-down shirt on like he just came from a formal event of some sort.
"What are you doing here?" He asked in reply, "I thought something happened."
"Oh, I'm- I'm sorry uh London, she gave birth." Why was I talking to him so nervously? Get your act together Cassidy.
"You called...I thought you. I thought something happened," was all he could say. Maybe I wasn't the only one speechless.
So he got confused. I immediately felt guilty. I knew that call sounded a wee bit too urgent. Of course he'll think I was desperately trying to contact him or something. We stood there so awkwardly with me trying to avoid eye contact and then him trying to occasionally look at the environment around us.
Finally after what seemed like forty-eight years I finally I nodded my head, "so you got my message. Sorry if that sounded urgent. I'm fine really. I was just-I just called to say hi."
"Oh," he said scratching his head, "oh sorry for not answering it immediately, I was on the plane from Bora-Bora. I only had reception when we arrived in California."
"Bora-Bora?" I was feeling even guiltier now if he flew from Bora-Bora just to come see me, just because of that stupid message. I shook my head as I rubbed my temples.
"Yeah, mom just got re-married and since it was an intimate celebration, the family planned to have an extended celebration in California where more friends and family could join, plus they wanted to celebrate my being Valedictorian and all." Aiden rambled.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry. You didn't have to come here Aiden. I'm so sorry I never intend to disrupt your family affairs. You could've just returned the call. Oh my gosh." I was basically freaking out. He left everything just because of my stupid call.
"It's okay Asia," he said, moving a step closer towards me, "I also wanted to personally ask you why you really called." I can't help but notice the smirk growing on his face. Even when he looked tired, and probably had jet lag, he still looked so dang handsome I could feel my knees weaken.
Caught off guard, the first thing I did was shrug and say, "I told you. I just called to say hi."
He cocked his brow and the smirk on his face grew wider, "really, ten miss calls and a voicemail."
"Fine," I said rolling my eyes, "what do you want me to say?"
Aiden stroked his chin, as if thinking of other ways to torment me. When did the awkward moment suddenly shift into one of those cocky annoying Aiden ones. "Just admit that you miss me."
I let out a laugh, "you thought I called just because I missed you?"
Aiden casually placed his hands inside his pockets and shrugged, "I dunno, why else would you call then?"
"I already told you," I said. I could feel the heat rising up my cheeks, "I told you I only called to say-"
"I love you."
I blinked twice before staring at Aiden who only smirked at me, "what?"
"Yep, I've been dying to say that for a long time," he said, inching closer to me that there was only enough space, enough for me to breath in his cologne. "I love you, Asia Cassidy, so much and I don't give a damn anymore if you only called to say hi."
Dumbfounded, speechless, dazed; How was I supposed to describe this weird feeling inside me? He just said I love you after technically having traveled a thousand miles just to get here...to me. 'Say something Asia, don't just stare at him like he's some cute puppy.'
He was still looking at me, expecting an answer, I think. But what was I supposed to say? As I opened my mouth, still not knowing how to respond to him, and then a thought occurred. I shrugged and ran the palm of my hand against the cloth of his shirt.
"Aiden," I whispered before pulling on his collar and pressing my lips against his.
It's like the second time I did this to him, and it still feels like a first kiss. I could feel his initial surprise fade as he wrapped his arm around my waist and then we got lost in the kiss once again.
I backed up and looked at the man who stole my heart twice. I smiled at him and he grinned back at me, which was all it took for me to have the confidence to speak once again.
"Aiden Walker, you have no idea how I was dying to say hi."
He shook his head and a mischievous smirk played around his handsome face. "You know I didn't fly all the way from Bora-Bora just for this."
"What more could you ask for, Walker?" I placed a hand on my hips and leaned my face forward teasing him. The bucket of chicken wings definitely ruined my sexy pose.
Aiden's expression became more serious and I backed down a little realizing what was about to happen.
"You, Asia. God how I would love to hold you again like the old times. How I long for you to be mine once again. I love you so much it hurts to even think that you were once mine and I allowed you to slip through my fingers."
We were silent once again. I looked down to see the bucket of chicken wings I was still carrying around. London's gonna get batshit crazy the moment she sees me I'm sure.
"Hey, what if," Aiden said, making me look up at him once again, "what if I court you...again."
"Huh?"
"I'm going to try and persuade you to be my girlfriend again," he said. Butterflies were starting to flutter in my stomach once again.
"You know you could just ask me right here right? You know I'm still gonna say 'yes' anyways," I replied. I immediately covered my mouth the moment I realized my mistake. What the hell did I just say?
"If I hadn't known any better, I'm going to think that you're dying for us to be together already," Aiden said jokingly with that smirk again!
"Ugh, get over yourself," I said as I pushed him. The nurse Aiden was talking to awhile ago was already staring at us like we were a pair of crazy preteens.
"Seriously A, please give me the chance to show how much I love you. Since you probably aren't going to remember." His words trailed off but I knew what he meant. I won't remember our past anymore.
It's sad to see Aiden coming into terms with the reality that all our memories before could never be recovered anymore. My heart broke for him in an instant. Dear God, what did I ever do to deserve Aiden Theodore Walker?
"Aiden, if it still isn't obvious you already won me over again. I love you, okay? You don't have to prove your love to me anymore. You already did more than enough. Heck you flew all the way from Bora-Bora just to ask me why I called."
Aiden looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes of his before interlacing his fingers in between my own, "you're right A, I don't have to, but I really want to, just please let me."
I knew that no matter what I would say to him nothing was going to stop him from doing what he wants so I just shrugged. "You better court me fast, because I'm already dying for us to be together," I replied in a playful tone.
Aiden and I just laughed at the exchange that occurred between us. Looking at him with his neatly trimmed raven hair, tired but hopeful blue eyes and that annoyingly adorable smirk plastered on his beautifully crafted face makes my heart flutter. Really God, what did I ever do to deserve him? A guy who I now know would chase me through lifetimes and would love me through summers and winters and amnesias.
From my peripheral view, I saw Sam with London sitting on a wheelchair. Sam waved at me and I smiled at their direction in return. Sam pushed London towards me and Aiden and I just knew she was trying to hold back a laugh.
"Good, are the two of you together again? 'Coz I've been waiting for those chicken wings for two hours already," my devil of a sister said with a knowing smirk on her face.
Aiden and I smiled as we looked at each other, and I knew we were thinking of the same thing.
Done is all the waiting.
|| AN
Hullo! This is going to be the last chapter of A Summer's Secret. Don't worry there's gonna be an epilogue. Thank you so much for reading! I love you all and I've been dying to say that for a very very long time. xD