The sun was trying to peek through the clouds as I drove into town towards the bridal shop. Anna had given me directions, but I was confused since there were so many stores on this street. They called this section of town the bridal district, every store along this stretch was related to bridal gowns or various wedding shops.
It turned out that the shop I was looking for was the biggest store on the strip, which made it easier to find. Parking, on the other hand, was terrible. I had to park in a lot a few blocks down from the shop and walk. I was going to be late for my appointment and began running to try to get there on time.
When I finally made it to the door, I was panting and out of breath. I looked up when I heard a familiar chuckle.
"Running a bit late?"
"Aiden!" I said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
He wrapped me in a huge hug. "Tux Fitting. You?"
"Bridesmaid dress fitting." We both laughed. Clearly, Anna wasn't over her attempt to try to get Aiden and me to spend more time together. She had set our appointments on the same day so we would "accidentally" run into each other.
He held the door open for me and waved me in. When we stepped up to the counter, the receptionist looked up and smiled at Aiden. The young girl must have liked what she saw. She started batting her eyelashes at him to try to get his attention. Aiden wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me next to him. Her eyes fell when she saw him touching me. She must have thought we were together.
"Do you have an appointment?" The girl asked with a stellar customer service voice.
"Riley Davis and Aiden Long." I said before Aiden could get a word out. She typed our names into her computer.
"Looks like you are booked for your fittings in suite 'C'. You can follow me." She rose to her feet and started to lead us to the back of the building.
"She booked us in the same room?" I gasped, whispering into Aiden's ear.
"Points for extra effort?" Aiden smiled and I leaned my head on his shoulder. I was red with embarrassment. Anna was trying to coerce us into something that neither of us was really looking for.
When we stepped into the room, that was just what it was. A big room. One room with a lot of mirrors and a white sofa. Nothing to hide behind to give us any kind of privacy. What was Anna thinking? She was completely delusional.
The attendant came in behind us carrying two hanging bags. She hung them up on the little hooks next to the door before stepping out and closing the door behind her.
I was frozen in place as I looked around to the mirrors seeing Aiden's multiple reflections from all angles. I couldn't even put into words how awkward this was going to be.
"Glad I didn't wear my smiley face boxers today." Aiden said as he began taking his shoes off.
"Well, it would have been embarrassing since I'm wearing mine." I giggled. I was completely on edge, thinking about changing in front of him. Aiden seemed much more comfortable than I was and I couldn't help but stare when he began to slowly undress in front of me.
He finished unbuttoning his shirt and I could see his lean, tanned torso as he slid it off his shoulders. Aiden began to sing softly as he continued to disrobe. From years of being around Aiden, I knew he sang when he was nervous about something.
Was he nervous about being in the room with me too?
He unbuttoned his pants next and I turned my head away. He stopped singing long enough to laugh at me.
"Riley, you've seen me in my boxers hundreds of times before. This isn't any different." He moved his hand through his hair to move it off his face.
Aiden was right. There was nothing intimate about what we were doing; it was just Aiden. We had seen each other in next to nothing before, boxers, workout gear, bathing suits. This was not any different. We were two grown adults. We could handle this. My nervousness could just be that my mind was foggy from the Ezra situation. I hadn't been thinking straight for days now.
I turned away from him and lifted my shirt over my head, exposing my black lace bra. I looked up in the mirror, forgetting that no matter what angle I faced, he could see me. Aiden was staring back at me in the mirror.
I spun around towards him as I brought my shirt up to cover myself. The butterflies that came shocked me. Bathing suit, it was just like a bathing suit. I let the shirt drop to the floor and I moved my fingers to unbutton my pants. Aiden continued to watch me as I slowly wiggled the jeans down off my hips. I was standing fully exposed in front of him in my matching bra and panties. I was glad I at least picked a nice set to wear today.
"Black, huh?" He swallowed hard as his eyes raked over my body. My eyes were mirroring his as I took in his exposed skin. "Good choice."
"Yeah, you too." I said, looking down at him. Our eyes locked and he ran over to the hanging bag to start unzipping it.
"We better get dressed." He called over his shoulder.
"I agree." I ran over and grabbed my bag, which put us standing right next to each other. I squeaked when his hand accidentally brushed against my stomach when he unzipped his bag.
"Sorry." He said, turning twelve shades of purple and red.
We started to pull on our wedding attire faster than should have been possible. The last cruel trick from Anna was the fact my dress was not able to be worn with a bra. Aiden was a gentleman and turned around so I could remove it. I covered my chest with my hand as I tried to pull the dress up with the other. I couldn't reach my zipper to close the dress, which infuriated me even more.
"Aiden." I finally whined, giving up on being an independent woman. "Can you help me zip this up? I can't reach the zipper."
Aiden turned slowly and came up behind me to lend me a hand. His fingers lingered on my bare back as he slowly zipped me up. He didn't lean in to press against me, but I felt like I wanted him to touch me. I was so confused.
I turned around in my dress and stared at the tux Aiden was wearing. Even though it wasn't completely tailored yet, it looked amazing on him. The pink vest and tie made his auburn hair that much more radiant. Pink was his color. Who knew?
"You look...I mean...wow." He stared with his mouth hanging open at the short light pink dress. His eyes went to the sweetheart neckline and the bare skin just above it.
I pulled the tulle skirt and ran my hands nervously over the lace on the bodice. It was soft, thin, and delicate. It was not really my style, but it was charming in an overly girly sort of way.
"Uh, so... um... you." I swallowed, not able to finish my compliment back to him.
He stepped closer to me as if there was some invisible force pulling him towards me. I took a step closer until we were only inches apart.
He licked his lips and began to lean closer to me. I closed my eyes as my pulse quickened.
"Are you ready?" A lady with a thick accent called from the other side of the door.
We both jumped back and stared at each other before racing to the door.
Aiden reached the handle before I did and he opened the door for us to walk down the hall. The seamstress had her arms crossed over her chest and was tapping her foot impatiently waiting for us. She raised her eyebrow when she knelt down in front of Aiden and looked over at me. A smile crept to her face. She began pinning his tux in various places to tailor it to his body.
I looked at Aiden in confusion and he shrugged at me. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing.
When she finished with him, she came over and pinned up my dress. She stuck a few pins in the waist and then complained about having to let the top out a few inches because of my breasts. It was Aiden's turn to laugh at me.
Once we were poked and pinned and marked, we were able to go back to the room to get dressed again. Aiden pulled off his tux first and was standing there in his boxers when he saw me still struggling to try to reach the zipper on my dress. He didn't even hesitate to walk over to help me unzip it.
As he began to lower the zipper, I felt the soft skin of his fingertips on the bare skin of my back. The softness in his touch sent shivers down my spine and I took a deep breath in. He hesitated for a few seconds watching the goosebumps raise where his fingers moved over me. He shifted a little closer to me and I could feel his breath on my neck. My insides were stirring from being touched for the first time in months.
"Is this ok?" He asked nervously.
"Um, yeah." I said, shaking as his fingers lingered over my skin.
He placed his hand under my arm to hold up the front of my dress. Aiden was always such a gentleman. He moved his head and nuzzled my neck. His short facial hair tickled my skin. I placed my hand over top of the one he was using to hold up my dress. I turned my head towards him and I lightly pressed my lips against his. My other hand moved to his hair and I pulled him in further to me. His lips were soft and gentle, slightly unsure as he began to move against mine. He parted my lips and began to trace my tongue with his. His body tightened when he found my tongue ring. I moved it against him, letting it dance over him.
I pulled away and turned around to look at him. His hazel eyes were burning into me. He gently placed his hands on my waist and walked me back towards the white couch. Aiden gently lowered me down to the couch and leaned down over top of me. My hands instinctively wrapped around his waist and I pulled him closer. Aiden pressed his hardness against me and began moving his hips into me. I moaned into his mouth as he continued to slide up and down over my panties slowly.
His body tightened and he moaned my name one final time before I felt him pulsating against me. His body shivered and I closed my eyes, not quite sure what just happened.
When I opened them again, Aiden was studying my face. He had started to regain his thoughts and his eyes went wide. He quickly jumped back from me, completely embarrassed.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He said, moving away from me. He began pacing around the room like he was lost.
"Aiden, it's not your fault. We just got caught up in the moment." I tried to brush it off to reassure him.
"I shouldn't have let it happen." He said, fumbling trying to get his clothes back on. I followed his lead and jumped back into my jeans.
We finished getting dressed and he ran out of the room. I was pulling my top down as I chased him out the door. I left the dress in a pile on the floor. There was no time to hang it back up.
"Aiden." I yelled at him. He wouldn't even turn around to look at me. "Aiden, wait!"
He started slowing his pace down to let me catch up with him. When I got by his side, I grabbed his hand to hold it. We were both really confused about what had just happened between us, but Aiden was still Aiden and I was still me. My head was fuzzy. Everything was always so comfortable and safe with Aiden. Kissing him felt the same way, it wasn't bad, but it was just different than the burning desire I felt when I kissed Ezra.
Crap.
Ezra was at my apartment and I didn't even tell Aiden. This was clearly not the right time to tell him I let Ezra stay at my apartment last night. Not after what just happened between the two of us.
I was suddenly anxious about what Ezra would do if he found out about Aiden. Would Ezra be able to take one look at me and know what I just did? Being with Aiden like that made me feel like I was cheating on Ezra. This was insane. Ezra and I were not even together. I should be able to kiss whoever I wanted.
Aiden pulled me out of my head when he wrapped his arms around my back, pulling me into him. I rested my head on his chest and surrendered to him.
"Riley, I can't lie. I have been thinking about you a lot lately. I know you are not ready for anything serious right now, but when you are, I hope you'll consider giving me a chance."
"Everything is so complicated right now." I said softly. The guilt I was feeling was overwhelming.
"I know you are still not completely over what happened with Ezra, but I can't live forever knowing that I didn't try. I want you to know that I could never do the things he did to you. You would be safe with me and I would take care of you. I know how much you loved him and I would never make you feel guilty for that." He kissed my lips gently and opened my car door for me. He smiled and waved at me as he walked away. "Just think about it."
Did Aiden really just admit that he wanted to be with me?
What would I tell Brynn and Ezra?
Would I tell them?
Is there anyone I wasn't lying to anymore, including myself?
I was holding so many secrets and lies in my life again. The weight of it all was threatening to crush me. I drove back to the apartment, thinking of Aiden's lips pressed against mine and the sweet tenderness in his kiss. Ezra's kisses were hard and filled with fire, like he needed my lips against his to survive. Each memory pulled me in a different direction tearing me in half.