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A cute wrinkle appears between her brows. “Hopefully one day I can understand the way your brain works.”
“If you figure it out before me, will you let me know?”
“You’ll be the first.” She squeezes me. For a long time, we sit there and hold each other. I take comfort in being this close. I’m never going to take this for granted, I swear. Opening my heart is what brought her to me.
She breathes out, her soft breath a caress on my neck. “Now that that’s settled, know anywhere I can stay? Oh, and I might need your help wrestling a few things out of these movers’ hands.”
I kiss her cheek. “Good thing I’m in the mood to fight.”
She untangles herself from me and gets out of the car. Immediately, she reaches back to help me up. Together, we march toward the movers, my arm around her shoulders, like it always was, even when we were “faking” it.
Spoiler alert: I was never faking it.
30
BAILEY
Aidan grabs my thigh.The black candelabras spread about the room provide the perfect atmosphere for the Halloween Ball. Pumpkin spice permeates the air, skulls and cobwebs line the space, and the deep-orange gown I’m wearing makes me fit right in—if I needed an excuse to fit in, but I don’t.
Our table is filled with people I know and care for. The cook from Richie’s and his wife, and the little boy and his family from the ASPCA fundraiser. And sitting on the other side of me is someone who’s helped me and Aidan so much these past few weeks.
The owner of an apartment complex in town agreed to rent me a room for free for the rest of the semester as long as Aidan would star in their commercial. It was Aidan who arranged it all. He made the calls and pitched his idea, and the couple has turned out to be some of the best people I’ve ever me. Since the movers wouldn’t give me any of my furniture back, they lent me some. Literally, the only thing I walked out of that house with was a box of my “commoner” clothes.
It’s amazing how little you need to live the life you want. All I really need is Aidan. Clothes are nice, but— On second thought, would it be so bad to be around him naked 24/7?
Aidan’s parents have been great. He sees them more often now, and little by little, their connection grows even stronger the more the armor he placed around his heart dissolves. His mother has become a confidant for me. Someone I turn to when I need advice. We have our own text thread, and I never go more than a few days without writing her.
Darrin, too, made his way back to Warner. He didn’t jump out of a moving vehicle to do it—and if you ask me, that’s pretty lame—but he made it back, and that’s all that matters.
My mom and dad on the other hand? Well, let’s just say we’re all stubborn, and until they give a little, I’m not going to be the one who does. Healthy boundaries are needed in situations like this. I’m not ready to give up on them, but I don’t need to sacrifice myself to rebuild that bridge between us.
Aidan showed me that.
The lights in the room flicker, and Mrs. Thompson climbs the stage steps as the chatter lowers to a hum. She’s dressed in a sensible Bulldog-blue gown. Upon approaching the microphone, she says, “Thank you, everyone, for your donations.”
I clap, smiling at the people around our table who paid money to sit with us specifically. They auctioned off seats, all part of their plan to raise more money for the Step-Up Foundation.
“I’m thrilled to inform you of the total amount our fundraising efforts have brought in. With your money or your time, we’ll be able to help the less fortunate in our community significantly. From Meals on Wheels to the ASPCA, we all made Warner a more comfortable place to live this year.
“To the donors, I couldn’t be happier to call you my neighbors. To the football couples, I’m so thankful my husband gets to tell you what to do so you had no option but to show up.”
The crowd laughs.
“But really, I think you all understand what a tremendous thing you’ve done here for your community. It’s because of young people like you that I have so much hope for Warner’s future and for society. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
A round of applause rings from the crowd, and she pauses until it dies back down.
“Now,” she says, staring down at a paper on the lectern, “without further ado, I’m so pleased to announce that we’ve raised over $60,000 in this year’s fundraiser!”
My brows shoot up. Some of the football players start chanting “Blue, Blue, Blue!” Aidan joins in, cupping his hands around his mouth.
When I look at him, I can’t help but fall in love all over again. I shouldn’t be surprised at the way my stomach somersaults. He’s been making me feel that way since Darrin brought him to our house all those years ago.
I’ve never been so sure that fate exists. If he hadn’t been the one to show me what a life outside my posh cage would look like, I don’t know where I’d be. If he hadn’t single-handedly pushed me outside my comfort zone, I wouldn’t be at Warner, that’s for sure. And likewise, I proved to him that he was worth fighting for. That love is real.
Even when you’re faking it.
The chant dissipates, all eyes up on Mrs. Thompson still. “I’m sure you’d all like to hear the football couple winner. The team who single-handedly raised more money than any other couple.”