Page 100 of Aaron's Patience

He turned his dark, brooding eye on me and the edges wrinkled as he lifted his mouth in what could be construed as a smile. As if he needed more practice doing it. “My pleasure,” he greeted, nodding but not extending his hand. “You are more charming than your husband.”

“She’s better than me at a lot of things. Kicking someone’s ass isn’t one of them,” Aaron commented warningly, pulling me back into his arms and farther away from the two men.

Ian nodded, looking back to Aaron.

“We’re leaving,” Aaron informed them.

I was surprised but didn’t say anything.

“We’ll take up this conversation tomorrow,” Ian affirmed.

Aaron grunted, placed his hand at my lower back, and after making our good-byes to the two men, along with a few others, he led us out of the gallery to the awaiting car. I could tell he was pissed and I knew it had nothing to do with anyone but me. He was eerily silent as we drove off from the gallery.

“Aaron–”

“You know I’d give you anything you wanted, right?”

I furrowed my brows. “What?”

“I don’t know how to be gentle but I’ve tried. For you. For Kyle. For Kennedy.”

I took his hand, tugging it until he looked from the window to me. “I know that. Where is this coming from?”

“You won’t say it. I see it in your eyes, the way you look at me, the way you lookforme even in your sleep. But you won’t say it.”

I pushed out a harsh breath. “Why? Why do I need to say it?” I commented, exasperated.

“Why the fuck won’t you say it, is the real question!” he roared.

I attempted to move back to the other side of the seat but he pulled me closer.

“Why won’t you tell me you love me?”

My eyes watered and I tried to look out the window instead of at him, but his hand caught my face, preventing me from turning.

“You know why,” I whispered.

His face tightened angrily. “Because of what happened the last time you said those words,” he stated, as if it was no big deal.

But it was to me. I pulled his hand from my face and turned away, closing my eyes as the memory of the first time I told him I loved him washed over me.

****

Then

“Why’re you walking so fast?” I asked Aaron, laughing. I yanked my hand away from his hold. “Slow down. It’s my graduation day. The last one I’ll ever get. I don’t want to rush through it.”

He stopped and turned to me, frowning. That only made my smile grow. I could tell by then his different frowns. This was his concerned frown.

“It’s raining, heavily.”

“I know, right?” I stepped from under the umbrella he held over us, fully immersing myself in the rain.

“What the hell are you doing?” he growled, grabbing my arm, pulling me to him.

“Getting wet,” I giggled. We had just come from my graduation. One my father had attended but left soon after. Even his absence hadn’t dampened my mood, once I realized Aaron had kept his promise and showed up. Instead of going out with friends to celebrate as I had originally planned, I chose to spend the rest of the day and night with him. “What are you rushing for anyway?”

“We need to get to the bookstore.”