Page 40

Chapter 40

Scarlett

“What do you want me to do with all these flowers?” Theresa asks as Mom helps me into my coat.

My first thought is to say, “Dump them,” but they’re so beautiful. Then again, they’ll only remind me of the asshole who sent them. Aiden sending me a roomful of flowers while being with someone else is diabolical to me.

“I don’t care,” I mutter as Mom guides me gently toward the door. Dad is waiting for us in the parking lot, warming up his truck.

“I’m going to take a couple for my living room,” she announces. “Mom, do you want some for yours?”

“Sounds lovely, dear,” Mom replies.

I roll my eyes. Annoyingly enough, Aiden’s grand gesture with the flowers has won Theresa over and she’s clearly trying to keep my memory of him alive. As if it matters. My ex has already moved on and so will I.

Theresa runs past us and by the time Mom and I get to the nurses’ station, she’s on her way back with a trolley. She catches us by the elevator with all the flowers stacked, looking mighty pleased with herself.

“This is an expensive gesture,” she says when I give her the stink eye. “I can’t afford to waste it.”

“You didn’t spend a goddamn cent,” I point out with slight amusement. She shrugs and pushes the trolley into the downstairs lobby.

My heart sinks when we get to the parking lot to find Dad with the truck hood open, peering inside. The stinging air nips at my face and I zip my coat up. We can’t stand out here for too long.

“Been trying to get it going for the last fifteen minutes,” Dad explains forlornly. “Needs a mechanic, it seems.”

Mom pulls her phone out. “Let’s call an Uber, then. Scarlett needs to get off her feet.”

“Or we could hitch a ride,” Theresa points out.

Dad gives her a dry stare. “Twenty-six years old, and you still don’t know it’s unsafe to take a ride from strangers. Where did I go wrong?”

“Who said anything about strangers?” Theresa asks, pointing behind us. “You all know Aiden.”

With a gasp, I spin on my heels. My breath pauses at the sight of Aiden walking briskly toward us. My brain starts to process how well those jeans look on him, then I shut it down. There will be no admiring a man who keeps breaking my heart.

And I wish he wouldn’t stare at me like that.

I wish my heart wouldn’t stop fluttering over it, either.

He glances briefly at the trolley of flowers, a pleased look crossing his face, then he sweeps another look at me before directing his attention to my parents. “Do you need any help?” he asks, pointing to the truck.

Dad shakes his head. “Unless you’re a mechanic, no. It won’t start.”

Aiden nods thoughtfully. “I could give you a ride home if you’d like.”

“Of course, we’d like!” Theresa speaks up. I shoot her a glare and she shrugs. “What? It’s better than waiting for an Uber.”

“She’s right,” Mom says. “We’d appreciate it, Aiden. Scarlett needs to be in bed, doctor’s orders.”

His gaze turns back to me, fully loaded for a second, right before it seems he remembers that my parents are standing right here, but long enough to make me wish that look means something, that he’s not just here to sink the knife deeper in my chest.

Truth be told, I’d love to have him staring at me like that every day. I’d love to see the constant reminder that I’m the only woman in the world for him, that he’d move mountains to ensure I’m good and well and safe, that he’d never do anything to jeopardize what we have.

I’d love if I could erase all the shit he’s done.

I tear my gaze from his as Dad nudges me. “Huh?”

“I’m asking if you object to Aiden giving us a ride,” he says.

That would be stupid of me, so I shake my head. “No objections.”

I do object to sitting in the front seat, though. Aiden seems displeased as I slip into the back, sandwiched between Mom and Dad. Theresa gets in the front after helping Aiden with getting the flowers in the trunk. I expected the ride home to be an awkward one, but Theresa keeps the conversation going until Aiden confirms that Cameron has been admitted to a mental facility and it seems Mrs. Randolph has been true to her word, since Aiden spotted her in the sports department earlier today. I haven’t gotten a call from Melissa or anyone yet, but Aiden assures me that it will come.

I’m quite shocked to find out Noah drank too much the other night and fell from the second floor of his frat house, breaking his right leg. He won’t be playing hockey anytime soon, if ever. I’d feel sorry for him if he hadn’t made my life a living hell. Ryan, the asshole that attacked me is currently on the run, Aiden says. A part of me suspects Mrs. Randolph has him sequestered somewhere. Despite how powerful she is, it’s in Cameron’s best interest that he’s not caught.

We get home and I expect Aiden to drop us off and go, but he gets out of the car. To my surprise, Dad takes up his offer to bring the flowers inside. Mom helps me to my room and gets me settled in bed, then she hesitates at the door.

“He seems mighty helpful—and thoughtful—for a guy who’s trying to hurt you. If he has something to say, at least hear him out,” she says, going out before I can reply.

I drop back on the pillows and stare at the ceiling. I can’t imagine anything Aiden could say that would fix what he ruined. Besides, why would he want to fix anything when he’s involved with someone else?

A cautious knock on the door, though expected, makes my heart skip a beat. I push up to sit and adjust the front of my top, glad I kept my bra on. He enters when I call. With a wary expression, he stands right at the foot of my bed.

“How are you feeling?” he asks softly.

“Not bad for someone who got bulldozered,” I reply dryly, gingerly touching my bruised face.

Aiden grimaces. “There are no words that can truly repair things, but I’m sorry, Scarlett,” he whispers. “For throwing you in harm’s way, doubting your innocence, all of it.”

I nod, because he means it. The sincerity swarms his features, doing funny things to my stomach that tempts me to do something crazy, like hug him. But I won’t. Sorry isn’t enough. “What if you hadn’t found out Cameron was behind it?” I ask and his face falls. “Would you be standing here, saying sorry?”

Aiden opens his mouth, but I beat him to it. “No, you wouldn’t be. You’d still believe I was a spiteful, traitorous gold digger. Now, you just think I’m a gold digger, right?”

He sighs heavily, guilt now filling his face. “You’re not a gold digger. Mom confessed, actually.”

I throw my hands up. “Yeah, you standing here makes perfect sense now.”

“Look, I deserve your anger, Scarlett. The things I said…” He pauses, shaking his head, remorse taking over from guilt. “I can’t erase them, but I can prove I’ll never utter them again. I’ll never doubt you again.”

I stare down at my hands. I do believe Aiden means what he’s saying, but it’s just not enough. Tears fill my eyes as I shake my head.

“Do you know what’s funny? I’ve had a thing for you since that first day in Calculus and I used to fantasize about you doing the filthiest things to me. Never once did I imagine those fantasies coming true, because I thought you were way out of my league. And maybe you still are—I don’t know—and that girl in Calculus would probably throw herself at you and forgive everything, but me…” I grimace. “The new version of me can’t settle for that, Aiden. I need someone who will stick by me, no matter what. Someone who wants me only.”

He opens his mouth to reply, just as Mom sticks her head inside. “Honey, it’s time to take your next round of meds. Aiden, are you staying for dinner?”

“No, he’s leaving,” I answer firmly for him. Aiden looks back at me, crestfallen.

“Scar—”

“I’m starting to get a headache,” I interrupt dismissively, reaching for the water on the side table. “See you around, Aiden.”

There’s a long, tense pause, during which I hold my breath, not letting it out until the door closes behind him. Putting down the water glass, I cover my mouth, crying silently as the emotional dam bursts inside me.