Page 70 of His Fated Luna

“I have to go to my meeting. You have class in a bit?”

I nodded, my stomach dipping. I had lab with Jake. What on earth was I going to say to him? He’d called me a few times last night, trying to check in, but I’d only sent back a short text saying I was fine and that we’d see each other in class. Josie suspected Jake’s father might be behind the attacks on Aiden. How could I even think of telling Jake that? I used to be able to talk to him so easily—before the kiss. There was always a comfort in our conversations, a shared rhythm that made it effortless to confide in him. But now… now everything felt strained.

“You don’t seem all that happy to be going to class,” Aiden observed, sipping his coffee again.

My gaze dropped again to his lips for a split second before I met his eyes. Damn those lips.

“It’s nothing. I just… haven’t finished my lab assignment,” I said, the excuse sounding pitiful even to my own ears.

Aiden chuckled. “Liar. It’s because you have a lab with Jake.”

I blinked at him. Could he actually read minds?

“You’re an overachiever when it comes to academics. There’s no way you left a lab assignment until the last minute. I can tell something’s bothering you. I know you have lab with Jake. I put two and two together,” he said with a casual shrug, giving me a sidelong glance. “I can come get you after class? I think I know where the lab is. We had a few electives in the science block.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I murmured. “It’s just going to be weird seeing him after… everything.”

“So you’re still upset Jake doesn’t want to date you?” Aiden asked, his voice carefully neutral as he observed me.

“What… when…” I stammered, caught completely off guard. So much had happened since then…but Aiden didn't know.

“When you were drunk that night, you said he didn’t want to be with you,” he told me, offering it as an explanation. “Don’t let it get you down, Rose. He doesn’t deserve you.” Aiden hesitated for a second, then added, “He was really worried when you were kidnapped.” The words came out like they were laced with acid.

I watched his jaw clench briefly.

“Um… you know he's going to be curious about this…” I said, motioning between us, clearly unsure how to define whatever this was. “…new arrangement,” I finished.

“We have to make it look legit,” he said, glancing around. “Anyone could be watching us.”

Suddenly, he reached out, fingers brushing the fabric of my sundress as he grasped my waist and tugged me gently towards him. I found myself stepping into his personal space without hesitation, my breath catching. His hand slowly slid up my back flattening there in a way that felt too real, too natural. I breathed shakily clutching my coffee cup between us like it was a shield. Aiden grinned, leaning down to place a quick kiss on my nose.

“What are you going to tell Lexia?” I breathed, flustered yet burning with curiosity to know the answer to my question.

The moment was broken. His grin fell, his hand fell away from my body, and he stepped back as if he’d been doused with cold water.

“Lexia’s been studying for her LSAT. It’s in June, so she doesn’t have much time left,” he said flatly, not really answering my question.

I didn’t push it though as we walked out of the coffee shop.

“I’ll come to the science building where your lab is,” he said once we reached the path that split off toward my building. “I have to meet with security right now.”

“You don’t have to escort me everywhere,” I said meekly.

“I want to,” he replied softly before walking away. He sounded like he meant it.

Aiden's POV

As I stood outside the security office of our university, I wondered if Rose had noticed how tightly wound up I was. I was barely holding myself together. A million thoughts were running through my head.

How was I going to tell Lexia that I had to break my promise to her?

But for some reason, the one thought at the forefront of my brain was “Is Rose going to tell Jake we’re in a relationship with each other?”

Because I suddenly found that pretending to be in a relationship with Rose was actually a fantastic idea if it made Jake back off.

I hated admitting to her how worried Jake had been—hated even more that she probably cared for him which is why it might make her feel better. The words had tasted like acid as I’d spoken them. But if that’s what she needed to hear, I’d swallow the damn acid.

She didn’t even notice the way my jaw clenched in anger earlier. She was too lost in her own thoughts, probably thinking about him.