Page 40

KATERINA

Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we’re celebrating it at our place.

Both my mom and dad showed up together, which confused the absolute shit out of me, but I refuse to overthink it.

Not tonight. It’s Christmas, and I just want to enjoy it.

Aiden’s auntie Maria, came with Sophia, and their presence makes me nervous as hell. It’s the first time our families are meeting, and I can’t shake the anxiety that something might go wrong.

I try to stay calm, but on the inside, I’m freaking out.

My mind is racing, my heart hammering in my chest, and I’m so distracted that I’ve asked Aiden’s mom to repeat her questions three times already.

It’s bad.

Needing air, I quietly slip away from the kitchen and head toward the backyard. As I push the sliding door open, a wave of cold air hits me, making me shudder. Wrapping my arms around myself, I take a deep breath, hoping it’ll help settle the restlessness inside me.

But it doesn’t.

“This isn’t working,”

I mutter, rubbing my arms up and down in a desperate attempt to warm up.

The back door slides open behind me, and I turn to see who’s followed me outside.

The moment my eyes land on him, my lips twitch into a small smile.

Aiden.

He steps outside, his expression soft as he studies me. “Angel face, why are you out here in the cold all by yourself?”

I shrug, glancing away.

He doesn’t hesitate. He closes the space between us and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

The moment he touches me, my entire body relaxes. I let out a shaky breath, finally feeling like I can breathe again.

“What’s going on, baby?”

he whispers.

I shake my head, taking another deep breath. “I-I don’t know.”

My voice wavers, but I push forward. “Sometimes, it feels like I have this whole anxiety and panic attack thing figured out. There are days when I feel so happy, like I’ll never have another attack again… but then there are days like today.”

I pull back slightly, staring at the stars as I continue. “My heart

has been hammering out of my chest all day. I keep shaking, and the worst part is… I don’t even know why. I had a great day—shopping with the girls, spending time with my mom— but my body still feels alert.”

Aiden listens carefully, his grip tightening around me.

“It used to only happen when something triggered me,”

I admit, “But lately, it just happens. And it scares me.”

Aiden sighs softly before pressing a lingering kiss against my neck. “Thank you for telling me,”

he murmurs. “I know it must

be weighing on you a lot.”

I nod, tilting my head back to blink away the tears threatening to spill. You are not ruining your bad bitch makeup, Katerina.

I swear, if Aiden ever heard the way I talk to myself in my

head, he’d probably run for the hills.

“How can I help?”

he asks, his voice full of genuine concern. “What can I do to make it go away?”

I smile faintly, turning in his arms to face him. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I whisper, “You already are. Distracting me from my thoughts helps a lot.”

Aiden presses his lips together in a thin line before nodding. “Okay, distraction… Anything else?”

I shrug, but before I can say anything else, he suddenly pulls away.

Then—the betrayal.

Aiden bends down, grabs a handful of snow, and chucks it at me. A squeal leaves my lips as I bolt off the deck and into the backyard.

“Aiden, don’t you dare!”

I yell, already knowing what’s coming next. I barely make it a few steps before a cold thud hits me square in the back. I spin around, glaring daggers at my traitorous boyfriend.

“You asshole,”

I seethe. “Now you’ll get it.”

Bending down, I grab a handful of snow and pack it into a tight ball.

Aiden smirks. “Thanks for the view, angel. God damn.”

I grin, turning just in time to launch the snowball at his chest. The impact stuns him. His smirk drops.

“Baby,”

he says, eyes widening. “I don’t have a coat on.

Remember that.” I scoff.

“Not my problem.”

Before I can react, Aiden lunges. I scream, trying to escape, but his strong arms wrap around my waist, lifting me effortlessly off the ground.

“Aiden, no!”

I wiggle, trying to free myself, but it’s too late. Aiden smashes a snowball against the side of my face, making me gasp.

“I, am going to kill you.”

He laughs, sliding a hand to the back of my head and pulling me in for a kiss.

“No, you won’t,”

he murmurs against my lips. And, of course, he’s right.

I melt into his embrace, my arms wrapping around his neck

as his lips move against mine. His tongue slides into my mouth, deepening the kiss, and when his hand slips down to squeeze my ass, a quiet moan escapes me.

“How’s that for a distraction?”

he smirks. I grin. “Best distraction ever.”

I go in for another peck, but Aiden bites my bottom lip, pulling me in for something rougher.

“Fuck, baby,”

he groans, pressing himself against me.

“You make me feel like a fourteen-year-old horny teenager who’s never had his dick wet before.”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head.

“I would offer to help,”

I tease, “but considering our families are inside, I don’t think that’s the best idea.”

Aiden groans, gripping me tighter. “You’re evil.”

“Think about your grandma naked,”

I suggest, “or Roman crying.”

His eyes snap open.

“Yep. That did it.”

I chuckle, wrapping a hand around his bicep.

“Let’s go back inside?”

He nods, pulling me toward the door. The warmth inside the house is a stark contrast to the cold I just escaped. As soon as I step back in, I spot Alina across the room and immediately make my way toward her, wrapping my arms around her.

“Hi, bestie,”

she whispers, hugging me tightly. Alina told me yesterday that after the semester ends, she’s flying back to Russia for the next six to eight months. She needs a break—to spend time with her grandma, to breathe, and away from Roman.

I know the real reason, though. She’s hurting. She doesn’t want to keep begging Roman to love her, and I get it. I understand more than I wish I did. Roman is a good guy— he really is—but the two of them are horrible at communicating. They keep hurting each other in ways that can’t be undone. When she told me her plan, I agreed that the break was a good idea. That no matter what, we’d all be here when she came back.

Well, almost all of us. I graduate at the end of next year, and my goal is the Olympics. I don’t know where life will take me after that.

“Are you okay?”

I ask, brushing her blonde hair out of her

face.

Alina exhales shakily. “No. I love you, but I really don’t want to be here. I keep seeing him, and it feels like my heart is going to give out. I love him, Kat, but he will never love me like that.”

I pull her in tighter as her eyes fill with tears.

“Listen to me,”

I whisper, my voice firm. “You are the strongest person I know. And one day, you’ll find someone who loves you as madly as you love them. Someone clingy, possessive, jealous—all the things you say you hate but secretly love.”

I smirk, making her chuckle through her tears. “If Roman isn’t that person, then someone else will be.”

She nods, laughing softly. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life. How will I survive six months without you?”

I grin, linking my arm through hers as we head toward Alexei.

“Well, that’s what Face-Time is for.”

Alina nods but suddenly stops, and stares at something near my head.

“Why is there snow in your hair?”

she asks, frowning. I glare across the room at Aiden. He smirks, winking at me. Alina chuckles, shaking her head.

“You two are menaces.”

“Are you guys ready for the Omega Phi Christmas Bash?”

she asks, abruptly changing the subject. I frown. “I was not informed about a bash.”

“Apparently, it’s supposed to be the biggest party of the year. Everyone is going,”

Alexei chimes in, giving us his best puppy- dog eyes.

“I need to get wasted and dance,”

Maddie says as she joins us. “If Maddie’s going, so are we,”

Alina declares, pointing

between herself and me. I sigh. The things I do for my friends.

“It’s already eleven,”

Alexei says. “Parents are about to leave. The second they go, we get ready and head out.”

I nod, pressing my lips together before glancing at Aiden, who’s deep in conversation with my dad. As if he feels me staring, he turns, and the second his eyes lock onto mine, my heart leaps out of my chest. He grins.

I wink before turning back to Alexei.

“Stop eye-fucking each other across the room and just get a damn room,”

Alexei mutters. I slap his chest, irritated at his comment.

Just as predicted, the parents leave fifteen minutes later, and we all race upstairs to get ready.

Since my hair and makeup are already done, all I have to do is find an outfit. I settle on a blue jean mini skirt—folding the zipper for an even shorter fit—a black short-sleeve crop top, and black knee-high leather boots. I refresh my red lipstick, drown myself in perfume, grab my black fluffy coat, and head downstairs.

“Why are you always trying to send me to jail?”

I look up from my phone and grin at Aiden.

“Gotta keep you on your toes somehow.”

He chuckles, pulling me into his arms.

“Fuck, you look so beautiful, angel.”

I smile, pulling away.

“Kit Kat, you’re gonna give my brother a heart attack,”

Will says, laughing as he walks past. I watch him disappear upstairs sighing.

“I miss Will. I feel like I haven’t spent any time with him lately. He’s like the big brother I never had.”

Aiden places a soft kiss on top of my head.

“I’ll plan something for all of us next week. I haven’t seen him

much either. And I don’t know if you noticed, but he barely spoke to Maddie tonight.”

I nod, my heart sinking for them both.

“Let’s go, bitches,”

Alexei calls, coming down the stairs hand- in-hand with Graysen. I smile, clapping my hands together as we all head out

It takes twenty minutes to find parking, and by the time we step inside the massive frat house, Bad Bunny is booming through the speakers. I hand my coat to Aiden and rush to the dance floor, squealing when I see Maddie and Alina already dancing.

“You look gorgeous, oh my God,”

Maddie exclaims, spinning me around.

“So do you guys!”

I grin, pointing at their outfits.

Aiden appears a second later, handing me two shots. I chug them both and kiss him right after.

Then, he heads toward the kitchen where Will and Roman are, while I stay on the dance floor with my girls.

Alina notices Roman watching us and flips him off. I press my lips together to hold in my laughter, but she giggles, and I can’t help but join in. After a while, we take a break and head to the kitchen for more shots and that’s when I see it.

A blonde girl’s, touching Aidens arm, laughing at whatever he just said.

And the worst part? Aiden is laughing too. I will fucking kill him.

Alina’s eyes glaze over when she sees Roman with another blonde wrapped around his waist. I clench my jaw and march straight toward Aiden.

“Shot, please, babe,”

I say, holding out my cup. Aiden glances between her and me.

The blonde has the nerve to snap her fingers in front of my face.

“Excuse me? Don’t you see we’re talking?”

I ignore her. I only look at Aiden, daring him to try.

“Sure,”

he says, filling my cup with tequila. The blonde pouts. “Aiden, is she your girlfriend?”

He hesitates. Looks at me. Then back at her. And shakes his head.

“No, but-”

The words barely leave his mouth before my drink flies into his fucking face.

I don’t wait for his reaction. I turn and walk away. “Fucking asshole!”

I mutter under my breath.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?”

Maddie demands as she pulls me into a hug. I scoff. “Apparently, all it takes is one blonde bitch for Aiden to forget I exist.”

I see him walking toward me. “Nope,”

I tell Maddie. “I don’t want to talk to him. Let’s go dance.”

The music pulses through my veins as another Latin remix starts playing, the beat sinking into my bones. Alina, Maddie, and I move in perfect rhythm, our hips swaying in sync. At one point, we all move to the beat at the same time, and we squeal in excitement, grinning like idiots. I fucking love dancing.

Alina and I always joked that if ice skating didn’t work out, we’d become professional dancers instead. Right now, I believe it.

A pair of hands settle on my hips, pulling me back against a solid chest. I let it happen, because fuck Aiden. No man will ever make me feel small. No man will ever make me feel like I don’t matter.

The guy behind me grips my waist firmly, his body pressing against mine as we move together. I let my head fall back slightly, pretending—just for a second—that I don’t care. That I’m not seething inside.

A hand yanks my wrist, pulling me away from the guy so fast I nearly stumble.

“What are you doing?”

Aiden growls, his voice sharp, furious.

I scoff, wrenching my wrist free. “Fuck off, Aiden. Go back to your blonde bitch.”

His tongue pokes at the corner of his mouth, his jaw flexing. Then—he laughs.

It’s a dark, low chuckle. One that makes my pulse spike. I know that laugh.

“Are you with him? Is he bothering you?”

the guy asks, eyeing Aiden warily.

I chuckle, my tone sharp and unforgiving. “No, I’m not. He’s

nothing to me.”

Aiden flinches. Just barely. But I catch it. I don’t give either of them a chance to respond before I turn and walk away. I need to find Alexei. I need to get the fuck out of here.

“Kat, wait,”

Aiden calls, his voice laced with frustration. “Katerina, I said fucking wait.”

I grit my teeth, my hands shaking. “Fuck off, Aiden.”

I don’t stop. I don’t want to hear whatever excuse he’s about to throw at me. But I don’t make it two more steps before his strong hands wrap around my wrist, pulling me into his chest. He doesn’t let me go. Instead, he drags me toward an empty room, shoving the door closed behind us before locking it.

“Just listen to me, please,”

he says, his voice tight. “I’m not losing you over something fucking stupid.”

I cross my arms, glaring at him. “Then maybe you should have thought about that before saying I wasn’t yours.”

His hands run through his hair, his frustration evident.

“The only reason I said that is because she asked if you’re my girlfriend. Which technically you are not. But you are my girl and she means nothing to me. It’s just Molly, she’s an old friend.”

I scoff, shaking my head.

“Do you think I’m five, Aiden? Do you really think she wanted to be just your friends. She was rubbing her hands all over you and you let her.”

His lips press into a thin line, and then he nods.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realise her intentions were different from mine. I was just talking to her as an old friend. I didn’t touch her. I would never risk what we have. Never!”

I turn away, inhaling sharply. Don’t fold, Kat. Don’t fold.

But then he says the one thing that makes my heart stop.

“I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend on New Year’s. I had it all planned out.”

I whip around, my breath catching. “You were?”

He nods. “You can ask the guys.”

The silence between us is thick. Heavy. The only thing we hear is the muffled music outside.

Aiden takes a slow step toward me. “Hearing you say it… I hated it. So I know how you felt.”

He moves closer, and my heartbeat thunders in my chest. “Will you please be my girlfriend?”

His voice drops, almost

pleading. “Because I can’t do this anymore.”

I let out a slow breath before nodding, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yes.”

Relief floods his face.

“But if you ever pull that shit again,”

I add, “I will kill you.”

Aiden laughs, nodding quickly. “Never. You’re mine, baby. “

“Good,”

I murmur, stepping closer. “Now kiss me. I’ve been trying to keep my hands to myself all night, but fuck, you look so fucking hot.”

Aiden smirks, sliding my hands under his shirt, my fingers tracing along his abs. His muscles flex under my touch as he pulls me closer, his lips crashing against mine.

“You drive me fucking mad, Katerina,”

he growls against my lips.

“All day, I feel this need to mark you permanently. You were made to be mine, baby. Only mine.”

A moan escapes me as his hands grip my ass, his touch possessive, desperate.

I hear a sharp knock at the door and we both groan.

Aiden sighs, pressing his forehead against mine for a second before pulling away. He strides toward the door and yanks it open. Standing there, looking way too hopeful, is the blonde bitch. “Aiden—”

She stops mid-sentence, her eyes landing on me standing behind him. I smirk.

“Let’s go, babe,”

I say, grabbing Aiden’s hand.

Her face drops. “B-but she threw a drink at you! And you still want her?”

I bite my lip, trying to hold back my laughter.

Aiden shrugs, his grip on my waist tightening. “Her crazy matches mine. I’ll always want her.”

I wave at Blondie as Aiden leads me downstairs. “Stop gloating,”

Aiden mutters, shaking his head with a smirk.

“I can’t help it,”

I laugh. “Did you see her face?”

Aiden chuckles,

pulling me close enough to press a quick kiss to my lips.

“You are such a bully,”

he murmurs, his lips brushing my jaw.

“Only when it comes to you,”

I tease as Aiden grins, nipping at my

bottom lip.

“I fucking love it when you get jealous.”

“Only for you. I told you once—I don’t share. And I stand by it.”

Aiden groans, squeezing my ass. “Neither do I, angel face. You are mine and mine only. I will beat the shit out of any guy who even looks at you.”

I roll my eyes but can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.

“Let’s get out of here,”

I whisper. Aiden nods, grabbing my hand as we head toward the door. And as I glance up at him, his jaw sharp under the dim lighting, his possessive grip around my waist, his entire being wrapped around me—

I know.

I know I’m so fucking whipped for this man. And I don’t even care.