Page 17 of Lust & Lies

In my dream, I was outside in a garden. It felt like I was reliving the moment in my dream, because I couldn’t see myself, but I knew I was the person in the dream. I stared down at my feet and saw cute flip-flops, brown with thin straps.

The grass was tall enough to tickle the skin between my toes, and it was damp from the morning dew. The sky was clear blue, not a cloud in sight. Sunlight caressed my skin as birds chirped in the distance.

It was a perfect day to be outside. I stared around at all the things I’d planted. A sense of pride and accomplishment filled me. I’d done this. I was reaching for a tomato when someone called my name.

When I lifted my head, Aiden was there. He stood a few feet away, just watching me with a slight smile on his face. He looked younger. Happier. More carefree.

“You weren’t lying when you said your garden was thriving,” he said as he approached me, his voice making my heart flutter like it always did.

I stood straight and dusted my hands. “I told you it was coming along. You finally found time to come see it.”

“Blame dad, not me. He’s had me working non-stop these past days. I heard you gave my brother a tour of your garden. He bragged about it all day yesterday. I want a tour too.”

I shook my head. “I swear you two are going to drive me crazy. Come on. I’ll show you around.”

He walked beside me while I pointed out things like peppers, cucumbers, and basil. He claimed he wanted a tour, yet his eyes remained on me the whole time, like he was unable to look anywhere else.

At least when I gave Ethan his tour, he actually paid attention to the garden and told me what he wanted in his salad when he came over and made steak for us next week. But that was the difference between Ethan and Aiden. Ethan was my best friend. My partner in crime.

While Aiden....

I stared at him from the corner of my eye to find that he was still watching me. My heart rate increased. Aiden was the guy I’d had a crush on for so damn long. And even a blind man could see he felt the same way. When we reached the end of the rows, I stopped and faced him.

“That’s it. What do you think?” I asked.

“I think it’s amazing, Noe.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he said, smiling down at me.

Unable to hold his gaze, I faced my plants. “Once they’re ready, I’m going to take some to the local women’s shelter and donate them. I also need to take some to your dad and aunt. Oh, and my...”

“What about me?” he asked, hand going to my chin and pulling my gaze his way. “You’re naming everyone else. What about me?”

My eyes met his. I swallowed, gaze dropping to his chest.

“Aiden...” I whispered.

“You’ll be leaving town in a few days,” he reminded me.

“I’ll only be gone a week.”

“A week is a long time. You told me you’d give me my answer before you left.”

“I know.... I just....” I went silent again.

Of course, I wanted to say yes. However, saying yes would make some people happy while disappointing others. What we had now was good. We should keep it that way until everyone was on board with us being together. But Aiden was impatient.

“You know how I feel about you, Noe,” Aiden whispered. “You know I love you so damn much. Why can’t we just be together?”

“You know why,” I muttered.

“That’s not fair, and you know it.”

“I know,” I told him, gaze rising to his. “But... just give me a little more time. Please.”

“A little more time to do what? Keep worrying about everyone else’s feelings but your own. It’s okay for you to be happy, Noe. It’s okay for you to have something for yourself. It’s...”

“I know!” I yelled, far louder than I’d intended.

Aiden gritted his teeth. “I’m upsetting you again, aren’t I?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Every time I talk about us, I upset you.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“I should go before others show up and you get embarrassed to be with me.”

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “You know that’s not how it is, Aiden. Aiden!” I yelled as he walked away from me.

Damn it. Why did he always get upset about this? I stared down at the ground, angry that we’d ended our conversation on a sour note, especially considering I was getting ready to leave town.

I didn’t want to leave with this bad feeling hanging between us. I turned to go after him, but came up short when I saw him storming my way.

“Aiden,” I started as he grabbed me and pulled me against him, our bodies colliding.

“One month,” he told me, glaring down at me. “You have one month to tell everyone how we feel about each other. If you don’t, I will. And I don’t care if they accept it or not. You are mine, Noe. And I’m ready to make you mine in every way possible.”

My breath caught from the look in his eyes.

“I must have you,” he whispered, before leaning in slowly and pressing his lips to mine.

Right there, in my garden, he claimed my lips in a sweet kiss. Then he slid one hand to the back of my neck and gripped it gently as the kiss deepened, making my toes curl and a needy ache form low in my belly.

By the time he pulled away, I was ready to say, 'Forget what anyone thinks or wants; I want this man, and I will have him.' Blinking rapidly, I stared up into the eyes of the man I loved. The only man I’d ever loved. The man I would’ve started dating long ago if I weren’t afraid to upset others.

“One month,” he told me.

“One month,” I whispered.

He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, then released me and stormed out of the garden. Pressing my finger to my slightly swollen lips, I stared after him. I had one month to set my boundaries with the people closest to me.

I sighed. I didn’t think one month would be long enough. But if I didn’t do it, Aiden would. It would be best if I were to tell them. I’d do it in a week after I returned from my next job. Sighing, I dusted my hands off and strode toward the house.

Inside, I found a Home and Health magazine, along with a few other magazines on the kitchen table, with a note from Aiden that read, “Circle everything you like.” I laughed. This man!

I sat down at the table and began flipping through the magazines. I was just turning the page when loud banging sounded at my front door. I closed my eyes, already knowing who it was and what they wanted. They must’ve seen Aiden leave my place. Here we go again!

My eyes popped open. I lay there in the dark, staring at the far wall while Aiden snored lightly behind me, his arm still wrapped around my waist. Was that a dream? Or had I just relived my first kiss with Aiden? Or had that been one of many?

Whatever it was, it felt real as hell. The garden. The morning dew between my toes. His mouth on mine. The desire I felt for him from that kiss. It had all felt too real to be a dream. It had to be a memory.

If it wasn’t a dream, then I had so many questions. Who was I trying to set boundaries with? And who had been banging on my door like they were the police? What type of work did I do that required me to leave town for a week?

So many questions, and I had a feeling Aiden wouldn’t answer any of them. For a long time, I lay there, quiet, still, thinking. At least one thing was for sure: Aiden and I had definitely been in love for a long time.

Had our love caused problems for others? Was that why we were at the country estate? Were we hiding from the people who didn’t want us to be together? So many questions, and there was only one person who could answer them for me.

But there was a chance he didn’t want me to know those answers.