Page 75 of This Blood That Binds Us

“Nah, I just loved to cook for my mom back home. She loved it.”

“Your mom . . . what is she like?”

We had never talked about it. I bit my lip, hoping I wasn’t prying too much.

“She’s the most amazing, supportive, strong person I know. I miss her a lot...”

I caressed his shoulder. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s okay.. .I like talking about her.”

He gave me a half smile as we swayed to the rhythm. Calm washed over me. With each step, everything felt right with the world. It was late, but I didn’t feel tired. I didn’t want to break away from him.

“I wish I could see her again...” Aaron’s tone grew more serious, and his grip tightened around my hand. “Do you think she could ever forgive us for this? We can’t call or visit—we just left. She’s probably worried. Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever get to talk to her again, and if I do...I wonder how mad she’ll be.”

His shoulders tensed at the thought.

Mothers were not usually my favorite talking point. I often teared up in movies where the mom would tear down the world to get to her kids. I’d never felt such love, but Aaron had. Aaron had a mom who was probably doing everything in her power toget back to her boys. If Aaron had love like that, then I knew it would find him again. Nothing could stop it.

“Well, even though I’ve obviously never had any parental figures, I’ve always believed moms have sense when it comes to their kids. She knows you love her, andwhenyou see her again, she’ll take you back with open arms.”

“R-Really?” His eyes searched mine. A sudden desperation appeared in his voice like I had never heard before. “You say...the mostperfectthings.”

“I don’t think so . . .”

I was taken aback, left breathless by the way he was looking at me.

“You do. It shouldn’t be a surprise. You’re perfect.” Aaron’s eyes locked on mine for a moment, and our dancing came to a pause.

We stood close to each other, completely still, waiting for the other to move away or to say something. But for some reason, I couldn’t avert my eyes. We couldn’t look away. The fire lit up his glistening brown eyes and the flecks of amber in his irises. My breath caught in my throat, and my attention shifted to Aaron’s lips and his to mine.

“Youuuu should probably go to bed. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” Aaron released my hands and stepped away from the light.

I let out a breath, forfeiting any hope that had been building in my chest. “Yeah. Okay.”

Hot disappointment prickled my face. What was I doing? What had I expected to happen? Aaron was potentially leaving—not to mention he was a vampire. We couldn’t be together. What was I thinking by allowing myself to get close to a person who, in every scenario, would be destined to leave me in some way?

My neck stiffened. The once cuddly, warm air turned hard and frigid.

One crack broke the dam, and all the worries I kept out came back with a vengeance. My mind flashed to me, alone in my room. The old, familiar pain and envy radiated in my chest. I felt so different from that version of myself. I hated her. I didn’t want her back. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

“What’s wrong?” Aaron was next to me, giving me puppy dog eyes.

I wanted to collapse into his arms. I wanted his comfort. But I didn’t know how. Every minute I spent getting attached would lead me down the same path as before. One where I’d end up alone.

“Nothing.” I spat, retreating into myself.

It didn’t matter. None of it mattered if he was just going to leave, anyway. I don’t know why I envisioned a future where things could turn out or where his brothers might accept me. Even if they did, things wouldn’t end the way I wanted them to. It was always going to end in a goodbye of some kind.

Aaron frowned. “Don’t lie.”

Genuine hurt welled in his eyes, compounding my guilt. I sealed my mouth shut to lessen the damage.

He stood in front of me, lightly grabbing my shoulders. “Talk to me. Please.”

“I just misunderstood...I thought...I don’t know what I thought. It doesn’t matter! Because you’re going to leave and everything that has happened will just be some wild memory. I shouldn’t be here with you. I should have just gone alone like I wanted to do. I shouldn’t have done all this stuff with you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“What did you misunderstand? I never said I was leaving. I just wanted to warn you of the possibility, so you wouldn’t think I abandoned you or something.” Aaron pressed in, but I pushed him away and gathered my stuff. “What are you doing?”