Page 73 of Vain

“I guess that makes me special.” She winks. “Anyway, I’m Reese.”

“Reese, huh?” I turn the name over in my head, but I’m pretty sure Arlo never mentioned her. It makes me curious because I’m a little shit like that. But as it’s none of my business, I keep my mouth shut.

“Nice to meet you, Reese. Thank you for dropping everything and coming here.”

She shrugs. “Arlo rarely asks for a favor, so color me surprised. So what’s going on?”

I sigh. “Honestly, that’s what I’d like to fucking know.”

Chapter Thirty

MATILDA

I have the mother of all headaches. But even as I wish for a break from the pain, I’m well aware how lucky I’ve been. It’s just hard to see the silver lining when your head throbs like a giant heartbeat.

I squint as the door opens. I so badly want to play it cool, but I dissolve into tears when I see Aiden. At the sound of my first sob, he curses before I find myself in his arms. He holds me tight enough to hurt, but I refuse to pull away. I need him more than I need to breathe.

“I got you, Tilly. Let it all out.”

He doesn’t tell me to be quiet or grateful that it wasn’t worse. He lets me be, something that shouldn’t be as shocking as it is but is a testament to the treatment I’m used to.

I pull away enough to look up at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”

“I’ll take your tears over your blood any day. Fuck, I’ve never been so scared in my life.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, careful to avoid my stitches.

“I kept asking for you, but they made me wait. I was worried you’d left.”

“What? Why? When have I ever given you the impression that I’d ever walk away?”

“You haven’t. But I can’t help but feel like, at some point, you’ll realize how much work my life is. You live in a small town with a tight community and friends who love you like family. My own family would throw me to the wolves if it would benefit them, and they wouldn’t even hesitate. I have all this money and things, yet nothing to offer you. How pathetic is that?”

“I don’t give a fuck about any of that shit. All I want is right here. All I need is you.”

I look up at him and find myself stunned because I believe him. He means every word he says. A comforting heat warms me from the inside out, chasing away the ever-present cold.

I lift my hand and run my fingers lightly over his stitches. “We match.”

He closes his eyes and leans into my touch.

“I love you.” It falls from my lips before it’s even a conscious thought. I suck in a sharp breath as Aiden freezes solid. “Shit, I’m sorry. It’s too soon, I know. I tried to stop, I swear I did, but?—”

My words are cut off when Aiden’s lips cover mine. I swallow my embarrassment and return the kiss with equal fervor until he pulls back and looks down at me with lust-glazed eyes.

“Say it again.”

“I love you,” I whisper, feeling a tear slip over my cheek as the weight of the moment presses on me in silent anticipation.

“Thank fuck. I thought I was the only one.”

I blink, his words shocking me, though I have no idea why. He’s shown me exactly how he feels all along. And just like that, the weight is gone. In its place is a sense of peace I never knew I was missing.

A knock at the door has us both turning to look at it. I swipe my tears and frown when a stunning woman walks in.

“Um…hi?” Dressed as she is in leather pants and a jacket, I doubt she’s a nurse.Please don’t let her be a reporter.

“Hey, I’m Reese.”

“Shit, sorry, Reese,” Aiden apologizes.