The Runaway Bride

Chapter 18

The rest of the week went by fast.

I couldn't seem to face Chris at all. To say it was awkward was an understatement.

He called me. Texted me. And showed up at my door. And I ignored him each time.

I knew it was bad. And I knew I couldn't hide from him forever just because that one kiss was not what I had expected.

But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to talk to him. It's as if our friendship that lasted years suddenly was different.

And I knew exactly why. Or rather who.

Ever since Reid entered back into my life, everything has changed. The once-normal life is no longer normal.

The worst part of it is that I didn't like him. Not even in the slightest, but I like Chris. I really do.

But everything feels off because of him.

But it also made me think. Was he the reason for all of this, or was I trying to find someone else to blame because I, for some reason, can't freaking deal with the truth.

"So what? You and Chris are not meant to be," Aria shrugged.

"It's not just that. I think I just expected things to be different," I sigh.

"Maybe it was meant to be. Or rather not to be," she giggles.

I glare at her.

"Sorry. But you know what I mean? Like you guys have been living there for a while now, and nothing happened between you guys in the last couple of years, but suddenly they do? What is that supposed to mean?" She questions.

I really haven't thought about it.

These couple of years, I was busy with Eli. Being a single mother was never easy and still is not. So it made sense why I never pursued anything with him.

But why so suddenly now? Elias is still young. I barely have time to do anything except take care of him.

"I don't know. I guess it kinda just happened," I say.

"Or maybe Reid being here makes you want to move closer to Chris because you don't want to do the same with Reid," she says.

I stare at her for a good second, processing what she has said.

I didn't know whether she took me for a fool or an i***t because that was anything but the truth.

I could care less about Reid Hall as much as the next person.

"Don't be ridiculous! Your brother is not someone I want to get close to no matter what the circumstances," I brush her off.

"It didn't sound that way when you were basically throwing yourself at him," she smirks.

"That was different," I explained to her.

"Was it really? Look, Anna Reid is an asshole, and I hate him for everything he did to you more than you might hate him but don't you think you living with him can spark something," she doubts.

"If anything, if things were to spark Aria, they would of when we lived together three years ago."

-

When I arrived home, it was almost 6 pm.

I had wanted to get home sooner and make dinner but being with Aria makes me lose track of time.

I stood in front of my door rummaged through my purse, looking for the keys I had sworn I had put in here this morning.

But could not find it anywhere inside my purse. Giving up, I knocked on the door and waited for Reid to open the door.

But as I waited, I heard the door across from me open—Chris's apartment door.

I didn't understand the anxiety that washed over me, but I felt panicked.

It didn't make sense to me, but somehow the time felt like it was ticking. Like everything was happening in slow motion.

I wanted to run and hide, but my foot stood ground, and I slammed on my door, silently begging them to open.

And finally, it did. Just at the moment, his door opened too.

I rushed inside before he could spot me standing there and closed the door behind me.

"What's up with you?" Reid asked, raising a brow.

I was out of breath from just standing there but apparently, escaping Chris was a workout.

"Nothin-" I couldn't finish my sentence before hearing knocks on my front door.

"Anna, it's me. I want to talk," Chris called out. I panicked, unable to think of what to do next.

He was going to open my door. It was normal for him just to walk in, but at this moment, I wished I had never given him that permission.

I was basically hyperventilating at this point, and when my doorknob twisted and my door was pushed so he could walk in, and I made the most stupidest decision I could. I pulled Reid into me and kissed him.

Reid's eyes widened, and I pushed myself further into him. I didn't know why I thought kissing Reid would fix everything. It might have just made it all worse, but I didn't know what else to do.

I didn't know when to stop kissing him. I wanted to stop, but my body kept going for more. His arms twisted around my waist, resting just above my butt.

My hands travelled to his hair, tangling themselves in his soft locks. His grip tightened on me, and his lips made their way to my neck. He pushed me against my back until my back hit the door, shutting it closed.

I couldn't think about anything else once his lips were on me. He sucked on the skin right under my earlobe, pushing himself further into me until I could feel him. All of him.

His lips travelled down my collarbone as he left open mouth kissing in every part of my neck.

I bit my lips and gripped his back.

"MOMMY!" I heard a loud scream from Eli calling me.

My eyes wiped open and met my son's eyes staring at his father and me in such positions.

I didn't know when I had let this happen? I was thinking about Chris. Had he not come in?

Reid moved away from me, practically breathless but amused.

"What just happened?" I whispered to myself.

Elias rushed to my side, wrapping his arm around my legs.

He looked terrified. "What's wrong little prince?" I asked picking him up.

"I thought you were hurt," he whined. "That's why he was holding you," he said, burying his face into my neck.

"No, no, I'm okay. You got nothing to worry about," I say, setting him down. "Why don't you get ready for dinner mommy will be there in a second," I tell him.

He nods his head and rushes into his room.

I turned my attention to Reid.

"Why did you do that?" I questioned, furious.

"What, you're mad at me?" He asks, confused. "You kissed me," he said in a matter-of-factly tone.

"So? You should have never kissed me back," I told him. "Did you not hear Chris?" I asked him.

He looked even more confused. "No? Was he supposed to come?" He asked.

I shook my head, turning away from him. Had he not come in? Did I just imagine hearing him because I panicked?