6
1087 Words
WILLOW
I wake up to the sound of my phone buzzing. At first, I think it’s just my alarm but it’s not. Tate Mccrae blasts at full volume and Violet groans in her sleep.
“Ugh! Willow. Will you answer that already?” She grunts. “Some of us are trying to sleep here.”
Blindly, I search for my phone, disrupting random objects on my desk. Once I have it, I swipe left without bothering to check who the caller is.
“Who’s this?” I growl, impatiently. I’ve never been a morning person and do not intend to start now.
“Wow. Is that any way to greet your new boyfriend?” Aiden’s chuckle is a low rumble but it’s enough to rouse me awake.
“Aiden,” I check the time. 6:50 a.m. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Why are you calling me so early?”
“It’s almost seven.” He snickers on the other end of the phone, like it’s amusing to have disrupted my beauty sleep. “Er, is there any specific reason why you’re calling? Is this about the basketball tickets?”
“What? No.” Again, he snorts. “You already promised you are gonna get the tickets and I believe you. This isn’t about that.”
“What then?”
I have creative writing class by 8. I’m already thinking of a way to wrap up this call, so I can get another half hour of sleep, when Aiden squashes my plans.
“The reason why I called… Theo’s at the gym.” He adds. “He’s bound to walk by the coffee place on his way back to the frat house. If you can meet me at the coffee place in ten, then there’s a good chance of us rubbing our budding new relationship in his face. What do you think?”
“Wow…” I’m up now, huge ass grin on my face. At the last second, I remember to keep my voice at a minimum. The last thing I want to do is alert Violet to what I’d agreed to do with my ex’s step brother.
Knowing Violet, she wouldn’t approve. She would just think that I’m crazy. Some scorned cheerleader on a revenge trip.
While that’s the truth, I don’t think I can hear her thinking that about me.
By some strange, unexpected turn of events, Aiden is the only one who understands and is willing to help me.
“That’s some premium thinking, Aiden Cross.” I chuckle.
“What can I say Thompson? Watching my brother suffer sure brings out the devil in me.”
He is the devil alright. He’s handsome like one.
“Alright. Give me ten minutes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
By the time I walk into the coffee shop, Aiden has already ordered both our coffees. He’s sitting next to the most conspicuous window. From this angle, I doubt there are any passers who won’t be able to see us.
“Hi devil,” I smile as I slide into the cushion across from his. “Whoa, how did you know what kind of coffee to order for me?”
“i********:,” he takes a lazy sip of his cappuccino, eyeing me from behind his coffee cup. “Are you wearing make up Thompson?”
I scoff, narrowing my eyes at him. “How can you tell?”
It’s easier to pretend to be annoyed than to show how embarrassed I feel at having been caught.
“Your face is glowing with it.” His lips curl teasingly. “I doubt Theo will be able to see it properly from this angle though.”
“I didn’t wear it for him,” I interject. “I have classes this morning and do not wish to show up to class looking like something the cat dragged in.” Aiden grins at that. “Besides, we all can’t look as good as you.”
“You think I look good?” His grin grows wider and this time, I flush.
“Don’t act like you don’t know this,” I snag my drink off the table and take a long drink. It tastes so good.
“Sorry for teasing you,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. “So, how long does your ex spend in the gym before he gets a start on his day?”
“Er…” I check the time on my phone. “We both share the same creative writing class. If he plans to attend the 8 a.m. lecture, then he should be out any moment from now.”
Just as I say that, we hear the gym doors open, across the road. A moment later, Theo bursts out of the building, sweating up a storm; duffel bag in hand.
Lightning quick, Aiden grasps my hand and interlaces our fingers together.
I bite back the urge to squirm. “W-What are you doing?”
“Trust me.” Dark, enrapturing orbs hold my own captive. Eyes are so intense, I can’t bring myself to look away and it’s uncanny how they were only teasing a moment ago.
Now… they are scorching.
“He’s watching us,” he quips, barely moving his lips.
“How can you tell?” I blush, still holding his eyes. Aiden’s fingers are deliciously warm and my hand tingles everywhere he touches.
He must notice by now how sweaty my palm is. Is he grossed out by it? How much longer do we have to hold hands like this?
I don’t hate it.
With Theo, our palms had always been sweaty whenever we would hold hands and I hated it most of the time.
Now, holding Aiden’s much larger hand in mine, it doesn’t feel gross. If anything, it feels nice.
“How can I tell?” Aiden smiles conspiratorially. “Would you believe me if I said I have eyes at the back of my head?”
I snort at that. “Of course you do. It’s not like you’re a regular werewolf like the rest of us.”
“Being an alpha’s son isn’t all it’s made out to be Thompson.” He stares out the window just then and I mirror his gaze.
He is right.
Theo’s standing on the sidewalk across the road, glaring daggers at our interlocked hands.
The moment he notices us staring, he turns away from the window and storms off.
- Writer
