Violet

Fourteen

It took only moments to find Elliot and ask him if he wanted to come and when he declined I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of excitement. 

“It looks like it’s just you and me.” Aiden spoke up as he lead me to the front door with a hand on the small of my back. 

“Looks like it Mr. Stalker.” I replied with a teasing tone as he stopped us at the front door and turned towards me. 

“It’s starting to flurry outside, I don’t think your jacket is going to be warm enough. Stay here.” Aiden spoke with an authority my mind had trouble acknowledging until he was half way down the sidewalk. 

I brushed off the strange feeling I had as I watched him start his car then jog back to me holding a much larger, fluffier hoodie. 

“Here, try this on. I think it’ll keep you warmer than that thin thing you have on.” He spoke up referring to my cardigan I had on over my shirt. 

“Probably, I guess I didn’t realize how cold it was going to be outside. Thank you.” I replied thankfully as I pulled on his oversized hoodie. 

“You’re welcome. The car should be warm now. Are you ready?” He asked as he reached for the front door. 

“As ready as I’ll ever be to go out in this cold again.” Came my reply and with a deep chuckle he opened the door and allowed me to step out first. 

“Well, it looks like the snow is beginning to stick.” He spoke up once we made it outside and I had a sinking feeling in my gut at the mental note that ice and I do not mix well. 

“Hopefully it doesn’t get too icy over the next couple of days.” I replied and tried not to flush from embarrassment when Aiden softly grabbed my hand and led me to the car, being careful to avoid any wet spots on the sidewalk and driveway. 

He had a blacked out range rover and I chuckled softly once we made it to the cars passenger door. 

“What’s so funny little one?” He asked as he unlocked the car and opened the door for me to get in. 

“You’re blacked out car fits perfectly with our stalker comment from the other day at the library.” I replied, noting the butterflies in my stomach at his choice of pet nickname. 

I listened to his deep chuckle as he helped me get in then shut the door behind me. His car was immaculately clean and I briefly wondered if he had bought it recently or if he always keeps it this clean. Aiden climbed in only a few moments after me and took a moment to adjust the settings of the mirrors and turn on the lights. 

“Well, I have to do my best to live up to the nickname this pretty woman gave me don’t I?” He asked and I flushed at his compliment. 

I chose not to respond as he slowly backed us out of the driveway and began making his way towards the nearest store. I glanced over at him briefly and took note of his attire. He wore black combat boots with black cargo pants and a light grey shirt that fit him perfectly. Over that he wore an open black leather jacket. I swallowed hard at how attractive he looked and quickly glanced away to avoid being seen checking him out. 

“I can’t wait until it gets warm again.” I spoke up once the silence enveloped us and I looked to him as a smile came onto his face. 

“You prefer the summer over the winter months?” He asked softly, not taking his eyes off of the road. 

“Yes, I like the snow in the winter, I think it’s pretty. I just don’t like how cold it gets. I prefer to be too hot than too cold.” I spoke with confidence and smiled at him when he shot one my way. 

“That is understandable. Not many people like the cold.” He replied. 

“What about you? Do you prefer the heat or the cold?” I asked. 

I took note of the areas he drove through and smiled when I could see a grocery store coming up. 

“I don’t mind the cold so much. I feel like I always run a little bit hotter than most people so the cold doesn’t bother me much. The summer I enjoy just because the weather isn’t so miserable.” He replied and I had to bite my tongue so I didn’t reply to his comment of being hot. 

I remained quiet as he pulled into the half empty parking lot and found a spot by the front door to park in. 

Once parked he smiled over at me before speaking. 

“I just wanted to say, I think you look really pretty.” He spoke up and I felt a blush form on my checks. 

“Thank you.” I replied softly, hardly able to get the words out. 

“You’re welcome.” He replied as he smiled at me again then turned and got out of his car. 

I made a move to follow him and turned in my seat as well to open the car door but he beat me to it. 

“Come.” He commanded with an outstretched hand.

I reached down and put my hand in his as he helped me out of the car. Once the door was shut and the car locked we made our way as quickly as we could to the front doors of the store. I was shivering by the time we got there and not all of it was from the cold. 

I said nothing as he lead me inside and through the isle’s until we came upon the section with bundles of firewood. He took no time picking one out and took a step towards the registers when I stopped him. 

“Maybe we should grab fire starter as well?” I questioned. 

“That is a good idea. I’m glad you thought of that because Elliot’s dad has trouble starting fires.” He replied with a chuckle almost like there was some inside joke to be had. 

“Now, I’m intrigued with how that story happened.” I replied as I bent down to the bottom of the shelf and reached for the fire starter. 

I heard a soft groan and smiled internally when I realized it came from Aiden. 

“Well, last winter Elliot’s family held a little barbecue like this and it was the first time starting a fire had ever been brought up. So, Elliot and I traveled to the store and picked up fire wood and lighter fluid and a lighter. When we get back to their house, we pile on the wood and poured some of the lighter fluid over it. I had left the lighter in the car so I went to grab it and while I was gone, Elliot’s dad didn’t notice the wood already had lighter fluid on it. He also didn’t tell me that he poured more onto it so when I came back and started the fire the flames went super high, almost burnt my hair off.” He told me this story as we walked to one of the check out lanes and I couldn’t keep myself from giggling at the picture in my head of Aiden with burnt patches of hair. 

Aiden smiled at me when he heard me giggling but we both stopped talking when it was his time to check out. I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket so while he paid I pulled it out and checked to see a text from my mother asking what time I would be home. I gave a soft sigh when I read it. I was having so much fun and I didn’t want to leave, especially not now that I’ve gotten to spend some time with Aiden but I knew I would need to be home soon in order to not upset her. I quickly typed up a reply that I would be home in the next hour and that we were just about to roast marshmallows. 

When I glanced up, after sending the text, Aiden had finished paying and was waiting patiently for me to be done texting. An embarrassed flush blossomed on my face and I quickly put my phone away and smiled sheepishly at him. 

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’m in no rush to get back.” He replied softly and I couldn’t look past the kind look in his eyes. 

I continued to smile at him as I nodded towards the door. 

“Ready?” I asked softly. 

He nodded his head once and once again led me out of the store with a hand on the small of my back. I hadn’t felt it before but this time around I could feel warmth radiating from his hand to the skin underneath the area of the shirt he was touching and I didn’t want to lie to myself by saying it didn’t feel good.