Page 65 of Cross My Heart

Regret filled his expression. “Not in the ways I wanted to be.”

“I didn’t realize that was important to you.”

Aiden nodded. “I wanted to be the kind of guy you’d be proud of showing up on your doorstep. I wanted to meet your parents and know they trusted me with their daughter.”

“You know that’s not why I kept us a secret. I was never embarrassed by you.”

“It’s hard not to feel that when you grew up the way I did. My parents never failed to mention what a screw-up I was and how I’d never amount to anything. No one in our family went to college. Not until Marley. My parents told me I couldn’t hope for more. But I wanted to be better, to be the man you deserved.”

“That’s why you enlisted.” I’d figured that out a long time ago. I just couldn’t figure out why he didn’t want me with him.

“I screwed up.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I turned down your proposal because I didn’t want you to give up on your dreams. I knew your dad wanted you to stay at school, to get your degree. He didn’t want your mother’s death or a guy messing with your plans. I didn’t want to be that guy.”

CHAPTER 16

AIDEN

Fiona frowned. “You weren’t messing with my plans. I could have gotten a degree anywhere.”

I gave her a look. “You and I both know that’s not true. I moved around a lot. Sometimes to other countries.”

Realization dawned on her face. “You were protecting me.” When I nodded, she continued, “But that wasn’t your decision to make. I asked you to marry me, and you said no.”

I could see the hurt on her face. I knew I’d crushed her that day.

“I’ve apologized before about how I handled everything back then. But that’s not enough. I owe you more of an explanation.” I reached for her hand, holding it on the table between us.

“I thought you didn’t want me.” She articulated each word.

“That couldn’t be further from the truth. Walking away from you that day, knowing you wanted me by your side, was the hardest thing I ever had to do.”

“You acted like you knew better than me. That you were saving me or protecting me or something. That wasn’t your decision to make.”

“I know that now.”

She stilled. “I can’t believe it.”

“If I could go back, I would have handled it differently, but I can’t say I would have let you leave college to follow me around the world.”

Her face hardened. “Also, not your decision.”

I sighed. “I don’t know what I’m doing in relationships. I sure as fuck didn’t know it back then either. But I like being with you now. Do you think we can move forward?”

She narrowed her eyes on me. “I can’t have you making decisions for me anymore.”

“I promise we’ll talk about things first.” I wasn’t sure where this could go since her job and home were in another state. But I was willing to give it a chance.

“Thank you for telling me what you were thinking back then.”

“I only wish I’d done it sooner.”

Her shoulders lowered. “I forgave you a long time ago, even if I didn’t understand it.”

“That’s all I can ask for.”

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