Page 43 of The Expiration Date

She looks into my eyes and I can tell that she is relieved that I did not turn into the person that the media thought I turned into. The real me never went anywhere. They just didn’t bother to look beneath the surface.

Haley’s chin escapes my grasps as she sits back up. “Aidan, can I ask you another question?”

“Shoot.” I lower my hand and wait for the next question in her drunken interrogation.

“You have my birthday as your security code at your apartment. Why?”

“Because it’s easy for me to remember, but it’s also a detail not a lot of people would know about because it’s not directly related to me… And it’s a reminder of you when I am in New York and you’re back in L.A.” If she’s going to be vulnerable, so can I.

Haley puts her fist under her chin and looks at me, seemingly contemplating what I just revealed. Her brown eyes seem to focus for the first time since we got back tonight, and I can’t stop staring at them. I never want to stop staring at them. “Can I kiss you?”

I am floored by the intimacy of the question. We have been kissing each other for several days now without each other’s permission right beforehand. I’ve never had someone ask to kiss me before. It is refreshing. I quickly realize that I would do just about anything that Haley asked me to do. Even if that means kissing her over and over again.

Especially kissing her over and over again.

I smile. “Of course you can kiss me, Hales.”

Haley slowly closes the gap between us and gives me the softest, most innocent kiss imaginable. It is clear this isn’t out of lust by any means. It is PG-13 at most. I haven’t been kissed like this since my very first kiss. Only this time, I know what I am doing. And so does Haley. That much is true.

Unfortunately, she leans away and her lips depart from mine. I fight back all the urges to bring those lips back to mine and up the rating, because I never take advantage of a woman. Especially a woman who is drunk and not fully herself. No, I am going to reserve those kisses for lucid Haley. I want her to remember those kisses on those sweet, soft, pink lips.

She looks up at me doe-eyed and says, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Always saving me.”

What does she mean? “Hales, you are the last person who needs saving. If anything, you have saved me. How have I saved you?”

“Are you kidding me, Aidan? You’ve saved me from making a mockery of myself at this wedding like everyone was expecting me to. You’ve saved me from my own fears. You’ve saved me from dealing with Robert this entire weekend.” She looks down and grazes my hand with her finger, sending shockwaves through my body. Who knew that such a small gesture could have such an impact? “Most importantly, you are saving me from myself.”

I can tell she’s opening up to me in a way that she hasn’t done before in all the years I’ve known her. But I also know her well enough to know that the moment she exposes her vulnerability, that’s when she’ll put those damn walls back up. Never again with me. I am always going to be armed with dynamite around Haley.

“Well, if that’s how you feel, Hales, then you’re welcome. And I would gladly save you every single day if that meant I could see you happy.” I want to bring her back to my lips so badly. I want to hold her in my arms and tell her that I feel so much more than I ever thought I could. Things are starting to change for me. The terms are not as cut-and-dry anymore. We are well past the point of no return. I want to renegotiate. Immediately.

I need to tell her the truth about how I feel. I don’t think I can wait any longer. I swallow so hard, I know my Adam’s apple clearly bobs up and down. “Hales…”

“Captain America!!” she shouts, hitting my pectoral muscle so hard, I wince slightly.

“What?” I ask, legitimately confused, pressing my hand to my now-stinging chest.

“I said Captain Underpants earlier. I meant Captain America!” She starts laughing at her own mistake and snorts in the process, which makes her laugh even more. I can’t help but laugh too. I didn’t think snorts could be sexy but apparently I am learning that just about anything that has to do with Haley turns out to be mind-bogglingly sexy.

“All right you goof, I think it’s time for bed.” I reach beside Haley and tap the pillow twice. “We have a busy day tomorrow, babe.”

“Ugh, fine.”

I tuck her in, then go into the bathroom and get the small trash can. I place it right next to the bed–just in case. I reach over her head to snag an extra pillow so I can fashion together my makeshift bed. Haley grabs my forearm and says, “Do you want to know a secret?”

“Always.”

“I have a dream date.”

“Is that so?” This is so random, but I’m curious about what is in the recesses of Haley’s brain. I want to get to know every piece of her. Especially her hopes and dreams, since I intend to make them all come true.

“Yes. It is on the beach. At sunset. With my favorite pizza and wine. With blankets and pillows. And the guy has a laptop where we can watch one of my favorite movies. And watch the sun go down. And on my dream date, my date would kiss me, unreservedly, passionately, with no regard for the world around us because we would be each other’s world.”

She is starting to doze off. I finally grab the pillow from behind her. I very much want to be that guy in her dreams. Hopefully she feels the same way.

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