Page 110 of When The Night Falls

‘Sounds wonderful.’ Releasing him, I climbed out of bed. As I walked completely naked toward the door, I felt his gaze on my back, so with a crooked smile on my face, I turned my head to catch him in his ogling.

‘We’ve got time for a quickie,’ he said.

I chuckled. ‘Have you showered yet?’

‘No.’ His usually calm voice was saturated with eagerness.

‘Then let’s spare the environment and do it together,’ I said and walked out.

He charged after me without a moment’s hesitation.

§ § §

Aaron resembled husband material as he placed a mug of coffee in front of me on the table. With a grateful look in my eye, I gripped the black porcelain and raised it to my mouth.

‘How long are your days?’ he asked, grabbing the seat opposite.

‘Eight to five, but they may differ depending on the workload. You?’

He unlocked his phone and opened a newspaper app. ‘Same as you,’ he said, dragging his own mug of coffee to his mouth. ‘By the way, are you free next Saturday? Not this one, but the next.’

I frowned in thought. ‘I think so, why?’

‘Tyler is celebrating his birthday. He said to invite you.’

I stiffened. ‘Shit, when’s his birthday?’ I asked, worried I had forgotten to congratulate him.

He chuckled. ‘Next Saturday. Don’t worry. Can you make it?’

‘Yes, of course. Any ideas for a present?’

‘Boxers. He’s in dire need of them, he said.’

A chuckle escaped me. Student life in a nutshell, that was. ‘Sorted.’

‘Perhaps we could sleep at yours then, so Tyler and Valentina can have the flat to themselves.’ Valentina was Tyler’s girlfriend of one year.

‘Good idea.’ I nodded. ‘Let’s do that.’

We had been sitting there for a few minutes when I suddenly started comparing him to William. They were so different, yet somehow so similar. Their drive and intellect were alike, though Aaron was much gentler. It made me wonder why I hadn’t ever developed feelings for Aaron. A relationship with him would have made perfect sense. He was supportive, reliable and sweet, not to mention that he brought out the best in me. Without him, I doubted I would have reached as far as I had in terms of my career. So why couldn’t this be love? Why had I never entertained the idea of pursuing a relationship with him?

We had been doing this for three years, yet I had never considered dating him. Meanwhile, William had made me consider dating him the same night I had met him and several more times since then.

I wondered if Aaron had ever been in my place, where a girl he was attracted to had made advances. Had he rejected her to maintain a strict focus on his career? Had he given it a go, but later discovered that they were incompatible? Or perhaps the opposite had happened. Perhaps he had fancied a girl and had pursued her, but she had rejected him instead.

I was curious to hear his perspective on this. We had never discussed it before, but I was about to change that.

‘Have you ever considered dating someone while we’ve been together like this? Cassie, for example?’

Aaron froze, his cup of coffee remaining by his full lips for several seconds. While staring into my eyes, he lowered it slowly.

‘What’s brought this on?’ he asked with furrowed brows.

I shrugged. ‘Just wondering. I know we’re not supposed to talk about others to each other, but it’s been three years, so I’m curious to know if it’s ever happened during that time. If it has, I obviously won’t get mad.’

His frown intensified. ‘No, it hasn’t.’

‘You’ve never considered it?’

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