Page 113 of Not in My Book

I reluctantly agreed, but I knew I’d made the right decision when his eyes lit up with excitement.

New York winter hadfinallyended. My puffer coat was stored away and sadly so was Aiden’s peacoat. But it made the walk home much nicer now that flowers had started to bloom and color spotted the gray streets of the city. As we approached my apartment building, Aiden’s grip on my hand tightened. I looked up at him and his jaw was clenched.

“Uh-oh, angry Aiden’s back. What’s wrong?”

He looked between my front door and me before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Rosalinda, what will it take for you to move out ofthis building? Whenever you don’t stay with me, I’m up for half the night worried sick.”

I guffawed. “This again? You’re so melodramatic. C’mon.”

He sighed after a few moments, relenting, and gestured for me to lead the way.

I unlocked my apartment door, making an effort to show Aiden the multiple locks that kept me secure. I pushed in and immediately I could hear Alexa rummaging around in her room.

“Retreat,” I whispered frantically. I pushed his chest toward the door. “We’ll come back later.”

“What? Why?” An amused smile played along his lips. I kept pushing, but I wasn’t strong enough to move him.

“Alexa’s home.” I decided to switch tactics and tried to pull his hands rather than push his chest. He stumbled a bit, but I was too late. Alexa’s bedroom door creaked open and she came out in her Hideout uniform. “Oh Lord.”

“There’s that country accent.” Aiden grinned, pleased. He claimed my accent came out whenever I was worried or overly happy. Helovedwhen it happened so much that sometimes I faked it just to see his eyes light up.

Alexa paused at the entrance to our tiny living room, her gaze shifting between me and Aiden. I had managed to keep the two of them from meeting for the past three and a half months, but I hadn’t checked her schedule carefully enough today. Alexa didn’t have much of a filter and I had no clue what she would say to Aiden. I loved her chaotic energy, but I wanted to holdsomeof my cards close to the chest. I wouldn’t be surprised if she relayed all the details of my initial crush on him the minute they got a second alone.

“Pues, quées esto?” She crossed her arms over her chest, a smile spread across her face.

I huffed, annoyed. “Alexa, you know Aiden. Aiden, this is Alexa.”

She stepped forward, holding out her hand. When he took it, she pumped his hand enthusiastically. “I have heard a mix of wonderful and horrible things about you.”

Aiden looked at me mildly. “Is that so?”

“Oh yeah. It was either the infamous peacoat or how she was going to make you regret ever writing—”

“Okay, Alexa, you don’t want to be late for your shift, do you?” I gestured toward the door.

She nodded sweetly. “Of course. Aiden, I assume I will be seeing more of you.”

“If Rosie Posie decides to keep me around.” He smiled down at me.

Alexa stepped past us. She paused in the doorway and turned toward us with a mischievous grin. “I also heard you’re a riot in bed. Have fun, Rosie!”

I slipped my shoe off and chucked it at the door. “Leave!”

We could hear her laughter through the door.

It took us almost an hour of pure grit and focus to make the alfajores (mostly because I kept getting distracted by Aiden rolling the dough with rolled up sleeves) but we finally finished them. We placed them on a plate and doused them in powdered sugar.

I watched eagerly as Aiden took his first bite.

“Well?” I asked expectantly. “Has your life changed forever? Has every other cookie been ruined for you?”

Aiden grimaced, obviously trying to swallow. He nodded once. “So good.”

My heart sank. “You don’t like them?”

“I think we missed an ingredient,” he said, coughing a little. “Are you sure we made these right? They’re a little,” he coughed again, “dry.”

I frowned, picking up the cookie and stuffing the whole thing in my mouth. Immediately I blanched. I grabbed a paper towel and spit it out. “Fuck, that’s bad. My tía’s never tasted like that. You put the egg yolks in, right?”

---