He answers it and has a brief discussion with who I assume is his dad. He hangs up abruptly seeming a little irritated.
“I guess I do need to leave now. Are you about ready?”
I shake my head as I begin to pick up the pace. Aiden lets out a laugh that sounds only a little irritated.
“You always leave things to the last minute. Let’s just go. I will buy you whatever you don’t have when we get there.”
“No, it’s okay. You go ahead. My mom said that she would have one of the men take me. You know how they are about me riding with other people,” I say with an irritated eyeroll because it is honestly ridiculous.
Aiden tosses a look to Alessandro before facing me. “No offence, but I would feel better if you rode with me.”
I give him a funny look as I shake my head. I know he doesn’t like Alessandro, but it isn’t like he hasn’t driven me a thousand times before.
“I have strict instructions from The Boss to drive her myself,” Alessandro says stoically from the doorway.
Aiden puffs up his chest as he looks down his nose as Alessandro. “I am more than capable of keeping my girl safe from here to the airport.”
Alessandro grunts in what sounds like an almost stifled chuckle as he shakes his head. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Ferguson.”
Aiden’s face quickly turns an angry shade of red as a thick vein in his temple begins to throb. I quickly step over to him just as he takes another step towards Alessandro. I place my hands on his chest as I push him back softly.
“Hey, hey,” I hush gently. “I will be okay. Go take care of whatever your dad needs. I will see you on the plane.”
A look of confliction passes over his face as he searches mine. “I would really prefer you come with me,” he says quietly as if trying to keep his words just between us. “I don’t like that guy.”
“You and me both,” I smirk slyly which causes him to give me a small smile in return. “It’s fine. I will see you in like 15 minutes. Promise,” I say as I brush my lips against his.
Aiden deepens the kiss as he eagerly licks against my lips. He practically attacks my mouth and if I wasn’t so painfully aware of the glowering audience not 12 feet away from us, I might be more into it. But as it stands, it just feels forced and a little desperate to be honest.
After a few more moments, Aiden sighs and rests his head into the crook of my neck before looking up at me with an adoring smile.
“Alright. Hurry. I got Luis to pack those caprese bites you love. I want everything to be absolutely perfect.”
I smile a little tighter than necessary, because if he says one more thing about this trip being perfect, I am going to scream.
“I love you,” Aiden says warmly.
“I love you too.”
He pulls out his phone and checks it before smiling at me. “15 minutes.”
I nod. “Promise.”
I don’t miss the way Aiden tries, and fails, to shoulder check Alessandro on his way out the door. Alessandro is like an unmovable building when Aiden’s shoulder digs into him. I hear Aiden talking on his phone as he makes his way down the stairs and out of the house.
When the sound of the front door closing rings through the air, I realize that I have been staring at Alessandro since Aiden left and apparently, he has been watching me as well. Physically shaking myself, I turn back to my bag and begin mindlessly packing. After a few heavily silent minutes, I speak.
“So, didn’t feel like going on an all-expense paid tropical vacation?”
I try to go for casual indifference, but even I can hear the bite in my words.
“Not really.”
“Why? You suddenly decide you hate the beach now?”
Wouldn’t surprise me. Alessandro tends to change his mind at the drop of a hat if history is anything to go off of. Damn, even my thoughts about him are ridiculously bitter. Guess I am one of those petty girls that knows how to hold a grudge.
“More like the company,” he says flatly.