Page 94 of Not As Advertised

“It’s true. I didn’t know all of you then. But I already knew how special you were. You have been in my head since the veryfirst moment I saw you. So you have to know that I am all in. I love you, Abbie. You were so incredibly selfless in protecting me from any backlash at work. I wish you hadn’t felt the need to do that. You have to know that you are the most important person to me, okay? No more heroic gestures from either of us. I’ll reign in the overprotective thing if you promise to talk to me. Deal?”

My heart burst with how deliriously happy his words made me. I pulled my hand from his to wrap both arms around his neck, bringing him closer.

Rising up on my tiptoes to reach him as best as I could. “Yes. Aiden. I promise. From here on out, we’ll work things out together. I’ve been yours since that moment I embarrassed myself in your office on your first day. I love you too. Always.”

“Always,” he echoed. “That sounds just right to me.”

Bringing our lips together, he kissed me like he was starving. I kissed him back with the same ferocity, drawing a groan out of him. God, I’d missed his open, unbound reactions to the passion between us. He never stifled his need for me.

I didn’t know how long we stood there making out like teenagers. It could have been five minutes or an hour, but we were interrupted by a passerby calling out.

“Hey, man, I didn’t know Comic-Con was in town this week. Nice costume.”

Breaking the kiss to meet Aiden’s eyes, I dissolved into giggles. Aiden didn’t really have the best luck with cosplay.

“Oh, I see how it is. You think this is funny, huh? We’ll see who gets the last laugh.”

His fingers poked into the sensitive part of my rib cage, and he tickled me until I was bent in half.

“Okay, okay! You win. Let me breathe.”

Gathering me in his arms, he whispered in my ear, “You’re goddamn right I did, Abbie. I’m the luckiest motherfucker in the world right now.”

“Oh, come on, now I’m going to cry. Again.” I wiped furiously at my eyes as if I could stem the emotions threatening to pour out of me.

“I’m here for it, sweetheart. But if I don’t get you into my bed in the next hour, I won’t be responsible for my actions. I’ve had two weeks to come up with some very creative ways to show you how much I love you, none of which can happen in an airport.”

“Aiden!” I looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping.

Laughing with a lightness I’d never heard from him before, he tugged me toward the airport doors.

Before we could reach the exit, a voice called out behind us.

“Hey, man, wait! Do you think I could grab a selfie with you?”

“Oh god, not again,” Aiden muttered. Despite his grumpy exterior, he wasn’t one to disappoint. “Sure, but make it quick.”

The young man walked over to us, handing me his phone. “Do you mind?”

“It would be my pleasure.” I laughed. And it absolutely was.

Arranging his face into a grimace-smile hybrid, Aiden dutifully tolerated the photo. I handed the man back his phone.

“So, bruh, you’re, like, dressed as Zorro or something? I remember my mom used to love those movies when I was a kid. I remember she kept her old VHS player to watch them.”

“For the love of Christ!” Aiden couldn’t catch a break.

“I’ll get you out of here, I promise. Right after this nice guy takes our picture too.” I smiled politely, trying not to laugh.

Aiden rolled his eyes as I pulled my camera out of its bag. This photo was going to be framed. I handed the camera to the man, and we posed for the picture.

“Only for you, baby. Only for you,” he whispered in my ear as I wrapped my arms around his middle.

“Okay, Zorro. Say cheese!” the man called out.

Happiness bubbled inside me. I knew with every fiber of my being that he meant it. And that meant everything.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I knew for certain that I’d never felt so whole as we walked toward the parking garage and Abbie’s rental car.

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