Page 72 of Winning the Nightcap

As if the eight months we’ve spent apart mean nothing at all and his drunk calls mean everything. As if he deserves for me to wait for him. As if I deserve to feel like shit, shaking my confidence with every repeat rejection he delivers. As if he didn’t just admit to being on a date himself?

The overwhelming desire to cry flares as anger floods my veins and I do my best to will it away. Any overwhelming emotion always comes out as tears. So goddamn annoying. Before a single drop can spill onto my cheek, I feel a hand on my lower back, warm and comforting.

“It’s serious,” Aiden says firmly. His presence alone instantly causes my shoulders to drop in relief. For once, I don’t have to face Josh’s scrutiny and indecision alone. Instead of embarrassment, I feel safe having Aiden here for this conversation. Like for once, someone is protecting my heart instead of ripping it open to see if the contents meettheirneeds and expectations.

Aiden’s never looked at me like he was weighing my worth and what benefit I could bring to the table. He’s only looked at me with curiosity, intrigue, passion, and warmth. The contrast between a future with him at my back and my past standing in front of me is stark.

“Aiden Price? As in the Aviators’ second baseman? Congrats on the game, man,” Josh says, a note of hesitation in his voice. He’s still trying to piece together what he sees in front of him.

“Thanks, but I’d be even more appreciative if you’d drop the condescension from your tone when you’re speaking to Bec.”

Okay, why the fuck is that so hot?

“No offense, but Bec and I have a history that you don’t need to concern yourself with.”

“You’re right. Because it’shistory. I suggest you lose her number because she doesn’t want to speak to you, in case her not answering your calls wasn’t a big enough clue.” He dismisses Josh by turning me toward him and running his hand along my jaw to pull my gaze upto his. “You ready to go home, beautiful?”

And the tear that originated from anger melts into something sweeter as it finally topples over onto my cheek. Aiden wipes it away quickly, and I smile and nod. “I’m ready.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Aiden

After leaving Josh with an irritated look plastered on his face, we say goodbye to our friends and I drive Bec to my place, since she caught a ride to the game with the girls. The ride is mostly quiet, her hand in mine, resting on her thigh, her humming along softly to the music.

When we get to my apartment, we settle on the couch with Hopper between us greedily demanding our attention. God, he’s going to kill me if I fuck this up with Bec. When I say he’s already attached to her, I mean it. I guess we both are.

Wanting to check in with her after her run-in with Josh, I decide I can’t wait any longer to bring it up. “So, that was Josh,” I say, trying to keep it low pressure to see if she feels like talking about it.

“That…was Josh.” She runs her fingers through her hair, taking a deep breath. “You probably think he’s a douche, but it felt different when we first met. It wasn’t until things got more serious that it became clear it was never going to work out between us.”

From what I overheard of their conversation, Josh is a real tool. Regardless, I don’t judge Bec for who she’s dated in the past. It’s not like any of my brief relationships have worked out either.

You don’t really know who anyone is until you see them struggle. Until they’re forced to take down their own demons or surrender to them. Until they’re fighting through something and have to decide who they want to be on the other side of that battle. Relationships start easy, but when shit hits the fan, I want to know that my partner and I can turn to each other and not against each other. Maybe that’s me being judgmental, or maybe that’s me projecting my own messed-up bullshit onto everyone else.

“People tend to show us who they really are eventually. How did it feel to see him?” I’m sure Bec can hear the insecurity in my voice, hoping to god she’s over him and ready to take things further with me.

She sighs, letting her head fall back on the couch, mindlessly petting Hopper’s ears.

“Am I a shitty person if I say I barely felt anything?” she asks, turning to look at me. “Josh and I had fun in the beginning, but things were never perfect. When we’d gone a few days without seeing each other, it didn’t feel like he was hungry to see me again. When I reflect on it now, I wasn’t missing him during our time apart either. Shouldn’t you miss the person you’re with? Shouldn’t you crave them? And tonight, he acted like I sprinted into another relationship. Like I still owed him something.”

“You don’t owe him anything, Bec. He called it quits, so he has to live with that choice. He doesn’t have any right to make you question your reaction to his decisions. He lost that right when you two broke up. And Bec?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t ever forget how incredible you are. He should never have left you doubting how wanted you were. I got one weekend with you and you left me starving for more. I don’t want you to question the way I see you. At every turn, you surprise me in all the best ways.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“Exactly. I don’t have to say that. I said it because it’s true. I won’t pretend to know what you went through, but I can understand if the way Josh ended things left you confused. Let me be the one to remind you how much he didn’t see. Do you trust me?” I ask.

“I want to,” she says quietly.

“That’s a start.” I want to be the type of man who deserves someone like Bec. I don’t know that I am, in fact I’m sure I’m far from it, but I sure as shit want to try.

“Do you remember what I told you my biggest fear was when we met?” she asks, her eyes glassy.

“You were afraid of losing yourself,” I say softly.

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