Page 82 of The Romance Rivalry

“Wanna tell me what all that was about?” he asks me as I pull him out into the quad.

The quad. My dad says some of his best memories are of times hanging out here. The weather is getting a little colder now, but we’re still in Southern California. It’s not so cold that we’d be uncomfortable. And I’ve decided I’d like to start hanging out more in this grassy quad, too. I want to take advantage of all the things this school has to offer, actually. But first...

I stop in front of the short stone wall separating the walkway from the grass and press down on Aiden’s shoulders to encourage him to sit. I remain standing. I want to be able to look directly into his eyes when I bare my soul.

“I’m sorry. For everything. Yes, for failing my classes, especially for not doing all the lit assignments, since that directlyimpacts you. But more so for not being honest with you. And for not having the guts to explain that I was struggling. And for lashing out at you when you confronted me about it. For not believing in you. For not accepting your words when you told me how you felt about me. For accusing you of using me. For pushing you away.” I go through my mental checklist to see if I’ve missed anything.

“Wow, that’s... a lot of ‘I’m sorries,’” he says.

“I know. And it still doesn’t feel like enough,” I admit. “But I want you to know, I’ve done a lot of thinking, assessing, planning. And I’m starting with the healing. I can’t fix it all and change everything over one holiday week. But I’ve had a talk with my parents. I told them everything and they kinda helped set me straight. And then, there’s you. You also helped set me straight. You helped me to see... myself. Through your eyes. And through your words.”

“I did? But we didn’t even talk this week,” he says.

“Aiden.” I grab both his hands and hold them in front of us. “The book I did the extra credit assignment on was yours.”

“What?” He stands up quickly, looking down at me. I can’t tell exactly how he’s feeling about this bit of information. So I hold on tighter to his hands. If he’s mad and tries to pull away, I’ll wear him down with my superhuman strength and then tie him up and hold him captive until he caves.

“Born to Rule.I did the assignment on it. I loved it. I am so fucking impressed, Aiden. You’re incredibly talented. I maybe biased, but I swear, it’s one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. And, well, seems Dr. Kingston agrees with me.”

Aiden drops his jaw, moving his eyes side to side, thinking, considering all the implications of what I’ve just told him. “You liked it?”

“No, I loved it.”

“And Dr. Kingston liked it?”

“Apparently, he loved it, too. Two chili peppers and all.”

He finally comes back to me, all attention on the person in front of him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, it all happened so fast. I was overflowing with thoughts and emotions by the time I finished it. I had to start writing. I couldn’t record a review because the book isn’t published... yet. Crying shame. But I thought if anyone might appreciate what the author was trying to do and how he managed to do it in the story, it would be Dr. Kingston. So I started writing and couldn’t stop until I’d had the assignment done. I wanted to send it to you to review. I’m sorry I took this all upon myself. But like I said before, it wasn’t fair for you to have to take on more work because of my slacking. I wanted to do it on my own, for us both.”

“I can’t believe it,” he says.

“Believe it. And believe this: I love you, Aiden. I still haven’t quite gotten over the belief that I don’t deserve you. But I’ll admit to the world and beyond that I love you. And if you’ll have me...”

He tugs me toward him until only inches separate us. He moves his hands to cup my face and leans forward until his forehead meets mine. He closes his eyes and kisses the side of my nose. I breathe him in and melt against him.

“I love you, Irene. I won’t use flowery prose to describe it so you won’t think I’m just trying to say the right things. I’ll just be honest and clear. I love you. I have from the very beginning, and I will till our Happily Ever After.”

“You wrote me a whole book, Aiden. I think I’ll believe anything you say to me about love moving forward. You’re the romance expert.”

“Learned everything I know about romance from you, Irene.”

Aiden moves even closer until no space exists between us. His lips find mine, his kiss filled with longing and love.

I move my hands up to grab hold of his shoulders. I lift myself slightly onto my tippy-toes, trying to get even closer to him. Aiden drops his arms to encircle me, and if I thought there wasn’t space between us before, I was wrong.

“In case you didn’t hear me say it earlier and I get too distracted to say it later, I love you, too, Aiden.”

He smiles against my lips and kisses me again.

“Take me home,” I say.

Home. A small single dorm room. Brighton College. Aiden Jeon.

Epigraph

My next novel is going to be about Lindrina, first of her kind, wielder of the power to overcome the forces of both the dark world and of the heavens, chosen to bring peace to the land of Sagtarna. And Harlean, the man born to destroy her, who instead swears to protect her and to love her. C’mon! A trope mash-up of enemies-to-lovers and the Chosen One! I’m itching to start writing!

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