Page 100 of The Vow We Made
“I didn’t need a speech to know you’re the man for me. I trust you and have no doubt you’ll take care of me. You are the bravest man I know. You’re not afraid of anything or anyone and I’m pretty sure there isn’t a battle you can’t fight.”
His hand slips around my back while his gaze travels over my features. It’s as if he’s committing every part of me to memory before his mouth returns to taste my lips.
Briefly he pulls away. “Trust me, I’ll never let you down.”
Finally, I’ve found someone I can believe in.
My tears overflow uncontrollably and Aiden wipes them away with the pad of his thumb but there’s still something playing on his mind.
“Before. You said you did fall in love. Do you still love him?”
His question is so out of the blue and something I’ve never confronted. I have to dig deep into my heart to find the honest answer.
“Ididlove him in the beginning, there’s no doubt, but that was before I found out the truth. He knew what he was doing from the start and the situation was his to control which is why I don’t understand why on earth he would build a life with me. Why propose when he had everything he could ever want in another country? I don’t get it and I resent him for treating me like a fool; for the lies he lived and the people he hurt along the way. He must have known, one day, he’d have to leave me and shatter my heart into a million pieces. But still, he went ahead and led his selfish double life.” I gaze up towards Aiden’s tense features. “So my answer is no. I haven’t been in love with him for a very long time.”
Placing my hands to his beautiful face I tell him, “We’re done with Andy now.Youare the only one I want. I never thought I’d have a basis to trust another person with my heart, but you’ve proved me wrong. This is where I’m meant to be, right here with you.”
He has no idea how much he’s helped me see things clearly. It’s as if he’s hit me over the head with a cure to the past and there’s no overwhelming regret or sadness anymore.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you never let another man into your life after what he did to you.” I feel his body tense while he speaks. “But I will prove, I’m the man you deserve. I want to take care of you and I’ll never let you down.”
“You don’t need to prove anything,” I tell him. “I already know all of this, which is why—” My eyes close sparking every nerve and sense I have. Every beat of my heart deafens me as I realise, this is it, make or break. I take a long deep breath through my nose. “I think I’m falling in love with you.” I turn my head away in fear of rejection, but he doesn’t keep me waiting with his reply to my declaration.
In typical Aiden style he tells me, “It’s a damn shame you only ‘think’ you’re falling in love with me.” Then he stops. His thumb smooths over the contours of my skin as he turns my face and ours eyes lock.
“Because I’m one-hundred percent sure, I’m totally in love with you.”
AIDEN
We’ve been up since the crack of dawn, put our world to rights, walked our way around the back streets of London and now we’re back outside her home. I have Victoria’s hand in mine and we’re laughing about the first time she met Will. The laughter stops as soon as we hear voices from behind her front door.
Victoria turns to me, whispering, “Shit, I think Will is in there with Steph.”
I hang back for a second while Victoria puts her ear to the door.
“I can hear him shouting,” she says stating the obvious because he’s so loud, I’m sure the whole street is getting an ear-full.
Will’s voice booms from inside, “If you don’t know then I’ll spell it out. I wasn’t educated at a fancy school, I don’t speak with a plum in my mouth and I drive a black cab, so I reckon you’re ashamed of me and that’s the real reason you didn’t tell me the truth.”
Then we hear Steph who is standing her ground this time around. “Will, you know that’s not true. You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m getting déjá vu,” I mumble under my breath.
“We can’t interrupt them mid-flow, Aiden, it’s not fair,” Victoria whisper shouts as we hear a door slam and the voices quieten.
“Sounds like we won’t have to. I think they’ve moved to another room.” I take the key from her hand before she has time to stop me and we’re inside. “Come on,” I whisper and signal her forward while muffled voices are raised behind the kitchen door.
We tip-toe our way up the stairs but are less than half way when the door swings open and Will steams out with Steph closely behind.
“That’s right, off you go. Running away from a relationship the minute something happens you don’t like. Why can’t you see this for what it is?”
Will spins towards her. “What was that Treacle? You’re talking cr—”
Then we’re spotted, frozen mid-step. “What the fuck? What is it with this house? There’s never any bloody privacy. How long have you two been here?”
“Long enough,” I tell him. “And shouting is getting you nowhere.” I decide to take matters in my own hands. “Both of you, in the kitchen.”
Steph and Will stare at me until I order, “Now!” They do as they’re told and we follow closely behind. I’ve reached my tipping point with these two and I’m done with my brother making the same stupid mistakes over and over again. He can be a real stubborn arsehole at times and I don’t want to see him unhappy over something he could have prevented if he got past his male pride.
