Page 51 of Crazy in Love

Aiden

I stand in the pouring March day, staring at Saylor while the rest of the guests walk away from the grave. It’s been a week, and I’ve been at the house every day, with Saylor telling me to get out every time. I’ve tried everything to make things right between us, but nothing is working. David walks away from my side with Anika and Jason, when her uncle stops in front of me.

“Thought you would have given up by now. Didn’t think my child goddaughter would be-”

“Sir, I love Saylor. I made a big mistake, a very big mistake. I chose the wrong words out of anger and misunderstanding.” I stop when Ryan shakes his head.

“Aiden, I'm not here to tell you to leave her alone. Her dad told me about you, and one thing he said was, ‘It’s been a long time since Saylor has looked happy.’” He turns around and looks over at Saylor still looking down at her dad's grave. “Anika and Jason told me the same thing.” He turns to face me again, then stands next to me. “You know about Hayley, but you’ve not lived with her. It’s a lot. It can drain so much out of a person, and for the first time, Saylor seemed in a good place.”

“Sir-”

“I’m not finished,” he cuts me off, and I nod and say sorry to him. “She needs some time, so give it to her. But, if she does come back to you, I want you to tell her to leave-”

“I’m not doing that,” I snap at him. There is no way I’m letting her walk away from me if she comes back to me.

“Aiden, you are twelve years her senior, you are ready to-”

“I’m not ready to do anything. Saylor has been the first woman I’ve ever been in love with. And, no respect, sir, if she gives me a second chance, I’m taking it, and all the ups and downs to go with it. I will figure everything out with Hayley. I will support Saylor in every way I can. I love her and will until I die.”

Ryan turns to face me again and takes in a deep breath. “I believe you will, your words and your actions speak so much. Saylor is a loyal person, always has been, and she will always go to many lengths to keep everyone around her happy. If Hayley hates you, Saylor won’t stay with you.” Ryan pats my back, then takes a glance over at Saylor. “You have to give her time.” He walks away, and I stay there for a moment, just watching Saylor for a little longer.

“Come on, you have a meeting to get too.” I hear David behind me, and I look over at him. “Give her some time, but you still have a company to run.”

I got the two apps finished and up. In time, they will make my money back, and Anika will still get her money for the apps, because she would have completed them. I just needed something to do this week, otherwise I was going to go crazy thinking about Saylor all day.

Frankie Fair didn’t know anything about my app, because I found out two days ago, he is planning some social media app instead. He thinks it’s going to be the next big thing, so let’s see if he can do it.

I finally have a team together for the app as planned. David spoke to Anika, and she would love to be on the team, but said she needed to be there for Saylor at the moment. I wasn't going to kick her out because of that. Saylor needs someone. She won’t let me anywhere close to her, and Anika will talk to me, tell me if they need anything.

“What time is the meeting?” I ask, glancing over at Anika walking over to Saylor, with an umbrella.

“In thirty minutes,” David replies, and I give him a nod. Anika tries to get Saylor to stand up, but she’s shaking her head. Ryan walks over to them both and kneels next to her, and she leans into him. Anika and Ryan look at each other, and Ryan scoops Saylor up, and they walk towards the car. “Come on.” David pats my back. I could stand here all day, trying to work out what I can do for her, but nothing is coming to me.

All I can do is walk away again from the girl I love, to give her time to heal without me. How is that right? I should be holding her tight against me while she cries out all her pain. Let her shout at me for breaking us, because I was being stupid, I was thinking about my business.

I take in a deep breath and walk to the car. “Would you be able to look over the meeting? I’m not in the right headspace to even listen, never mind make decisions.”

“Aiden-”

“David, I’m going to go home. If my company is burning, call me,” I cut him off. I hear him cursing something about me never taking any time off, but I let him continue to run his mouth as I shut the door to the car and wait for him to get in.

“This might be the first day you’ve taken off,” David says as he starts the car, and I don’t say anything to him as we make our way back to my house.

All I want to do is nothing.

* * *

I lean on the kitchen counter, listening to the hard rain smashing against the window, talking to Lee. I knew he was going to call the moment David dropped me off, because I never take a day off.

“You have to give her time, Aiden. You broke her heart, and trust-”

“How much time?” I cut him off. I’ve never had a girlfriend. I don’t know when or how to even make this right with Saylor.

“Until she’s ready to talk to you. Aiden, I’m happy you’ve found a woman you love, but you have to remember, she is twelve years younger than you, so her outlook on the world-”

“She might be twelve years younger than me, Lee, but she’s so much more-”

“Aiden, stop,” Lee cuts me off, and I shake my head, because I keep telling him the same thing over and over. Saylor is not a child; she is a woman who knows more about responsibilities than the women I’ve met that are my own age do. “Give her time,” he tells me again, and I’ve lost count of how many times Lee and David have told me this same thing.

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