Page 12 of Kissing My Grumpy Ex Boyfriend

Aiden stiffens behind me. “Are you saying you are planning on sticking around?”

I hold my breath for a moment. When I open my mouth to speak, a large truck pulls up with several men jumping out with fishing gear. A few of the men wave at us, and we wave back. Thankfully, we got dressed when we did.

Aiden stands up and lifts me to my feet. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”

I want to finish our conversation because he needs to know I want to be here with him. And that when I imagine a home, it’s one we share together. When I think of vacations, it’s us exploring and seeing the world together. That I only feel like I’m really living if it’s with him. I need him to understand how sorry I am. How much I hurt myself and not just him when I ended it between us.

Aiden pulls up in front of my parent’s house, and ever the gentleman tells me to stay put. He jumps out of his truck and runs around to open my door. He takes my hand as we walk up the pathway. I almost feel like I’m a sixteen-year-old all over again.

Aiden is the only man for me. I know that completely now.

The front door slams open, and my parents march out of the house. Their postures and glares say everything about how they are feeling about this new development.

“Where the hell have you been? We woke up, and you were gone,” my dad shouts.

“What are you doing with him? Did you spend the night with him? Don’t you have any common sense?” my mom yells, rattling off one question after another but giving me no time to speak. “You shouldn’t be messing around with him. He has no part in your future and where you’re heading. He’ll only hold you back.”

I’m slack-jawed at my parents’ open hostility. It doesn’t matter that I’m a grown adult and haven’t lived under their roof in years. They still think they can dictate what I do. And that’s probably my fault for letting them this long, but not anymore.

Aiden shakes his head, drops my hand, and turns toward his truck.

“Stop it! Don’t speak like that about him, ever. Aiden would never hold me back.” I glare at each of my parents’ stunned faces. I turn and glance over my shoulder to see Aiden getting in his truck.

“Aiden, wait!”

But he’s already slamming the door and driving off before I can follow him.

I stomp toward my parents. My fists clenched at my side and feeling angrier than I ever have in my life.

“Don’t ever do that again. I’m an adult, and I don’t live under your roof. I’ve done everything you have asked of me, and now I’m done. Going to London is off the table. I’m done with school. I’m going to start teaching high school like I’ve always wanted. I want to work with kids. And I want Aiden. Accept me and my decisions or…” I stare at them, and the bluster fades away because this is the part that hurts. I’m afraid to say it because what if they don’t accept me. “We won’t have anything further to talk about.”

I take a deep breath and try to control my breathing. I’ve stood my ground even though I’m trembling inside, but I can’t live like this anymore. I won’t live like this anymore. Seeking their approval only makes me miserable.

My dad’s shoulders slump, and he takes a step toward me. “You’re right, Belle. You’re a grown woman who has done exceptional work. You need to live your life for yourself.”

My mom opens her mouth, but my dad shakes his head to stop her from saying something they both might regret.

“We will accept your decision. We want you to be happy, and if teaching high school and being with Aiden will make you happy, then we won’t interfere with that.”

Tears overwhelm me, and I run into his arms. “Thank you, Dad.”

My mom is biting her tongue. Literally. She gives me a nod and a quick hug, glares at my father, and walks into the house.

“All she needs is some time,” he assures me, and I know he’s right.

CHAPTER7

Aiden

Throwing my hammer on the workbench, I grab the rubber mallet and start wailing on the two wood pieces to get them into place. I need to work out my frustration on something, and this is as close to a punching bag as I have.

“What is wrong with you?” Carter asks.

I glare up at him.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “Whatever happened to you isn’t because of me, so use your words and quit taking it out on your tools.”

My gaze swings over to the table, and I see the mess I’ve made. Usually, I’m an organized and clean worker, but apparently, that’s not in the cards for me today.

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