Chapter 88
The sound of my bedroom door opening forced me to look up. At some point between getting dressed and thinking, I had come to settle on the edge of my bed, my eyes watching the rain pelting the window outside. Now, I watched as Aiden walked in, his hair mussed from towel drying it and his lips set in a thin line. I was grateful that even though my bedside lamp was on, it was still too dark to see the emotion in his eyes. I wasn’t ready to see the hurt and betrayal in them.
“I’m sorry.” I blurted out in a husky voice, realising only now that I was trembling. “I’m so
sorry…”
Aiden didn’t say anything as he came to sit next to me, pulling me onto his lap like I was a doll. Being encased in his arms and having my face buried into his chest left me feeling the safest I had felt in a very long time. This perfect man held me as I forced myself not to cry. I was so tired of crying. I was so tired of feeling hopeless and helpless.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again, Ellie.” Aiden murmured into my hair. “I don’t know what
I’d do if I lost you.”
“I’m sorry.” I whimpered. “I just couldn’t do it anymore. I felt like no matter what I did, I would never be free and it’s just so exhausting.”
“But you are free now.” Aiden pointed out. “You don’t have to go back to that school ever again. He can’t get to you.”
It dawned on me with a whisper of embarrassment that Aiden was somewhat right. After today I never had to return to school. There would be no more walking into a classroom wondering if I would be jumped and humiliated. There would be no more eyes burning into me and there would be no more hiding out until everyone left school in case I bumped into Noah Winters.
“I think…” Aiden paused and I could feel his reluctance to say whatever it was he was thinking yet after a beat, he pushed on. “I think you need to talk to someone. A therapist…”
I frowned at this and lifted my head to look at him. For a moment I felt annoyed but I quickly realised it was actually embarrassment fueling these snap emotions. I knew Aiden meant well by the suggestion but the thought of talking to someone about what had been happening to me was too daunting. I just wanted to put it behind me but I knew that Aiden was right in a way. I had nearly thrown myself off a bridge and my life over the past few months had been anything but pleasant. If it weren’t for Aiden and Kyle, I don’t know what I would have done. I kept thinking Noah would have done a lot worse if I had been completely alone.
1/2
Chapter 88
“Can I think about it?” I asked quietly.
“No.” Aiden replied honestly. “Ellie, You’ve been through a lot lately and I can’t imagine what you’ve been through before we met but it was obvious to me from the first day I met you that you’ve not had anyone by your side for a very long time and it’s time to change that. I will be here for you but I can’t give you everything you need. Talking to someone will help and you will have ages before you start college.”
I slumped against him after his little speech and closed my eyes, resting my cheek against his
broad shoulder.
“Okay.” I muttered and sighed. “But right now I don’t want to talk about it. My head really hurts and I just want to sleep.”
“Okay.” Aiden relented after a few moments of silence. I could tell he still had things on his mind but he showed mercy by saving them for another time.
I felt him move under me, moving me so I was lying against the cool mattress of my bed. Aiden followed shortly after, his arm locking around me in his favourite hold as the duvet settled over us. I hadn’t expected him to stay given that it wasn’t that late but at the same time I was grateful for the solid warmth of his body. I knew there was a lot I needed to sort out but for now, I was happy to simply close my eyes and forget the outside world.
A/N: Hi all, just a quick message to say we are about 3/4 through the story now and thank you to everyone who has made it this far with me. Remember to follow me on Insta
@ZaydaWattswrites
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