𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔

Chapter |44| Monster

K I A R A ' S P.O.V

Things have been weird. Aaron is acting different, not at all like the roguishly charming man I fell for. Instead he's cold, and distant. Treating me as though I'm nothing more than a simple houseguest.

At first I thought it was just a phase, something that would straighten itself out after a few days or so but it's been two weeks now and no change.

He works more now, waking up before the sun has even risen and then climbing into bed way past midnight. The strange thing though is that he's hardly ever at his office.

I called one of his men, Rahul, numerous times asking if I could find out when Aaron would be home but each time I received the same response. He's not here, and god forbid, anyone actually knows where he is.

Cheating was my first thought but I immediately put it out of my mind. Aaron would never hurt me like that, he couldn't, and I refused to believe otherwise.

Besides, who would cheat on me? You mean the 18 year old, with no money, no house and no job who got kicked out. Whatever.

Even the sex is different.

First of all, we hardly ever have sex. Before it used be like twice a day, now I'm lucky if I get twice a week. Second, foreplay has quickly become non-existent. And third, the passion has gone.

Normally it's so intense and we're both scrambling to cling onto each other's naked bodies for as long as we can, but now it just seems like a chore. We make out a little and it's always missionary, never lasts any longer than thirty minutes, and then he just rolls off me, turns around and falls asleep.

Well, tonight that was going to change.

See despite this little rough patch we are going through, I realise now that I've fallen for him and I wasn't going to give up just because things are a little difficult.

I was going to act mature about it, talk to him and try to get to the root of the problem. Wow, I sound so boring but I guess that's what happens when you become an adult.

No time for petty relationship drama when you can just have a mature conversation about it. I even applied for a job, so I can finally start moving on with my life.

"Where's Aaron, kiwi?" I smiled at Caitlin, as I stirred the sauce around. She was a godsend.

Instead of worrying about Aaron all day, I can focus on her, helping her with the her schoolwork, taking her out to the mall and my personal favourite, feeding the ducks in Central Park.

There's just something peaceful about the pond there.

"He's working late sweetie." I watched as her face fell, and sighed, turning down the gas so I could lead her into the living room. "You know he's just doing it because he has to. My dad used to work late all the time but he only did it for his family, so he could provide them and make me feel safe."

"I know that it just sucks." I tipped her chin up.

"It does suck but just remember Aaron's doing this for you. You're his family."

"You're his family too Kiara. Aaron has never been nice to anyone apart from me and you." I couldn't help but smile as my heart leapt at her statement. "Maybe Aunt Rosa too, but that's just because she's super scary."

We laughed, and quickly tidied up the mess we had created, playing monopoly. "Why don't you go to bed now because it's late and when he comes gone, I'll tell him to give you a goodnight kiss. It won't be long, he promised to be home by 9."