Grown ish: Zoey and Aaron's Story (BOOK 1)

Part 21: Trust Me

Zoey narrates.

Later that day, I meet with Aaron on campus for a coffee. I enter and see him sitting, waiting for me. I go over smiling.

'Hey!' He says, as I go over to him and he snakes an arm around my waist when I lean over to kiss him.

'Hey.' I say, pulling away and sitting opposite him.

'How are you doing?' He asks.

'I'm fine.' I say, as he passes me the drink he ordered, and I take a sip.

'Look, I know that you're mad and don't want to talk about him, but...' I start to speak, as Aaron sighs.

'I honestly don't think it was Luca.' I say.

Aaron doesn't reply.

'I'm certain he wouldn't do anything like that.' I add, quietly.

'Do you still have feelings for him?' Aaron asks, straight up, as I'm shocked.

'What?! Aaron, come on, are you serious?' I say, annoyed.

He shrugs and I scoff.

'If it means so much to you, then no. I don't have feelings for Luca. After everything we've been through, I can't believe you'd even question that...and that you still don't trust me.' I say, annoyed.

I start to get up.

'Wait, Zoey...' He says, taking my wrist, but I pull free.

'You know what, I hope you can go somewhere with that.' I say, walking off.

_____

I'm at home, when I get a surprise visit from my brother, Junior. I really miss my family.

'Mom told me what happened at the party. I just needed to check on you.' He says, hugging me.

'I'm fine, honestly! I told mom and dad not to worry.' I say, sighing.

Junior and I sit in the kitchen, talking away and the girls join us.

A little while later, Aaron knocks on the door, and Ana lets him in.

'Zoey...' He says quietly, looking at me, as I stand up.

'Aaron...' I start to speak, but Junior interrupts.

'Is this the guy who hurt you?! What the hell are you doing back here, man?' Junior says, as he gets up and grabs Aaron's collar, to my shock. Though Aaron is much stronger, he doesn't fight back, but is just as confused as the rest of us.

'Junior!' I shout, as I get between them, standing in front of Aaron and protecting him from an angry Junior.

Junior steps back, confused.

'You seriously don't remember me, dude?' Aaron asks.

'Junior. This isn't Daniel or Luca. This is Aaron. My boyfriend?' I say.

Junior thinks for a minute, before he softens.

'Ohhhhh.' He says, as I then relax.

'Oh yeah. Sorry, man! It's been a while, how are you?' He says, shaking Aaron's hand, as they go over to the living room to talk and catch up.

As I join the girls in the kitchen again, I take small glances at Aaron, who also looks at me. He smiles, at one point, but I glare at him coldly.

Junior and Aaron come over to us.

'Zoey?' He says, gesturing me to go outside with him.

'What?' I say, shrugging my shoulders, acting oblivious.

Sky pipes in.

'Zoey, I think he wants you to go outside with him.' She says, nonchalantly.

I roll my eyes and walk on out, as Aaron follows me. Outside, he takes my hands and holds them.

'I'm sorry.' He says, staring into my eyes.

I shrug.

'For what?' I say.

'Claiming I still have feelings for my ex or admitting that you don't trust me?' I add, annoyed.

'I do trust you, Zoey.' He says, helplessly.

'You didn't trust me that time with Cash either.' I say, angrily.

He holds my face.

'Look. I'm sorry that I said that. It came from a place of anger. You know, I felt like you couldn't see where I was coming from, as your boyfriend. You're not in my head, so you don't know how scared I was about you getting hurt. So if Luca had anything to do with it, or even if he didn't, I have to be cautious, you know. And I thought you'd understand that.' He says, as my face softens.

'I do...' I say, but he continues.

'And I'm sorry if you think I don't trust you. But I really, really do. It's just....any guy would be lucky to have you, so sometimes I think I just get insecure. Like, I don't deserve you, you're too good for me, and I worry that when you realise that, you'll leave.' He says, looking down.

I hold his face.

'Hey, look at me?' I say, as our eyes lock.

I smile, and kiss him.

'I love you. I'll never leave you. I'm yours.' I say.

He takes my hand and kisses it.

'I love you. And again, I'm sorry.' He says.

We kiss again, before heading back inside.

_____

Later that afternoon, Junior prepares to leave.

'I'm so glad you came. It was really good to see you again.' I say to him, as I hug him, sad that he has to leave.

'Any time, Zoey. And please, next time, call me yourself and tell me what's going on?' He says, as I smile and nod.

'Good to see you, bro.' Aaron says, shaking his hand, as Junior pulls him into a brotherly hug.

'Thank you for taking good care of my sister. You're family, man.' Junior says, as my eyes water from this moment.

We wave Junior off, as he leaves.

As Junior leaves, Jillian arrives at the house.

'Oh, hey. What's up?' I ask, as she gives me a quick hug.

'How are you?' She asks, as she also waves at Aaron.

'I'm good.' I say, with a smile.

'Look, I just came to say, Luca's having a kickback at his loft tonight. He really feels awful about what happened, Zoey. You should come through. He'll appreciate it.' She says, as I look at Aaron, who looks back at me.

Jillian notices and decides to leave us alone.

'Just...think about it?' She says, before leaving.

_____