Consume my broken heart

Chapter 31

Sleepily, I open my eyes, finding myself surrounded by darkness, the only light coming from the side lamp beside the couch. Did I fall asleep during the movie? Gently, I roll my head to the side and find myself positioned in Aiden's embrace, his breath tickling my skin. He's sleeping soundly. I cover him with the sheets as I must have drawn them all to me in my sleep, leaving him uncovered.

I yawn and position myself in his arms until we are spooning, my head still resting on his arm. A sigh escapes me, feeling peaceful in his arms. Before I know it sleeps carried me back to a place I loved to stay a little longer.

A sound wakes me up from my sleep. I open my eyes to see it's not dark anymore. My eyes travel to the side to find the couch empty of his presence. Slightly disappointed by the lack of his warmth against my body, my attention was drawn to the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread and bacon greet me in a very pleasant way. I rub in my eyes, feeling fully rested after waking up.

"You're awake." I hear Aiden's soft voice, and I quickly compose myself, sending a sleepy smile.

"Yes," I answer with a morning voice.

"Do you want breakfast here or rather in the kitchen?" He asks friendly, leaving me dumbfounded at his sweet question. I had never thought he would be so caring. Shaking my head slightly, I'm almost sure I'm still dreaming. Why would he be so caring and sweet to me? I have done him more harm with my awful words than he did to me. He always stayed cool with me, even when I wasn't ready for conversations.

"Why are you so kind to me?" I blurted out, instantly feeling regret.

He turns to face me, frowning at my weird question. "I'm not only a bastard, Grace. I have many other sides..." he answers playfully, leaving me gaping at his reply.

"I'm trying to be serious, Aiden," I whine, showing him a nervous smile.

"And you think I'm not being serious? I am many things, Grace, for me to know for you a mystery." He winks before turning his back to me and leaving the living room, with probably a huge grin on his face. He's enjoying this...torturing me...playing me, but I have to admit I like this playful side of him. Maybe he's right, though. He has many sides and step by step he's showing me more and more of him.

"What's this?" I hold my sisters' finger in my hand.

"What do you think it is?" She wriggles her eyebrows in an ecstatic mood.

"He proposed, can you believe that?" Barbie screams a few customers watch us curiously, probably figuring out what all the fuss is about.

"Oh, Barbie. I'm so happy for you!" I hug her, still a bit awkward after all those years being strangers to each other than being sisters.

"I made such a fool of myself. After we left the party, I begged him on my knees for forgiveness. And after we fucked..." Barbie looks around her, noticing all the eyes, she composes herself with a dubious smile, "after we made love, he proposed to me." Barbie finished with admiration radiating from her face. She's truly happy with Rick. The sister I know would never, ever kneel for a man, so she must be certain about their relationship.

"Wow, that's great. I'm happy for you guys." I say in all honesty.

"Thanks, but I'm also curious about how it ended at the party with Matthew." She awaits my response.

"Well, let's say that day was doomed from the start. I just couldn't do it." I admit softly, still mad at myself for giving up.

"Actually, I was hoping you wouldn't set through..." Barbie explains softly. "Has Aiden had something to do with it?" She asks carefully.

"Hearing his name sets my body and mind on fire without even seeing him.

"Maybe a little." I tried my best to compose myself and keep my smile subtle.

"I think a little lot." Barbie grins from ear to ear. "I'm glad he did, though." She adds.

In the corner of my eye, I see a black leather jacket, black boots, and dark blue jeans in the doorway and my breath immediately stopped. When our eyes meet, it's just like we are flashed back in time. That moment we were standing in the rain, his confused yet amused expression still memorized in my head like a memory that pops in my head now and then.

I'm not sure how long I was staring when I hear Barbie giggling beside me, pinching my arm a bit too roughly. "Oh my god, you're so in love with him." She squeaks in a high-pitched voice it almost hurt my ears.

In a daze, I glare at her in panic and do my best to act as normal as I can be. "Hi," I greet him when he stops across from me, looking as sexy as always.

"Hey... Hello Barbie," he greets her friendly, in a very different tone.

"Hi, Aiden. Oh is it so late. It's time to go to my future husband." Barbie giggles like a teen.

"Bye, Barbie," I said goodbye with a nervous smile. Why am I being so nervous all of a sudden? Am I afraid to be alone with him? I'm at the bakery for God's sake. What can happen in here at this non-romantic spot?

I look at the clock and it's almost time for me to stop working. Nathalie is busy in the kitchen while the last customers are ending their coffee and meals for tonight.

"I'm almost done working. Did you want anything?" I ask Aiden, who's still standing across from me with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, dinner." He answers and I can't hide my smile. "As far as I know, we don't sell something you can eat for dinner."

"I want dinner with you, somewhere else. It's my treat." He replied seriously.

"Oh," I answer in surprise. I couldn't even react in a normal way.

I look down at my clothes and feel instant regret for pulling on plain skinny jeans and a simple white shirt. The only thing we have in comparison is our leather jacket.

"You look great, Grace. What do you say?" Aiden asks patiently after complimenting me about my appearance two days in a row.

"Okay," I nod nervously. "I'm going to get my purse," I inform him before vanishing in the back.

"Nathalie?" I call her. Nathalie steps out of the fridge with a wide smile.

"Why didn't you tell me you were dating?" She whispers a little too loud for my liking, her grin immediately appearing on her face when she notices my nervous behavior.

"This is the first time. I'm so nervous..." I whine and breathe out.

"This is so exciting, Grace. Finally, you're opening up to a guy." She explains sweetly. "Go. You have my permission." She adds as a true friend only wants what's best for her friend. But what nobody knows is that this man has a double life. Can I live with this secret about him? I could never tell my parents or anyone else for that matter.

When I follow Aiden to the front door, I hear Nathalie calling, "have fun!"

Aiden holds the door open for me as a true gentleman, his eyes locking with mine. A soft smile appeared on his face, his demeanor seemed so soft and gentle. I could only swallow in my nerves and face the hours that will come. Time will tell tonight, and who knows he'll show me some more of him.