Drowning

Chapter Twenty-Seven

We eventually made our way back to the car, and headed back to Manhattan. My ice cream was long gone, but I noticed how Aiden still has his and there were still a few bites left on it.

"You didn't like the ice cream?" I asked him, because thats Angela's home made strawberry ice cream and it was fucking good.

"I did,"

"Then why haven't you eaten it,"

"I am," he says, taking the spoon with some to his mouth. "If you didn't like it you don't have to eat it,"

"I do like it, it's just-" he pauses for a few seconds. "I'm not a big fan of strawberries."

And without thinking I ask, "then why take that flavor," and he just takes his eyes from the road and to me, with a knowing look, and I'm left there, shocked. Firstly I think about what kind of psycho doesn't like strawberries, and then a dangerous thought comes to mind. He couldn't have gotten it because of me right? No, he's too much of an asshole for that, right?

I let the silence consume the car because after that thought I can't really figure out anything more to say.

When he stopped outside my apartment building neither of us made a move. Eventually I figured I should make one since he was dropping me off, so I unbuckled my seatbelt. When I was going to speak up and thank him for everything, he beat me to it.

"I hope your date doesn mind you left early." my date? What date?

"Huh?" I say, confused.

"Your date, the man you were laughing and dancing with," He says, the emerald green eyes on me.

"He wasn't my date." He's talking about Damon and Damon can be a lot of things but he's not my date. "That was Damon, he rode with us. He's Mark's best friend." I told him. Whatsup with all the guys talk tonight.

"Do you have something to tell me? Because this is the second time you've asked me about a guy tonight."

"Well, it's not my fault that everytime I see you, you have a different guy all over you." As soon as he said it I could see the regret in his face. But I don't care, what the hell was that? We always make snarky remarks towards each other but never anything like that, that is full on degrading. I don't even let him say anything else as I open the car door.

"Thank you for tonight, it was a really good pizza and helped get my mind off things," I say getting out, and I duck my head to the car so he can seemy face, "And I'm going to say this as kindly as possible, if your not going to talk to me anything other than the case fuck off, asshole." I say and slam the door to his car.

Who the fuck does he think he is even suggesting that. And even if I had a different guy all over me everytime, which I don't, he has no right to say absolutely anything about it.

"Valentina, wait." I hear him say, before I hear his car door close. But I ignored him and opened the door for my building."Wait" he said again.

"Valentina, come on," he says, and that's what pisses me off. He says come on like I'm in the wrong for walking out, like I shouldn't get offended by his full on shaming, but he's got the wrong girl if he thinks I'm going to stand it.

"No, Aiden don't 'come on' me." I tell him, turning to face him in the lobby. "I was having a shitty day, and then I had to go to the event where it only got shittier. Then you decided to take me out of there and get food and talk and have a good time, and I was having a good time. I was even starting to think you were not the asshole I put you up to be. But clearly I was wrong, because clearly you are not only an asshole but a misogynistic ass who thinks I'm parading myself around, for smiling or dancing with a friend. Building my company from scratch I've dealt enough with people like you and I never stood for it and I'm not going to start now. So, I'm going to ask you not so nicely now, fuck off." And a minute later I spin around and go towards the elevators.