Just Breathe

Chapter Thirty Seven

Lia was positive she would never grow tired of New York in December. Sure, she had to bundle up in extra layers and the mountains of snow could be a bitch to trudge through, but it was ethereal, especially on a day where there were only snow flurries and the sun was still beaming. She was hoping some of that magic would lend itself to the less than ethereal conversation she'd be having with her ex that afternoon.

They had been talking here and there since she had last seen him. She wasn't as pissed at him as she had been when he dropped by her apartment. He had apologized for what had happened with Justin. Unbeknownst to Lia, Justin had played soccer in high school, like Ayden. Their teams had crossed paths and when everything happened with Ally, rumors floated. Although Lia had been upset at the time, it was just a horrible misunderstanding.

Ayden was back with his family for the winter break which led to Lia walking the familiar streets of Cobble Hill, like she had done so many times since freshman year. She sent him a text that she had arrived. There were so many memories associated with the neighborhood: nighttime walks, make out sessions on the stoop of his building. A smile grew on her face as the memory of she and Hunter sneaking out in the middle of the night to rekindle her relationship popped into her mind. She had been so nervous that night - a feeling that was eerily familiar in the present.

She leaned against his midnight blue Corolla that was parked out on the curb as she waited for him to come down. She hated the feeling in her stomach she still got whenever she saw him. Ayden always had a suave way about him that was effortless and it made his crooked smile always so damn endearing. His confidence was one of the first things that attracted Lia to him and what brought out her own insecurities.

"What do you got there?" Ayden nodded his head towards the items in Lia's hands as he walked out of the building. Lia immediately took note of the fraternity letters on his sweatshirt, an indicator of how both of their lives had changed since they were together.

"My mom made them." Ayden let out a hearty laugh at the clear sarcastic tone of Lia's statement as he accepted the sweets, along with the coffee Lia had also brought, with thanks.

"I stopped at Five Estrellas on the way here," Lia referenced her favorite local bakery as he opened the cardboard takeaway box to see the Coquito Tres Leches Cake the two had devoured the past two holiday seasons. Ayden took off a piece with his fingers and popped it into his mouth as Lia continued. "I know how much Ian and Gemma enjoyed it last year." She purposely mentioned his younger siblings when she saw the way he was eyeing her. "Are they upstairs?"

Ayden shook his head, "My folks took them up to Rockefeller."

"Are you still recovering from last year?" She teased, grateful for the needed ice breaker, as Ayden led the two over to a nearby bench to sit down, wiping off the remnants of frost before they sat.

Ayden responded with a half hearted laugh, "Hey, my life literally flashed before my eyes!"

Lia rolled her eyes at Ayden's dramatic recount of the memory of him ice skating headfirst into an inflatable snowman that past winter. Lia had laughed so hard she'd nearly peed her pants.

"And I remember being the one who sat and watched half of the third season of 'The Office' with you that night while you recovered."

"If I remember correctly, we did a little more than just watch 'The Office' that night."

Lia looked down at the street pavement, not wanting to give Ayden the satisfaction of seeing her blushing cheeks. She had walked herself straight into that one. She had never gone as far with any other guy physically as she had gone with Ayden. She'd thought he'd end up being her first on all accounts, but life had other plans.