The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Four

A/N: I can't write/read Aaron's name without thinking of it as A-A-Ron iykyk

AARON

Tim has been really busy with Lucy and the triplets, which I can't say is an unwelcome distraction. I knew that Tim wasn't done with our conversation, and I have definitely not been looking forward to whenever he's going to bring it back up. But ever since that one afternoon when he found out about my relationship with Genn, things keep happening to keep him busy.

Luckily, Tim hasn't had the time to keep an eye on us. But I'm sure that if he did, he would be watching us like a hawk. I can only hope that when he does inevitably start watching us, I'll have enough of a heads-up to adjust accordingly. This would mean being a lot sneakier about my relationship with Genn, however, I feel like I'm entitled to a lot more privacy than I'm being given here, so if I have to be sneaky in order to obtain said privacy, then so be it.

I swapped shifts with Celina today so that I could have the perfect opportunity to surprise Genn with a romantic moment. Life hasn't been all puppies and rainbows for us either, and we haven't really had a good chance for some us time lately. And Genn deserves to be treated like royalty every single day, and doing so is a purpose I intend to serve.

I stopped by the local florist to pick up a custom bouquet I had specially ordered the other day. On my way over to Genn's apartment, I also stopped by the store. I wanted to create a special gift basket just for her.

I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to put in said gift basket, nor how much I would spend, but it didn't matter. I didn't want to set a budget for myself in this instance, and just buy whatever I thought she would like. She is worth whatever the cost may be. As far as what I was going to buy, I didn't have a plan. However, I intended to just wander around the store and get anything I saw that would be perfect for Genn.

I spent nearly an hour roaming the aisles until finally, I was satisfied with what I had found. I paid for my things and went back out to my car to assemble the basket. It wasn't until I was in my car that I realized I may have gone a little overboard. But I'm fine with that. Again, Genn is worth it.

I picked out a woven basket, purple, her favourite colour, and white and purple tissue paper. Once that was prepared, it was time to set up the basket. I got her some of her favourite candy, coffee, and snacks. I got her a new phone case since her old one is falling apart. I bought her some fun-themed chapstick, which she mentioned the other day she had been wanting. She was out of her favourite mascara and chose not to get more since makeup is expensive and she didn't really have room in her budget. So, of course, I got her not one but two tubes of that mascara, so she'd have a backup for when the new one runs out.

I got her a pack of fuzzy socks, a claw clip, some new earrings she had been wanting, bath salts, a candle in her favourite scent, and a clay face mask she had recently mentioned wanting to try. I got her a cute stuffed animal. And finally, a new pajama set.

Once I was satisfied with the arrangement, I got into the driver's seat and started driving to Genn's house. I arrived soon enough, and after unloading the bouquet and the gift basket, I made my way up her driveway and to her front door. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves before knocking on the door.

Genn answered a few seconds later, beaming when she saw me. Her smile grows even bigger when her gaze falls on the bouquet in one hand and the gift basket in the other. "Aaron!" she squeals. She steps aside to let me in, and only then do I notice another presence in the room. Sitting on her living room couch was a blonde woman who wasn't old but definitely older than I was. The woman... something about her was familiar but I couldn't quite place why.

I set the gift basket down on the coffee table as Genn retrieved the flowers from my hand.

"Thanks, baby," she gives me a quick peck. "Oh, I'm so sorry, where are my manners? This is my boyfriend, Aaron."

The woman smiles. "Hello."

"Aaron... this is Isabel."

A/N: Aaaaand the writer's block is back :) sorry for the crappy chapter lol I lack inspiration... if you have some ideas of specific things/scenes you want to see please let me know

QOTC: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?