I sighed, recounting the whole thing.
"It was after the argument. One second I was yelling at him, and the next, bam! His lips were on mine."
Aiden's jaw dropped, and he dramatically gasped, clutching his chest. "Girl, you did not just drop that bomb on me!"
"Uh, yeah, but then reality hit me, and I pushed him away. Now, my brain is a mess."
Aiden flopped back on the couch, fanning himself dramatically. "This is straight out of a rom-com! I can't believe I'm living vicariously through your messy love life."I groaned, covering my face. "Please, don't make this worse."Aiden sat up, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, sweetie, it's already worse. But that's what makes it so juicy! Spill all the details."I gave him a look. "There's nothing more to spill. I'm confused, and I don't know what to do."Aiden placed a hand on his chin, thinking hard. "Okay, first of all, we need to assess the hotness of the kiss on a scale from 'meh' to 'oh my god, take me now'."I couldn't help but laugh. "Really? That's your first concern?""Yes! Priorities, darling. But seriously, what do you want to do about it?"I sighed again. "I honestly have no idea. Everything's just...complicated."Aiden grabbed my hands, looking into my eyes with determination. "Well, whatever you decide, just remember: I've got your back. And if things get too intense, we can always retreat to a spa day. Nothing like a good mani-pedi to sort out life's problems."I chuckled. "Thanks, Aiden. You always know how to make me feel better.""Of course, babe. Now, let's finish this movie and forget about the drama for a while. Tomorrow, we'll conquer the world—or at least, our complicated lives."We settled back into the movie, the weight of our secrets feeling a little lighter with the promise of facing them together, one sassy comment at a time.
As we resumed watching the movie, my mind kept drifting back to Emery's kiss. Aiden noticed my distraction and poked me gently. "Hey, if you keep zoning out, you're going to miss the best part."I tried to focus, but the kiss lingered in my thoughts. "I just can't stop thinking about what happened, you know? It's all so confusing."Aiden paused the movie again and turned to face me fully. "Okay, spill. Do you like him?"I shook my head quickly. "No! I mean, we've always had this weird tension, but I never thought it would lead to this. It's just... confusing."Aiden arched an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure. Tension can be sexy, but it can also be misleading. Are you sure there are no feelings there at all?"I sighed, feeling exasperated. "Yes, I'm sure. He's always been such a jerk, and now this kiss? It's just messing with my head."Aiden nodded, considering my words. "Okay, so no feelings. But then why does it bother you so much?"I groaned, leaning back. "Because it came out of nowhere! And now I have to deal with it and him. I just wanted a fresh start, you know?"Aiden patted my knee reassuringly. "I get it. Sometimes things happen that throw us off. But if there are no feelings involved, then maybe you just need to set some boundaries with him. Make it clear that his behavior isn't okay."I nodded, feeling a bit better. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I need to talk to him and set things straight."Aiden grinned, proud of his advice. "That's the spirit! And if he tries to pull any more stunts, I'll be here to remind you how fabulous you are."I laughed, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Aiden. You're the best.""Of course, darling. Now, let's actually watch this movie and enjoy the rest of the night."We finally focused on the movie, and for a while, I managed to push my worries aside. Aiden's presence and his lighthearted attitude were exactly what I needed.As the credits rolled, Aiden stretched and yawned dramatically. "Well, that was fun. But now, I need my beauty sleep."I smiled, standing up. "Yeah, me too. Thanks for tonight, Aiden. I really needed this.""Anytime, hun. Remember, we're in this together. You sure you don't want me to drop you home? "No Aiden I can do it I'm a big girl you know. Goodnight, Aiden." "Good night big girl call me when you reach". "Will do"I left Aiden's house, feeling a little more at ease. The night air was cool and refreshing, helping to clear my mind. I took a deep breath, ready to face whatever came next. Tomorrow, I'd talk to Emery and set things straight. For now, I was content knowing I had a friend like Aiden by my side."honey Where are you?" my dad's concerned voice broke through the tension."I'm on my way back," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the unease in my voice."Omg, I knew she would try coming back home alone. This is all because of you going easy on her," my mom's voice cut in sharply from the background."Me? I told you we should've gone to pick her up. She shouldn't be out alone at this hour," Dad retorted, his tone rising slightly."Well, she's always been stubborn, just like you," Mom shot back, her irritation palpable."She gets that from you, you know," Dad replied sarcastically.I sighed quietly, realizing they were in for another round of their classic bickering match.
"Honey, we've sent Emery to get you, okay? Just stay where you are," my dad finally said through the phone.
WTF, no way. I knew I was going to run into him eventually, but this was too soon.
I stood there waiting for Emery, the night air growing chillier by the minute. My brilliant idea of going out in a tank top was backfiring spectacularly. I kept myself warm, pacing back and forth. Soon enough, I heard the rumble of a motorcycle approaching. I looked up to see Emery pulling up and removing his helmet. I avoided making eye contact as I walked toward him, feeling his eyes on me.
He sighed and handed me his helmet, which I put on without a word. As I was about to climb onto the bike, he stopped me and pulled off his hoodie, tossing it at me. I tried to refuse, but he just threw it over my head, clearly not taking no for an answer.
"Put it on," he said gruffly. "You'll freeze."
Reluctantly, I slipped on his hoodie, feeling its warmth. I climbed onto the bike behind him, still refusing to look at him. Emery revved the engine, and we sped off into the night. The ride was silent, the tension between us palpable. My thoughts kept drifting back to the kiss, the argument, everything. I needed to talk to him, to set things straight, but for now, I just held on and let the cold night air clear my mind.
We reached my house in no time, the ride feeling shorter than usual with all the thoughts racing through my head. Emery cut the engine, and we both sat there for a moment in silence. I hesitated before finally speaking.
"Thanks for the ride," I mumbled, starting to remove his hoodie.
"Keep it," he said, his voice softer than before. "We'll talk tomorrow."
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. I slid off the bike and handed him the helmet. As I turned to go inside, Emery called out, "Lia."
Before I could process what was going on, I felt myself being tugged back and pulled into a kiss. I was shocked at first, but immediately found myself responding. His hands cupped my face, and I felt his warmth spread through me, making it hard to think straight. My heart raced as I melted into the kiss, forgetting everything else for a moment.
