Thirty Days Of September

chapter 12: furious Candice

As Aaron sat on the couch, his phone buzzing with messages from Candice, a knot formed in his stomach. He had known he would have to tell her about his agreement with Atasha, but he hadn't anticipated the storm of emotions it would unleash. Taking a deep breath, he composed a message to Candice, explaining the plan and how it had come about.

After sending the text, he braced himself for her response. It came almost instantly.

Candice: What do you mean you're spending thirty days with Atasha? Are you out of your mind?

Aaron sighed, his fingers hovering over the screen as he considered how to respond. He was about to type a reassuring message when another notification chimed in.

Candice: She's only doing this to steal you from me. You know how she is!

His heart raced as he read her words. He couldn't help but feel defensive. Atasha had been nothing but kind and genuine. But Candice's accusations were charged with anger and jealousy, a mix of emotions he had grown used to over their relationship.

Aaron: Atasha just wants to care for me without any expectations. It's only for thirty days.

His phone buzzed again, the messages pouring in faster now.

Candice: This is ridiculous, Aaron! She's playing you. Do you really think she wants to help you? She's trying to get you away from me!

His fingers trembled as he typed. He wanted to defend Atasha, to explain that her intentions were pure. But he also knew he had to tread carefully. Candice was volatile, especially when she felt threatened.

Aaron: I need some space right now. I'm trying to figure things out, and I don't want to fight. Can we talk about this later?

Moments passed in silence, and Aaron stared at the screen, waiting for her reply. When it came, it was short and filled with venom.

Candice: You're making a huge mistake. Just remember who has always been there for you. Atasha is playing a long game, and you'll regret this.

Aaron felt a wave of frustration wash over him. Candice had always been possessive, and now, facing this new challenge with Atasha, her jealousy felt suffocating.

He tried to put himself in her shoes but couldn't shake the feeling that she was blowing things out of proportion. Atasha was different—she wasn't like Candice, who always seemed to have an agenda.

He took a deep breath and decided it was best to mute the conversation for now. He needed to focus on his day with Atasha, to see if he could truly let his guard down.

As he got ready to meet Atasha for their walk in the park, he couldn't shake the tension brewing inside him. He hoped that by investing in this thirty-day plan, he could discover what he wanted in his life—what he truly needed.

But the thought of Candice's fury loomed over him, threatening to cloud the fresh start he had hoped for with Atasha.

Later that evening, Aaron found himself sitting at a small table in a cozy restaurant, waiting for Candice to arrive. The warm ambiance was a stark contrast to the tension swirling in his mind. He stirred his drink absentmindedly, thoughts racing between his impending time with Atasha and the explosive conversation he anticipated with Candice.

When Candice finally walked in, her expression was stormy, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. She spotted him immediately and stormed over, her heels clicking sharply against the wooden floor.

"Why did you agree to this?" she snapped, sliding into the seat opposite him without waiting for an invitation. The waitress approached, but Candice waved her away, too focused on Aaron to order anything.