Unfinished Business

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I'm looking out the window of the plane as we head back to Seattle. My knee is bouncing and I feel restless. As I zone out, my mind flashes back to the night of the opening. I unconsciously touch my lips and I feel my heart race.

Dammit, Katalina! What is wrong with you?! You have boyfriend! A boyfriend who loves you and would literally do anything for you.

As I move again in my seat for the thousandth time, trying to get comfortable, my eyes glance over to Aiden. He's passed out on his seat, a book on his lap. I can't help but feel a small tug on my lips at the vulnerable state he's in now. He looks so cute.

I gasp at my last thought, shaking my head and glancing away from him. Why am I feeling like this? If I was confused before this trip, well I'm just a mess now. I love Dereck, but then there's Aiden. With Dereck, it's safe and I'm comfortable. He loves me entirely, I can forget all about my worries with him, and there's just that sense of security that he won't hurt me.

But with Aiden, it's just different. Yes, I feel safe with him as well, but he brings out all these other emotions within me. He's irritating and cocky, and it's just a pain to deal with him sometimes. But after his revelations the other night, I know why he's like that. It's just the way he cares. He brings out another side of me entirely, one that wants to do better and become stronger. He makes me want to worker harder and prove myself that I'm more than what meets the eye.

And Aiden does have his moments. The way he looked at me before the opening. His compliments that left me speechless. His persistence on my safety and that he'll do anything to keep me safe. His vulnerability when he confessed everything to me.

As I analyze and compare the two men that are messing with my heart, the pilot announces that we'd be landing in Seattle in an hour. It's dark out, and I am ready to just go home and lay in bed. Jenny and Aiden, who were both sleeping, start to wake up. Bret was the only one who stayed awake during the flight along with me.

When Aiden starts to buckle up and get comfortable, his eyes meet mine. I turn away quickly. It's been like this since we left Italy. I haven't had the guts to talk to him, and it's not because of him, but it's because that I was appalled with myself.

Once we land, we head to the already waiting car with Mike waiting in the driver's seat. We drop Jenny off first and then head to my house. As I get out of the car, Bret and Aiden climb out as well to help with my luggage.

"Thank you," I mutter as Bret carries my bags into the house, leaving me outside with Aiden.

"Hey," Aiden grabs my attention. I slowly look up at him trying to stay calm. His eyes search mine, as if looking for answers. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm? Oh... Yea!" I chuckle nervously. "I'm good. Just a bit tired from the flight." I smile, hoping my lie is enough to convince him. I don't want to give away how emotionally wrecked I am right now and that he's half the cause.

He narrows his eyes, but then nods, accepting my reasoning. He escorts me up to the doorstep. When I turn to say goodnight, his hand tucks a stray hair behind my ear. I slightly tense, then relax into his touch. He leans forward, placing a light kiss on my cheek.

"Good night, Katalina," he whispers, and then he walks back to the car. I watch it drive off, and I touch my cheek.

"Good night," I whisper into the darkness. I robotically walk inside, locking the door, then head to my room. After changing, I collapse on the bed, exhausted. What was supposed to be a simple trip to Italy, turned out to be an exhausting, rollercoaster ride on my emotions.

I wake in the morning with the sound of laughter and the smell of breakfast food. Groggily, I sit up and stretch. Ugh, minor jet lag. When I walk down the stairs, laughter hits my ears once again, and I recognize the two voices. I quickly rush down to the kitchen, and I halt at the entrance.