(AIDEN'S POV)
Fuck. My hands are trembling like fucking leaves.
How am I flipping out at the thought of talking to Danny? Have I turned into a coward or is it the fact that my gut instinct is screaming out loud bad news are coming my way?
I need to calm down before Danny reaches my front door or I will look pathetic.
Come on, Aiden. That is not you. You are a strong, independent woman. You don't let anything get to you. Except death. You can't seriously be shitting your pants right now. Danny just wants to talk. Maybe he realized this is going too far and he wants us to start over as friends. Right?
No. No fucking way. He is isn't driving miles just to talk about being friends.
I need alcohol. Some booze might help. Or maybe it will just mess me up. I hate where I am at right now.
Too late. Here comes his car. Gosh, my nervous system is a wreck.
"Hey..." He greets as he gets out of the car.
"Hey." I greet back, trying to look calm by crossing my arms so he doesn't see my trembling hands.
"I'm moving to Alaska before this heat consumes me." He announces, walking over to me with tired eyes I was not ready for. One of my biggest weaknesses. His tired eyes and the gaze they hold, the messy head and the shirt hanging loose on his chest and tattooed arms. It always divides me.
"Stay right here. Global warming is doing enough harm on its own. We don't need you to go and melt the ice with all the heat emanating from you." I say right before he surprises me with a kiss on my cheek. I thought he would be distant.
"Do you have iced tea? I'm dehydrated." He makes his way inside, not waiting to be invited in.
"Why would I have iced tea? I only have fruit juice. But I think you should drink water." I follow him to the kitchen where he goes straight to the refrigerator.
"Will you ever have enough of mango juice? It's been years and it's the only thing you drink at home. You could try grape, orange, pear, anything but mango."
"Well, old habits die hard. I don't like change very much when it comes to certain things like fruit juice."
"Unlike your men..." He turns around, as shocked as I am.
"Fuck, I didn't mean to say that. It just-"
"It's okay. You're right. I do skip to the next man once they start getting too attached."
"I meant to say you don't have a specific type. Men you dated differ in size, race and personality... It changes everytime." He has a point.
"I get it. So... What brings you here?" I am just now realizing I am not as stressed as I was earlier. He is making conversation easy. Should I be worried that he is acting like nothing ever happened?
"Have I ever needed a specific reason to come here? I thought the door was always open for me. Is it? Or maybe things have changed..." He focuses on pouring himself some mango juice, seemingly avoiding my gaze.
"They have indeed. But never the fact that you can come here. Any time of day and night." I reassure, taking a seat on a stool, right across from him.
"Cool. Do you want some?" He gestures at the carton of juice.
"I'm good, thank you. Just had some before you came." I say and he finally lifts up his head to look at me right in the eyes. And there it is... I want him. I won't ever stop wanting him.
Something in the way he is looking at me has me captivated. I can't feel it from my seat but can imagine the heat emanating from him. I can imagine his touch heating up my skin as his hands caress my whole body.
