Luck of a Chubby Girl

Chapter 24

I was fighting the urge to wake up. It was warm and I was feeling so peaceful and relaxed. My brain was numb from the sleep and so, I couldn't find any reason that would lead me to get out of bed. It was as I snuggled closer to my source of warmth that I realized I wasn't alone. I felt skin against my own, and finally the feeling of an arm around my middle settled in.

Panic rose up for a moment, until the memories flooded back. As I looked into Aiden's resting face, blood rushed through my whole body. I became incredibly shy all of a sudden, but also felt a great sense of relief. I believed him now. I believed that Aiden actually loved me, in spite of every other women he could be with.

It still scared me, thinking about being in a relationship with him. But now that I knew being apart would only hurt both of us, there didn't seem to be any other way to be. I would be with him for as long as he wanted me, no longer worrying about what other people would think. At least I would be making Aiden happy, and that was all I ever wanted.

- Are you always this contemplative in the morning? – a ruff from sleep voice startled me.

I looked up into his tired emerald eyes, a shy smile on his lips as his hand that was resting on my hip moved a couple of hairs out of my face.

- Good morning – he said. He seemed a bit anxious, so I smiled warmly at him.

- Morning. I was just... thinking. About us. – I answered, honestly.

His little smile faltered a bit.

- The last time you thought about us, you ended up leaving for two months. Are you regretting last night? – The fear in his eyes and dark tone of his voice preoccupied me.

- What? No! Not at all. – I assured him, turning my whole body his way, bringing the sheets over my shoulders. – Actually, I was thinking about all the things I have to do now, that I decided to stay.

Relief washed through Aiden's expression. A true smile returned to his lips.

- Oh! That's good. What do you have to do? Can I help?

- Thank you, but not really. I have to go back to Unike and talk to Mr. Phillips. I have to know if I still have a place guaranteed here. I also need to clean up this house, it gathered quite a bit of dust since I left... Mainly, I have to talk to my family. They are expecting me to return by the end of the week. I'm not sure how to tell them I will stay.

It was Aiden's turn to become thoughtful.

- Do they know about us? About me? – he asked.

- No, I didn't want to talk about it – I informed, remembering all of their questions that were met only with silence on my part.

- Are you thinking of telling them? Or are we still on secrecy level?

I thought about it for a moment. We could go back to how things were before. Hide in the shadows, steal little moments when nobody was looking. Somehow, that seemed useless now. It was only delaying the inevitable.

Aiden's expression was enough for me to know that he didn't want to keep the secret going anymore. He looked at me expectantly, nervous about my answer. I knew that he would follow my wishes, even if they were against his own. He wanted to make me as happy as I wanted to make him. And I loved him for it.

- No. I think it's time to come clean about us. Little by little... we should start telling people.

He sighted in relief, making me giggle.

- So, does that mean I can be with you out in public? Hold your hand... - as he spoke, his arm went beneath the sheet for his left hand to grab mine – touch your face... - his right hand caressed my left cheek and my eyes fluttered close – hold and kiss you...