The Boy Next Door

Chapter 32

I watch Aiden discard the red towel from around his waist, his naked stature on full display before he slips into the closet. I stretch my arms, a content sigh escaping my lips, before swinging my legs over the edge.

I quietly walk into the closet, my hand up and scratching my head while my eyes linger across his naked upper half. "Good morning," he greets while zipping up his slacks.

"Good morning," I softly say with a yawn, my hand coming up and laying on his chest as he leans in. He gives me a skeptical look, his brow arched slightly, "...morning breath," I mumble.

"Really?" He asks, my head nodding seriously in reply. I grab a pair of jeans and a cami, his brown eyes meeting mine when I'm done obtaining my items.

"I'm not kissing you." I state before walking out the closet, his oversized shirt being the only thing covering me as I walk into the bathroom. I take out my toothbrush and paste and begin brushing away.

The sleeves of his crisp, navy blue dress shirt are rolled up to expose his forearms, his right side leaning against the frame of the door as I come up from spitting.

I watch him clasp the black watch around his wrist through the mirror, before he beckons me over with his finger. His hands nestle into the small groove of my waist as he leans down for a kiss.

He bites at my bottom lip gently before pulling away. "I couldn't care less if it means I'm denied a kiss in the morning," he whispers before planting a chaste kiss to my lips.

"I bet." I grin while removing myself from his hold. I turn on the shower, the soft pelts of the water against the tiled bottom filling the quiet space as I remove his shirt. "You just gonna stand there?"

He pushes himself off the door with ease, "don't tempt me." I sway my hips purposely as I open the glass door, my skin happily welcoming the warm water. I stand under the shower head, allowing my hair to get wet and curl, my eyes opening as I feel the door isn't closed.

"Will you close the door?" I ask with a giggle, not really understanding his purpose.

"I'm thinking," he says while taking his eyes up and down my frame. He reaches his hand in, his exposed forearm getting wet as he touches the ends of the curls.

"About what?"

"Being late for work or not..." he trails off, clearly contemplating this choice. I playfully roll my eyes before pushing his hand out of the shower, his eyes licking on mine instantly.

"I'll see you later." I say while forcing the door closed, much to his dismay. He chuckles deeply before walking over towards the door, my head snapping in his direction as he flicks the light off. "Aiden! Quit playing!"

His laugh only booms louder as the light flickers back on, "don't miss me too much."

~*~

"You okay?" Adeline asks as me rubs her free hand up and down my arm comfortingly, my eyes glued to my mother's tombstone, the mass of grass growing around it not looking touched in a while.

I nod my head slowly, "y-yeah." I stumble over my own voice as I go to kneel down on the ground, before remembering the ground is wet from the recent rain. We've been standing out here for about fifteen minutes, maybe more, and I haven't said a single word.

It's coming up on three years since the last time I've stepped onto this graveyard, yet alone to come pay my respects to my own mother. I never really said anything when I came in the past, especially in the beginning when I just laid and cried against the tombstone.

I don't know where I want to start in terms of speaking, the words always getting caught in my throat no mater how much force I used to try and get them out. I hold my hand out as a soft drop of rain fell on it, followed by two more.