The Boy Next Door

Chapter 43

I sigh while unlocking the front door, extra tired after today. I've only been working at the law firm for a few days, but it feels good to finally be doing something with my life.

The smell of garlic hits my nose, a soft sizzlingly sound filing the air as I walk into the kitchen, Aiden's attention solely on the pan in front of him.

I'm sure he hears me approaching, but he doesn't make like he does. I wrap my arms around his middle, my cheek pressing against his toned back.

"Hi, baby." He chuckles, turning around in my arms to face me. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, causing me to look up at him so I can get a proper kiss. "How was your day?"

"Good. Faxed some stuff, filed some stuff. I think I got less calls today, though."

"You count?" He asks, a goody smile on his face as he turned back to the stove.

"No," I giggle. "But it didn't feel like my hand touched the phone as much today. How was your day?"

He hums in thought while turning the dial on the oven. I glance between him and the mail in my hand, my forearms resting on the counter. "Fine. Sent some emails, had sole meetings, got a promotion. It was a pretty simple day."

I furrow my brows slightly, placing the mail on the counter while turning my head towards him. He said it so nonchalantly, it almost went over my head. "You got a promotion?"

"Mm hmm." He hums, his lips pulling into a grin despite them being folded inward.

"Oh, congratulations!" I say. I stand up on my tiptoes, better reaching his lips, as I wrap my arms around his neck. "You deserve it."

"I doubt it, but I'm not complaining." He replies, causing me to give him a pointed look. He only chuckles in response, my eyes rolling softly, as he picks me up and sets me on the counter.

He parts my knees, creating a gap which he happily stands in. I cup the sides of his face before trailing my hands down his neck. "You do, Aiden. You work hard for that company, it's about time they recognize it."

He pecks my lips. "Thank you, beautiful."

I grin at the name, my eyes dropping down to look towards the ground. I watch as his large hands rest on either side of my stomach, the small bump hidden under my silk top.

"You know. . . more money comes with promotions. And I just so happened to get an ad for houses on my computer today."

"Oh. Did you now?" I respond playfully.

"Yeah. Coincidentally, of course." He says, both of us grinning.

His apartment, if I can truly classify it as that, really  isn't that small. The one bedroom factor is a problem, so I see why we do need to get a bigger place, but I'd be content just moving into another apartment. I'm sure there's two bedroom apartments in this complex, probably on the floor above us.

I know a house is a big step--hell so is the baby. I just don't want it to feel like a rush of change. I play with me soft hair at the male of his neck, our brown eyes locking.

"You don't want to look into apartments? Nothing around this around or anything?"

He just his bottom lip out. "No. Do you?"

I shrug.

"If you rather look into apartments that's fine by me. I just thought maybe you'd want a more permanent place to start raising the baby. Somewhere not so dead in the center of the city." He explains.

I play with the bracelet around my wrist as he turns to check on the food. The heat from the oven opening hits my face, my eyes making out salmon in there.