All Because Of Him

sixty four.

  The glare Mason is giving Felix is murderous. I can see his chest heave up and down from just how angry he really is. I can't believe Felix is asking to join a group of people that includes both Aiden and Mason.

The world must really have it out for me.

"Felix. Of course, sit." Jessica motions for Felix to sit down right where I just was, right next to Aiden.

I assume she's still angry with him over the comment he made about me drinking.

He wastes no time to sit in my seat before setting the tray of waters on the table in front of us, leaving me clueless on where to sit next. The only other option is right next to Mason, who is still seething with anger.

"I don't think we've met before. I'm Felix, Corey's brother." Felix reaches out his hand to shake with Aiden's and after a few awkward seconds, he finally takes Felix's hand in his own and introduces himself.

"Elle, aren't you going to sit down? Or is the alcohol already hitting you." Alec half laughs and I feel myself shift awkwardly under all the stares.

I don't know what to do with myself. I'd rather stand than have to sit next to him, but it seems I'm left with no other choice. I walk over past the table and sit down, ignoring how tense Aiden's body now is.

I ignore the way my heart picks up speed just from his body being so close to mine again. I shudder from the closeness, and swallow, trying not to focus on the throbbing feeling in between my legs.

He's close enough for me to smell the cologne lingering on his skin, and I find myself inhaling through my nose and reveling in the familiarity of it.

"So, Aiden, are you the designated driver tonight?" Felix's words bring me out of my thoughts.

"Uh, I suppose so. But I'm not here as her designated driver." Aiden says matter-of-factly and I narrow my eyes at him, mentally begging him to stop embarrassing himself. It's clear that Felix is just toying with him, and Aiden being too naive to see it is not a good look.

"Oh, so she's yours then?" Felix leans over, placing his elbows on his knees, looking interested in what he might say next.

Time stops, all the noise drowns out as I wait for his answer. Would he really call me his? In front of everyone? 

I can count how many times I've seen him in the past three weeks on one hand.

Jessica seems too busy in her own conversation with Corey and Alec to notice how frozen in place my body is. I can feel my throat start to go dry just as Aiden opens his mouth to answer.

"She is."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. The Aiden sitting a few feet across from me isn't the one I don't recognize. I feel my heart thundering in my chest; not from Mason sitting so close to me, or the look Aiden is giving me right now, but because of the lies I just heard him speak.

I always knew Aiden was jealous ever since he found out about that night between Mason and I, but I never thought he'd take it upon himself to publicly claim me.

I'm speechless, at a loss for words.

But all the fired nerves in my body are extinguished when I feel Mason's hand on my lower back.

I breathe in a sharp breath, and feel my whole body flood with warmth. I wait for him to remove his hand, to pull back and laugh and tell me that was only an accident, but he doesn't.