CHAPTER SEVEN
I SHOULD HAVE ENJOYED GOING TO AIDEN’S HOUSE. It was really nice. An old Craftsman with intricate woodwork and oriental rugs, filled to the beams with beautiful furniture from around the world. It was also, however, filled with his mother’s scorn for me.
“How’s cheerleading going?” she asked. Her green eyes, creased at the corners, were boring into my face.
“Very well. Thank you for asking.” I smiled at her and then looked across the table at Aiden. He was avoiding her, rolling pasta onto his fork. I wished I could avoid the conversation too.
“That’s nice,” she said. It sounded forced. She hated me. “And your grades?” she asked.
“Tessa’s on the honor roll again,” Aiden said. Aw. I loved it when he was proud of me. I gazed lovingly at him.
His mother didn’t seem as appreciative. “Well,” she said, sucking on her teeth. “Maybe if you two spent less time together, you’d be on the honor roll too, Aiden.”
There was a hiss in my throat, but I forced it down with a sip of water. Aiden didn’t need to be on the honor roll. He was a great athlete and a total sweetheart. Studying just wasn’t his thing. She didn’t adore his adorableness as much as I did.
“Tessa,” his mother said sternly from the head of the table. “Are your parents at all concerned with the amount of time you two spend together? And the late nights?” It was the last part she really didn’t like. Her eyes narrowed on mine.
“Uh, not really,” I said honestly. “My parents love Aiden, and they trust him.”
Mrs. Wilder set down her fork with a clank and took a deep breath. Here it comes.
“Look, Tessa,” she said in fake sweetness. “I think you’re a really nice girl, I do. But I just don’t think it’s healthy for two teenagers to be together as much as you and my son are. You guys really need a break from each other.”
Even though I knew she’d say it—again—my face stung. I was a nice girl (I was glad she’d noticed), but Aiden and I were far from unhealthy. We loved each other. Healthily!
“Mom,” Aiden pleaded, tossing his napkin on the table. She glared at him. He got quiet, and I closed my eyes. Sometimes I just wanted him to speak up.
“You really want to go away to college in such a serious relationship? Without ever having dated anyone else?” she asked, looking at him angrily.
I clenched my fists under the table. That was not okay. Aiden didn’t need to date anyone else. He didn’t even need to consider dating anyone else.
“Please, just stop.” Aiden dropped his head in his hands as his elbows rested on the table. He hated fighting with his mother.
She exhaled. “I’m sorry,” she said, although I knew she wasn’t. “It’s just … I married my high school sweetheart and look how that turned out.” Aiden shifted uncomfortably. “I just want something better for you, Aiden. You have a real chance to make a great life for yourself. You’re a tremendous athlete. You should be focused on school and basketball. I think Tessa has been a huge distraction for you.”
I stood up and folded my napkin neatly, setting it next to my nearly untouched plate. There was only so much I could handle without losing my stuffing. “Aiden,” I interrupted. “I’d like to go home. Can you please bring me?” Shoot. I should have driven myself.
Aiden pushed back in his seat with a loud scrape and gave his mother a disappointed expression. She looked down in her lap. She’d lost this argument.
“I’ll see you at the game, Tessa,” she said, not looking at me.
“Thanks for dinner,” I whispered, unable to lift my head. My chest hurt. I wanted her to like me. I really did. Especially since I loved her son so very much. But … she didn’t. And there was nothing I could do about it. I nodded and walked to the door.
Aiden whispered something to his mother, but I didn’t catch it. He wouldn’t go home tonight. She knew that. And that was about as rebellious as he got. Tomorrow he’d be back here and they’d get along until the next time we had dinner together. It was a vicious cycle of passive aggressiveness.
Aiden met me at the door, looking down into my face. My cheeks were burning with humiliation and sadness. I sniffled.
His eyes weakened. “Come on, baby,” he said, opening the front door for me. He put his hand on my shoulder and led me out.
The night was cold, and I shivered against it. When we paused at his car, Aiden reached out and completely wrapped me up in his arms. He kissed my mouth forcefully, taking my breath away. When he moved back, I was gasping and feeling decidedly better.
“Well, that was nice,” I said, trying to smile at him.
“I love you,” he said seriously, as if I were arguing that he didn’t. “I love you so f*cking much.” My bottom lip jutted out. Aiden looked like he was going to cry, and I’d never let him cry.
I nodded. “I know you do.”
“There’s no break. Don’t listen to that bullshit. It’s not going to happen.”
I raised my eyebrow at his language but didn’t say anything. When he was like this, he was allowed a bad word or two. His mother was a real b-i-t-c-h sometimes.
But my sweetie still looked distressed. I knew it was because his mother had brought up his father. Aiden was really sensitive about that. And who wouldn’t be? His dad had left them when Aiden was twelve. He never called, never wrote, nothing. How anyone could forget about Aiden was a crossword puzzle to me.
“Tell me no break,” he whispered, kissing me with his eyes open.
I reached up and swept his hair away from his face. “You’re not going to shake me, point guard. I play man-to-man defense.”
He grinned. He thought it was so cute when I talked basketball. Aiden bent down and kissed my neck softly. “I’m sleeping at your house tonight,” he mumbled into my skin.
“I figured as much,” I said, biting my lip. My hands slid down to his waist.
“And we’re going into overtime tonight, baby.”
I laughed. “Let’s get out of here,” I said, moving back. “Your mom’s probably watching out the window.” I glanced over, and she totally was. Ew!
We got into Aiden’s Jetta, leaving for my house. I pushed his mother’s dirty looks from my mind and imagined next year. Aiden away at Washington State and me still cheering with the Smitten Kittens. We’d be apart, but we’d work it out—we belonged together. We were apple pie a la love.
“She brought up his dad?” Kira asked over the phone, sounding completely sorry for Aiden. I shifted the receiver to my other ear, listening for Aiden, who was taking a shower in the hall bathroom.
“I know,” I said to Kira, walking over to my mirror to check my lip gloss. “I felt awful for him. Just because his dad is a complete jerk doesn’t mean that all relationships are doomed to fail. That woman seriously needs some sunshine in her life.”
“Or maybe Prozac,” Kira said. I grinned and stepped over to my bed, dropping down and sinking into the pillows.
“Sorry about canceling the meeting. You sure you guys don’t mind waiting until tomorrow?” I hated blowing them off, but Aiden was here. There was no way for me to sneak out with him in my bed.
“No bigs,” Kira said. “But we have some pending assignments. Travis Murray is accused of hooking up with his ex-girlfriend, or at least, I think she’s his ex. Either way, it’s going to be a busy week.”
I sighed. “I know. And thanks for listening, K. About Aiden’s mom and all. She really messed with my head tonight. I wished Aiden lived here with me; it’d be so much easier.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’d take good care of him.” Kira giggled.
“Be quiet.” But I was smiling. She’d done one heck of a great cheer-up job tonight. The shower in the bathroom turned off with a squeak.
“You and Aiden are like Romeo and Juliet,” Kira said dreamily. “It’s like star-crossed lovers and—”
I furrowed my brow. “K, Romeo and Juliet killed themselves.”
She gasped. “Oh, my word! They did? That is so tragic!”
I held back my laugh. “Hey,” I whispered. “Aiden’s out of the shower. I’ll talk to you in school tomorrow.”
“Night, Tess. Give Aiden a big, sloppy kiss for me.” She giggled.
“Yeah,” I said. “Probably not sloppy, though.” Because that would be gross.
I hung up and set the phone on my side table just as my bedroom door opened. I sat up, admiring Aiden’s lean, wet body draped in just a towel. He noticed.
“Hey,” he said, leaning against the door frame, rubbing another towel in his hair. As I watched him, he wiggled his eyebrows and tossed the wet cloth at me.
It bounced off my shoulder, and I laughed. “Hi.”
“Who were you talking to?” He licked his lip, readjusting the towel around his waist.
“Kira.”
“What’s up with her?”
My insides were complete pudding right now. “She wanted me to give you a big, sloppy kiss.”
“Sloppy, even? That sounds sort of hot.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Quit teasing me and come over here.” I patted my bed. I wanted him. I always wanted him, and there was nothing his mother could say to change that. We didn’t need a break; she was wrong. In my heart, I knew she was wrong about us.
SOS CLIENT REJECTION
CLIENT: Becky Roth
SUBJECT: Corey Panchilla
Dear Ms. Roth:
SOS is sorry to inform you that your cheater request has been denied due to the rules of double jeopardy. Although we sympathize with your discovery of a “skanky thong” in the glove compartment of Mr. Panchilla’s car, we are unable to investigate further.
It may be in your best interest to confront Mr. Panchilla yourself or possibly terminate the relationship.
We trust that this report will remain confidential as some of the information contained within could compromise our top-secret status.
Please keep in mind that double jeopardy does not apply to your future relationships. SOS is still at your service, and we hope you’ll keep us in mind for referrals. Have a great day.