Page 25 of Make You Stay

“Everything.”

That one word, barely audible as a throaty whisper, turns me on my head.

The air is positively thick, with the energy sparking between the two of us, an energy that’s been growing exponentially every day.

Soon, we won’t be able to hold ourselves back.

Soon, we won’t want to anymore.

Aidan stands, moving toward the counter. “You know, your date with Zeke made me realize something.”

“It did?” My heart pounds in my chest, hoping he’ll announce how he’s retiring his rule and what a dumb idea it was, to begin with.

Then, I’m ripping his clothes off.

“I decided I shouldn’t sit home alone every night. I’m tired of being lonely, and our chat yesterday solidified that emotion. So, I took Barbara up on her offer. We’re having dinner tonight.”

And just like that, the air whooshes from my lungs as reality screeches into sharp focus.

All our flirtatious banter is just that—banter.

He had no intention of retiring his rules. No, he found a woman who played by them, instead.

I’m certain Barbara will be a better date than old Zeke, complete with a totally different outcome at the end of the evening. Once she sinks her hooks into Aidan, she won’t let him go. Who can blame her?

I swig back a mouthful of coffee, letting the disappointment settle over me. As much as I’d like to rail against the idea, I can’t be mad.

First, I have no right. I went on a date last night.

Second, Aidan deserves to be happy, and Barbara checks those boxes for him.

Me? I’m the saucy, pretty neighbor he enjoys flirting with, but it’s nothing more than that. A friendship to pass the time while I’m in town.

“I hope you have a good time.”

“Where did you two go for your date?” Aidan inquires, leaning on the counter.

“The pub.”

He scoffs at my answer. “Zeke took you to a bar for your date?”

Guess I shouldn’t mention how I also picked up the tab when he conveniently forgot his wallet. “It was fine. The food was okay. Where are you taking Barbara?”

“The steakhouse. The new one that just opened. Totally trendy and over the top, but that’s what you do, right?”

Not with me, apparently.

Now I’m on the verge of tears—wonderful. I must be PMSing. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. “She’s a very lucky lady.” Grabbing my laptop, I hug it to my chest. “I have a deadline for my articles, so I’m going to squirrel myself away upstairs. Thanks for making the coffee.”

“No problem. I know where to find you if I need you.”

I don’t leave my bedroom for the next few hours. Instead, I sit perched on the bed, staring at a blinking cursor.

Thankfully, my articles are written since my brain can’t focus on anything but the fact that Aidan has slipped through my fingers.

Not that we ever stood a chance, anyway. He doesn’t date women like me. Childless women. I wonder if it would make a difference if I went ahead with the insemination and had a baby. Would I then be part of the club, eligible for his affections? Not forcing him to break his rule?

A wave of loneliness washes over me as I grasp a picture of Betsey, my tears falling onto the glass. “I wish you’d been around. I could have used a mom. It got lonely, wondering why I wasn’t good enough. For anyone, it seems.”

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