Page 63 of The Vow We Made
Steph is a bundle of excitement when she greets us at the door. As soon as we’re inside, I’m engulfed in a fierce hug, as if she’s about to prepare me for something devastating or wonderful; I’m not sure which. She takes my bags from Mum after a generous overload of kisses all round, while Dad walks protectively behind me in case I miscalculate the steps with my crutches.
Moving towards the lounge, I already sense there’s someone else here and as my instincts kick in, I know it’s him. His clean, fresh scent surrounds me before I see him and then there he is, sitting on the sofa, leaning forward with his hands cupped together as if in prayer. Has Steph forced him here or has he come to explain why things have cooled between us? That’s fine. I can’t expect a lot from a man I hardly know even though I convinced myself we would have something amazing. On reflection, it was wrong of me to let my imagination run away with itself.
“Aiden.” I smile and keep my tone as upbeat as possible. “This is a nice surprise.” Alerted by my voice and the clatter of my crutches as they bang against the door frame, he stands from his seat.
“Victoria,” he breathes out, still giving me those internal thrills and melting my insides like chocolate. He looks past me. “Mr West.” Aiden nods towards my dad and I hear the irritation in Dad’s voice. He isn’t too happy with Aiden’s recent lack of interest and of course, he won’t have anyone treating his little girl with disrespect.
Aiden makes a move towards me. “Let me help you there.”
I draw the line. If he’s being polite and here to call things off, touching is too much. I’ll want more; I’m only human. “I’m fine. I can do this.”
He pulls back the coffee table anyway, giving me easier access to the sofa. “There you go.”
“Thank you.” I flop down and push my leg forward.
Mum enters the room with Steph and stops in her tracks when she realises I’m not alone. “Oh. Aiden, I wasn’t expecting to see you… here.” Mum hasn’t been shy in telling me of her concerns about ‘The Doctor’ and they’re not exactly complimentary at the moment. I cringe inside while they meet face to face and I brace myself for whatever comes out of my mother’s mouth.
Aiden smiles. “Mrs West. It’s nice to see you.”
“Hmm,” is Mum’s only response and to be honest, I’m relieved. It could have been worse. An awkward silence hangs in the air and if Aiden is here to tell me he is sorry and it is done, I didn’t envy him right now. Would he really do it in front of my parents? If so, he was a very brave man.
“Victoria.”
There he goes again with his smooth tone, but Steph butts in, “Tea anyone? Dominic, Abigail, would you mind giving me a hand?” They don’t have time to draw breath as Steph hooks her hands into the crook of both their arms and forces them out of the room. “Off we pop. Let’s give these two a minute.” They reluctantly leave but not without a warning scowl from Dad. I’m sure Aiden gets the hint loud and clear.
“I’m sorry about my parents,” I say while I follow his nervous pacing around the room with my eyes.
“It’s understandable. I’m sure I’d be the same if I had a daughter.”
His fingers run nervously through his hair then he makes a sudden move to sit beside me. “Look Victoria, I know I owe you an apology for not being around as much as I shouldorwanted to—”
I immediately interrupt. I don’t want his guilt. “It’s fine Aiden, you’re busy with work and you don’t have any obligation to me.”
There’s a deep sincerity in his eyes. “I’d like one. An obligation that is. I’m hoping you’ll let me make it up to you.”
It’s not what I’m expecting to hear and my breath catches in my throat when I answer, “Please Aiden, don’t feel you have to.”
“I’m not asking out of pity. I’ve thought about you every single day this week but—” He stops as if choosing his next sentence carefully. “Work and other issues got in the way.”
I nod then scan the room, looking for anything to keep my focus.
“Listen, Victoria, if you have any doubts, I understand. I haven’t exactly been on hand lately, but I want you to know I’ll do everything I can to put it right.” I don’t respond straight away. I’m thinking. His tone becomes more urgent. “Victoria?”
I bite the corner of my top lip in thought, then finally meet his eyes, “I didn’t expect anything from you and would have understood if you wanted to walk away. I’m not exactly a bundle of fun right now.”
Worry, guilt and hope all shine through his eyes simultaneously when he asks, “So what does that mean?”
I close my eyes for a beat longer than normal and sigh. “It means yes. I’d like to go out again sometime, but that doesn’t give you permission to mess me around in the future.”
“I don’t think I like your answer. Not that I’d mess you about again, because of course I won’t, but just going out sometime? A casual date? I don’t think so.”
“What kind of answer do you want, exactly?” I ask, genuinely confused.
He moves closer and takes my hand. I didn’t realise quite how much I’ve missed his touch until now.
“I know I’ve got no right to put stipulations on a date with you, but I don’t want a casual night out or the kind of relationship allowing us to date other people. We started something not so long ago, which I’ve single-handedly fucked up in one week. I want to put it right and pick up where we left off.” Out of the blue, he brushes the back of his hand over my cheek which sends a flourish of thrills through my entire body. “I’ve been a total dick and don’t deserve any commitment from you, but I’m hoping you’ll give it to me anyway.”
Our eyes adjust to admire the other and I note his mouth opens just a little. Holy shit, if he were cake, I’d devour him bite by bite. I place my hand to my chest and in return, he places his palm over the top, close to my breast. He must feel the thud of my heart, but he doesn’t move, keeping his hand over mine as if to cherish every beat. Slowly, he brings my hand to his mouth, turning it over and placing a kiss to my palm. A shimmer of heat ignites my skin and had there only been the two of us in the house, Aiden James would have got the surprise of his life. I’m about to give him the answer to his question by moving in closer, begging his lips to take mine, but my dad enters the room holding a tea tray, with Mum and Steph just behind him.
