Page 50 of Significant
“I’m not the one who initiated this,” he replies in his domineering, superior tone. “You’re the one who betrayed me, Elle.”
He lets go of my wrist before crossing his arms on his chest. His expression is unreadable. All I see his darkness. No light. “You’re the one who went behind my back,” he adds.
He clenches his jaw before frowning his eyebrows, and I understand. I hurt him. Seeing me with another man broke him. All along, I thought he’d be the one to break me, while I did it to him. My insecurities, my fears caused our chaos. I don’t feel the effect of the alcohol anymore. I want to leave. I can’t stand the way he stares at me. I can’t stand to be seen as a traitor through his eyes.
Aaron’s gaze leaves mine to look at Joshua dancing with Tania and Fabiano. His fists clench. God, I need to clear the air now. This is not too late. I take his hand, wanting to explain to him before he does something reckless. My heart is bouncing across my chest. I feel my world collapsing. If only I had said those three words: He is nothing. I want you.
“Trust me,” I whisper before he pushes my hand away and walks by himself toward my friends, Joshua not leaving his sight.
I run after him, trying to push the dancing people away, but I’m not as strong or tall as he is. When I finally reach my friends, they’re all looking at Aaron, their eyes sparkling. They have no idea he is probably about to have a non-friendly conversation with Joshua. Sweet, harmless Joshua against reckless and possessive Aaron. I grab Aaron’s arm and move my body in front of him before managing a smile to my friends.
“Guys. Aaron, this is Tania.” She offers her hand to Aaron, a huge smile on her face. I stare at Wolf. “Aaron, this is Joshua. The man you saw in the picture.” Joshua gives him his hand to shake, but Aaron glance at him like he wants to destroys him, playing with his tongue inside his mouth. “And next to him, this is Fabiano… his boyfriend.”
Aaron’s gaze jumps between Joshua and me as his eyebrows pinch together. He notices Fabiano’s hand in the back pocket of Joshua’s pants and finally understands. The two men get back to their dancing and exchange a heated kiss. Aaron’s expression softens, probably feeling ashamed of his behavior. Our eyes meet again, speaking for ourselves what we couldn’t—I am sorry.
All of us walk closer to the bar area in order to be able to talk. My friends end up loving Aaron. They drink his words like children captivated by a magical story. I know Aaron is making a good impression for me. His eyes don’t leave mine when he talks with them. He is searching for a sign of my forgiveness. But I’m closed off. I avoid all contact; I could never sleep with another man. But him… he did it. And I can’t blame him. His obsession stopped before mine.
“Elle. Can I talk to you?” he asks, leaning toward me, his hand on my lower back.
I nod, and he gives a charming smile to my friends. We move closer to the entrance, to a less crowded space.
“I thought he was—”
“No. And if you’d have heard me out, you’d know that already,” I add, crossing my arms on my chest.
“I’m sorry. I’m used to people betraying me. It’s hard for me to trust someone.” His eyes are concerned. “I should have listened. But words are—”Words can be lies.
“It doesn’t matter. Why are you even here?” I reply harshly while my heart wishes we could undo the past.
“It’s your birthday.” I’ve never mentioned my birthday to him. How could he know? “Monica told me, so I flew to New York to be here.” Of course, she did. I’m gonna kill her.
“I have a place I’d like to show you.” He searches for my gaze as he takes a step closer to me. My whole body wants to say yes, but my heart can’t, but the thought of him with another woman breaks me.Unless, nothing happened?I shouldn’t be naive, it’s Aaron I’m talking about. I wish I could be strong, but I can’t handle it. I cannot share him.
“Aaron… I can’t.” I look down, taking a step back, closing my arms on my chest nervously.
“Nothing happened with Francesca—or any other women, for what matter.” I meet his eyes, my heart beating fast, heat reaching my stomach, as I regain my hope for us. He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear softly, analyzing me with soft eyes. “I wanted you to be jealous. Just like I was. I’m sorry.”
“How can I trust you?” My eyes dare him.
“You can’t,” he admits. “You could call Thomas, he’ll tell you the truth. I could tell you you’re the only fucking woman on my mind, but that won’t make you trust me.” His hands caress the length of my arm, his touch soft and addictive. “You can only believe, I’m afraid.”
Believe in actions, not in words. It’s easy to lie with words, but you can’t pretend a touch.
Just like Monica said, we are screwed up. Destruction or passion. Possessing, consuming each other, making the other an addiction. With him, everything is extreme and yet magnifying. We are novices at listening to our feelings. We don’t know how to open our hearts. We are learning to heal. To evolve. Maybe one day, we’ll destroy each other’s walls, but there is a long road left. And yet, I know. I know I belong with him.
“You hurt me.” Three words.
He cups my cheeks with his palms, his eyes wounded by my words. And the only thing I want is to feel our proximity. Being under his touch. I need him more than I ever needed anyone. I need him to show me I’m different. Significant.
His lips claim mine in a sweet, tender kiss. The kind of kisses that assures me there is only me. The kind of kisses that makes you believe him. It’s his way to say he is sorry for being the way he is. And it’s fine. As long as he belongs with me.
“Let’s get out of here.” I smile shyly. Believing in him.In us.
Sometimes a girl needs three words. Sometimes, she just needs a kiss.
Wish upon a lantern
It’s uncanny how many things can change in a year.
