21. HOT AND COLD

21

HOT AND COLD

T he walk from the diner relaxed Charlotte's frazzled mind. The girls acted weird about not only her possible inquiry into Blackthorn Academy, but also her intimacy with Aiden. Did they not want her around him? That made little sense to her.

She took her time walking through the evening crowds in the Valley Center Plaza, a sprawling outdoor shopping mall with dozens of stores and restaurants with pathways branching in different directions lined with small businesses. The smell of popcorn drifted on the warm breeze coming from the theater on the corner close to the diner.

It had been three months since she visited the town. Nothing changed except for the diner. Kids still climbed all over the massive marble fountain in the center of the plaza, while teenagers hovered near the theater, clustered together as they decided on their next movie. Couples held hands while carrying shopping bags in the other, moving from one store to the next .

The temperature had finally dropped, so the entire area was filled to the brim with life.

Had she expected anything different in the small town? Her life had turned upside down, but her hometown remained undisturbed by the outside world. It further backed her desire to stay.

Her phone chimed, and she shifted her Styrofoam box containing leftovers into her left hand to pull her cell phone from the back pocket of her shorts. Her stomach swooped when she saw the sender.

Aiden:

You busy?

Charlotte:

No. Walking home from the diner.

Aiden:

Diner?

Charlotte:

I had dinner with Blaire, your sister, and Layla.

What she didn't say was she only ate a single waffle fry. The whole interaction regarding Aiden made her stomach ache, and the idea of greasy diner food lost all appeal.

She tucked her phone away when he said nothing more. It was the first time he'd contacted her in two days, and that was it? Why did he need to know if she was busy?

She squeezed past a group of guys all dressed alike in baseball hats, tight jeans paired with cowboy boots or work boots, and T-shirts with designs about fishing, hunting, or some other form of country sport. They stood in front of a small sporting goods shop that sold everything from fishing gear to hunting rifles. It wasn't the kind of shop she visited, but she knew the owner. A nice middle-aged man who frequented the diner when she worked there. His wife worked as a receptionist for the dentist in town.

Her phone chimed again, and she stopped at a corner, setting her leftovers on the windowsill of a closed antique shop. She swiped the screen of her phone.

Aiden:

I need to see you.

Her face screwed up. Did he leave something at her house? She thought he left all his stuff in his mother's car when he dropped her off.

Charlotte:

I'll be home soon. I'm heading through the plaza now.

Aiden:

I'm in the plaza. Where are you? I'll find you.

Charlotte:

I'm coming up on the side path Mom's shop is on.

Aiden:

Wait for me.

She tucked her phone away and picked up her food, turning the corner to weave through the thinning crowd. The bright purple sign for Uniquely You, the boho chic clothing store her mom owned, came into view.

Stepping around a young couple looking in the window of a store with baby items, she saw him leaning on the wall, arms folded over his broad chest, hugged by a gray Henley with the top two buttons undone. His muscular thighs strained against his black jeans where he had one leg bent, booted foot propped on the wall.

She was sure the phrase tall, dark, and handsome was invented with Aiden Easton in mind. He looked as good as she remembered.

It's only been two days. Get a grip.

It felt like much longer now that he was in front of her.

As soon as she caught his eye, he pushed from the wall and stalked toward her. It was the only word to describe the way he moved. Tilting his head forward, he narrowed his eyes on her, holding her captive with his forest green gaze. She felt like prey in the eyes of a predator. A shiver ran the length of her spine, making her entire body shudder as she remained rooted in place.

Was he angry? No. Something sparked in the air that she couldn't explain that made her feel his approach meant something different.

When he reached her, his hand lifted to touch her cheek; the tendons in his forearms where he had the sleeves pushed up to his elbows flexed with the movement. She leaned into the featherlight touch he gave her with his fingertips, but he pulled away so fast she wondered if she'd imagined his touch.

"I needed to see you," he whispered.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Everything." He took a step back, and she gripped the takeout container to restrain herself from chasing his retreat. "I drove all over trying to clear my head, and it's not working."

"What do you mean?"

"After I left, I went back to the academy, but when I couldn't sleep, I left. Hit the interstate. Drove to Atlanta, then down to the coast. Drove all the way up the South Carolina coast and back this morning. I ended up parking down at Lukas's parent's house at Tybee Island. Tried to sleep in the car midday, but it didn't work."

"Didn't work for what? I don't understand. "

A group of young girls moved around them, laughing and talking loudly, but she couldn't make out anything they said. She focused all her attention on Aiden.

"What did you do to me?" he rasped, confusion and conflict waging war for control of his features.

"I didn't do anything to you," she said, frowning. "Have you slept? Eaten anything? If you've been driving… Wait. Have you been away from the academy since last night?"

"Haven't had anything. No food, no bl— drink ." His jaw ticked. "Nothing. I left around three in the morning."

"Jesus, Aiden. You're gonna end up dehydrated. Let's go back to my place." She grabbed hold of his hand, only then noticing the tremble in his fingers before he tightened his grip on her hand. "I'll make you something. Mom had an appointment this afternoon, but Ma is still at work. No one will be there if you're worried about them."

"Why would I worry about them?"

"I don't know. I wouldn't want anyone to see me if I hadn't eaten or slept. I'd be hangry and antisocial."

His low chuckle slid over her like silk. She missed that sound.

"Oh!" She stopped, whirling to face him. "Here." She thrust the takeout container forward into his hands. "Eat this while we walk."

Aiden's dark brows twitched. "What is it?"

"I didn't eat all my food. Chicken fingers and waffle fries with cheese."

He opened the lid. "This is a lot. Did you eat at all?"

Was he seriously showing concern about her well-being when he was the one who hadn't eaten since yesterday? It was near seven o'clock. That meant he'd been on the road for sixteen hours. How was he not sick? It explained his hands trembling.

"Eat. "

His eyes narrowed at the command.

"Please," she added in a rush.

He lifted a chicken finger from the container and took a bite, giving her a "there, are you happy?" look.

"Okay, let's go." She turned and led him down the street toward the outskirts of the plaza where the residential area was. Her house wasn't far from the plaza, which was convenient for her mom. She didn't have to walk far into the heart of town. Her ma, on the other hand, had to use the car to drive around the plaza and park behind the clinic.

The entire Valley Center Plaza was only accessible by foot traffic, so locals walked everywhere, since most everything anyone could ever need was in the heart of the massive outdoor shopping mall. Charlotte and her mothers only drove to the far side of Rosebrook Valley for groceries, the mall, and a few other businesses that didn't get retail space in the plaza.

By the time they reached her house, Aiden had polished off the entire container of food. It made her happy to take care of him for once.

She pulled out her keys and let them inside, beelining for the kitchen with the empty container to whip up something for Aiden to eat.

"You don't need to make anything else. I'm full."

Her hand paused on the handle of the refrigerator. "Full? You've barely eaten."

"Trust me, that's a lot."

For his large size, she didn't quite buy it, but she wouldn't argue with him. He was talking to her. That's what mattered.

"Well, at least get something to drink. You said you hadn't had that either, right? "

He gave a tight nod, looking down at Molly, who chose to grace them with her almighty presence, once again rubbing her scent all over his ankles.

"Molly," Charlotte chided, rounding the counter with a can of Diet Coke. "Sorry about her." She handed him the drink. "It's all we have. Mom is all about reducing sugars after the doctor told Ma she was pre-diabetic."

"It's fine." He opened the can and took a long swallow, his throat working with the motion. She couldn't stop staring at it. When he lowered the can, he raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, and the cat meowed at her as if to call her a liar, sauntering off after a tail flick in her direction. Yeah, boo on you too, Princess Molly.

"Want to watch a movie?" she asked. "It'll give you a chance to relax after driving around. If you get hungry again, I can whip up some dinner. I'm sure my moms would appreciate it if I did."

"Sure." Aiden shuffled over to the couch and lowered himself to sit.

"I'm gonna go put my sandals away, then I'll show you what we have." She turned and headed for her bedroom.

She still didn't understand why Aiden decided to leave the academy and drive all over two states, but she wouldn't push him in case it made him uncomfortable. The fact they were talking was a step in the right direction. Maybe he would tell her what the deal was the other day. Maybe it wasn't anything at all, and she read too much into it.

Either way, she wanted to understand so they could be friends again. The contingent loss of their friendship brought another sinking wave of despair that only exacerbated her low mental state.

As she approached her room, she paused at the sight of her open bedroom door. She closed it when she left earlier to keep Molly out. She was sure of it. Did one of her mothers return home while she was out?

Pushing the door open, she let out a gasp, and her hands began shaking violently.

"What's going on?"

She shrieked, jumping at the sound of Aiden's deep voice behind her.

"What?"

She spun around, hand on her chest to will her heart to stop beating so fast so she could answer his questions.

"What's wrong?"

How did he know something was wrong? He was just on the couch. He wouldn't have heard her gasp.

She stepped aside, allowing Aiden to look into her bedroom where a bouquet of pink roses lay on her bed. "How did he get into my house?" she whispered in horror. She spun to look up at Aiden, wide-eyed. "He followed me here. I knew it!" She wrapped her arms around herself. "I can't let him hurt my moms."

Aiden cursed, and unexpectedly wrapped her in his embrace from behind. He pulled her flush against him and buried his face in the top of her curls. "He won't. I'll kill him first."

Her breathing stuttered at his words. Words she believed.

Something about Aiden told her he would do whatever was necessary to protect those around him, even if it meant crossing lines people were never meant to cross. At least those who wanted to stay out of prison and whose hearts weren't corrupt. His heart was good, and she'd never see it as anything different.

Her cell phone rang in her back pocket, and they sprang apart like someone caught them in the middle of having sex in the doorway .

She pulled the phone from her pocket and looked at the screen. Her eyes met his questioning ones. "It's Ma."

"Which one?"

" Ma. Elizabeth."

"Right," he said, staring at the roses. "Sometimes I get it mixed up."

She didn't blame him. Her mind wasn't in the right place right now, either. Answering the call, she tempered her voice, hoping not to sound as freaked out as she felt. "Hi, Ma."

"Hi, dumplin'. Are you still at the diner?"

"No, I'm at the house. Aiden's here."

"Oh, that's good."

"Good?"

"Yeah," her ma said before the sound of shuffling and murmured voices came over the line. She seemed distracted. "Listen, Sara and I need to head up to Atlanta."

"What? Why?"

Aiden looked up from where he sat on the edge of her bed, looking through the roses. She suspected he was checking for a card.

"Your puse is in the hospital, and we need to go."

When it rains, it pours. "I'll come with you," she said, her mind racing with potential reasons for her grandmother's hospitalization. She didn't know her adoptive grandmother well, but she was still family.

"No. You need to stay home. The hospital where she is has restrictions on the people allowed in. You wouldn't be able to go back, anyway. I'll be lucky if I can even go back. They've buckled down on the kinds of visitors they allow in recent years. But I need to be there for Sara."

"Is she gonna be okay? "

"Oh, yeah. She's fine. Stable. They are only keeping her for observation. Rina just wants her daughter there, so we're going to drive up and stay in a hotel nearby until she's released."

"Okay," Charlotte mumbled, unsure of what else to say. She couldn't do anything for her mom, and she didn't even know if her adoptive grandmother would remember her. Her memory had been slipping in recent years. "Tell Mom I love her, and Puse too."

"Of course. We'll keep in touch. There's money in the jar on the fridge for groceries if you want anything special."

When she hung up the phone, she looked at Aiden, who sat on her bed in silence.

"Everything okay?"

Aiden's lips tightened in response to her explanation, and he lowered his head, the long, black strands on top of his head falling forward out of place. He clasped his hands between his thighs as he sat with his forearms resting on his thighs. He seemed to struggle with whatever was on his mind.

With a sigh, he looked up at her. "I can stay with you again. If you want." His eyes cut to the roses. "Because of this," he added.

The stalker. Right.

She almost forgot about it with the news about her grandmother. Of course he's only staying for that. She really needed to get herself together. Priorities.

She didn't want Aiden to feel obligated to stay with her because of some creep again, but she seriously feared being alone given her stalker had accessed the inside of her house. Having company was prudent.

Calling one of the girls didn't seem reasonable. They were on summer break. Blaire was spending time with her boyfriend. Riley was with Seth. And Layla couldn't do much if a stalker showed up— even if her parents let her stay off campus. Plus, Charlotte didn't know her as well as she did Blaire and Riley, and even then, if they both didn't have boyfriends, they probably couldn't do anything to defend against a stalker either.

If she didn't want to be alone, Aiden was her only option.

"I don't want to bother you with it," she said, giving him the opportunity to back out of the offer even if she hoped he wouldn't.

"If it was a bother, I wouldn't offer."

Something about the look on his face made her question how true the statement was. Something had shifted between them after they slept together, and she didn't think she could reverse it.

"Okay, then. If you don't mind staying."

"It's not a problem." He looked at her bed. "I can sleep on the couch. It's big enough."

Her heart sank.

"So, movie?" She moved to her computer chair and sat down, trying to ignore the sadness sneaking in. She slid her sandals off and rubbed her feet. They ached after the walk home. Served her right for wearing a pair of sandals she had worn only twice. When she let go of her foot and looked up, she found Aiden watching her movements with a furrow to his brow.

He stood from the bed. "I'll wait out there."

She wasn't sure what that was about. Her feet hurt. Nothing wrong with giving herself a foot rub. It wasn't like they didn't have all night to watch the movie.

Sighing, she put her sandals in the closet and walked into the living room.

The sky had darkened to almost night while she was on the phone with her ma. She felt exposed by the big bay window. The feeling would only get worse once night fell .

Moving to the window, she jerked the curtains closed. If she was going to sit in the living room, she wouldn't give some creep in the bushes a front-row seat to her leisure time.

"I'm gonna grab some drinks. Want anything specific? There's beer, mixers, coolers…"

She wasn't twenty-one yet, but her parents allowed her to drink at home with them. She didn't do it outside of that except for the time she went on vacation with Aiden and their friends. Her parents wouldn't care if she had something as long as she stayed home.

"I'll take a beer."

He normally had liquor, from what she learned when they went to the beach, but her ma kept the hard liquor in a cabinet in her parents' bedroom, and she didn't want to invade their private space. They respected her personal space, she would respect theirs.

Grabbing a few beers and fruity drinks in a bottle, she brought them back to the living room and placed them on the table.

"Thanks," he said, grabbing a bottle and twisting off the cap.

"Can you open one of the fruit ones for me?" She never mastered popping off caps. She either had to use a bottle opener or have her mothers do it.

She moved around the sectional and crouched down to open the bottom cabinets of the entertainment center. She scanned the few options on hand then shook her head. "Nope. Let's see if Netflix has something."

When she turned around and grabbed the remote, she paused, gaze darting from where Aiden sat in the middle of the main couch to the sectional on one side that was shorter and had the attached ottoman. That was probably the better option, but she didn't want to make things awkward, either. She wanted to shift their relationship back to where it used to be. Distancing herself wouldn't do that .

"Gonna sit?" He looked up at her and cocked his head to the side.

"Oh, yeah, um." She'd been standing there longer than intended. Moving around the coffee table, she flopped down on the main couch, leaving a cushion between them. She picked up her bottle and took a drink. "What kind of movie do you wanna watch?"

"Horror?"

"I mean, as long as it's not about a stalking killer, sure. Oh, or vampires."

His brow rose, and he chuckled. "Alright. No stalking killers or vampires. What about zombies?"

"Zombies aren't good horror."

"Fine. You have a point," he conceded. "What about weird demonic possession?"

"Oh! I bet I know the one you're talking about." She flipped on the TV and loaded up the streaming service, navigating to the search bar.

"How do you know? There's a lot that fit that description."

"No. But. I saw the newest recently offered. I figure you're talking about that one. It's about the possessed hand, right? With the stupid kids who have to hold it and tell the spirits to talk to them, and then let them in and they become possessed? It came out a couple years ago, but just popped up for streaming."

"Yeah, that's the one."

She flipped her curls off her shoulder and gave him a smug smile. "Told you I knew the one you were thinking of."

"Alright, smartass." He leaned back and spread his knees wide, crossing his arms over his chest. "What am I thinking now?"

She set the remote down and turned to him. "That you're glad Riley didn't know you were coming over or she would turn this into a slumber party with a ton of candy and junk food and keep us up all night?"

"That's… oddly specific. I wasn't thinking that, but I am now."

"So what were you thinking?"

"I honestly forget. I'm stuck on the Riley home invasion."

"Don't worry, I won't text her." She smiled, turning back to the TV to find the movie and start it.

Settling back against the cushion, she pulled a throw pillow into her lap and wrapped her arms over the top of it as the movie began.

While the first movie was good, when they moved on to a teen scream flick, she quickly lost interest. The earlier parts were interesting, and she kept sitting forward to catch everything that happened, but as the plot progressed, it made less and less sense. Only half the things the kids did seemed reasonable.

She shifted on the couch, sinking back into her seat, and her arm brushed against Aiden's. When had she moved so close?

A glance on each side of them made her realize they both had moved to the cushion that once posed as a divider.

Clearing her throat, she moved her gaze back to the TV at the same time a jump scare happened.

"Jesus fuck!" She rose off the couch a bit, startled. Well, that sobered her up the rest of the way.

Aiden burst into laughter.

She spun on him. "What?" Her voice was breathless.

"I have never heard you curse like that."

"That's because I try not to. I curse, but not often. But come on, " she said, throwing her hand out at the TV as she sat forward on the edge of the couch, grabbing the mixed drink and taking a swallow. "What did you expect?"

His hand rubbed over his mouth to hide his laughter.

"Go ahead, buddy. Laugh it up." How is he not at least tipsy ?

"What do you want me to do? Protect you from the big bad TV monster?"

"No," she said with indignation, turning her nose up.

"Oh, come on, I'm just playing." He reached forward, and before she realized what was happening, his large hands hooked her by the waist and pulled her back to the couch. "Don't pout."

"I don't pout." She crossed her arms.

"No?" He directed a pointed look at her arms and then returned his gaze to her face, to her twisted lips.

Fine. She was pouting.

"Whatever." She turned her head to look anywhere but at him. She'd forgotten what this was even about, but she was having fun, so that was all that mattered.

"Charlotte." He caught her chin with his fingers and turned her face to his. "I mean it. No pouting."

"You're not the boss of me."

Something flashed in his eyes she didn't recognize, but she saw it. A slight twitch of his brow where his eyes narrowed, and a brief glimmer of a smile.

"That may be so, but I don't enjoy seeing you sad." His fingers moved from her chin to run down the side of her throat. "It unsettles me."

"Unsettles?" She swallowed.

"Makes me want to find whatever made you sad and make it regret ever crossing you." His hand dropped, landing on her knee.

This had gone somewhere she didn't intend.

Little sparks zipped up her leg from where his hand sat heavy on her skin.

"I'm not sad," she whispered.

"I know," he said .

"How?"

"A hunch. You don't pout when you're really sad."

Was she that transparent? He seemed to read her so well compared to others. Maybe he did that easily with everyone.

This close to him, she could see the golden ring around his pupil, flaring out into the green of his eyes like the sun filtering through the forest.

Was she seriously sitting there comparing his eyes to nature? He's looking at you, say something!

"Your eyes have gold in them," she said, leaning forward subconsciously.

Smooth.

He chuckled, low and deep. "They do. How much did you have to drink?"

Apparently not enough.

"One bottle. You've had more than I have."

"I hold my alcohol well."

She wouldn't drink more than one bottle. The doctor said her medicine wouldn't mix well with copious amounts of alcohol and advised against inebriation but said the occasional beer wouldn't harm her.

"Well, I'm not tipsy, just noticed that, is all."

"Alright," he said, his voice lowering into a soft cadence that relaxed her.

His head angled, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. His eyelids lowered to half-mast as his tongue traced over his lower lip.

"Aiden?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"You're going to kiss me, aren't you?"

"Yeah. "

With that confirmation, he leaned in, closing the distance between them.

She feared alcohol was responsible for his abrupt change in behavior and worried he would regret everything as soon as the kiss ended. But that problem was for future Charlotte to deal with. Present Charlotte battled the urge to crawl into Aiden's lap.

His tongue swept into her mouth to tangle with hers, and he groaned. The sound made her nipples tighten, as if his vocal chords had a direct link to her body parts.

He shifted, his hand holding the side of her throat as his other gripped her waist, twisting her on the couch, lowering her down to her back, while never removing his mouth from hers. His body loomed over hers, hand gliding along her side as he used his other to angle her head where he wanted it, deepening the kiss.

Moaning into his mouth when his hand settled on her hip and squeezed, she canted her hips up to press against him where he nestled between her thighs. The answering grind of his hips against her made the denim of her shorts press against her panties and slide over her slit, making her ache to remove the fabric between them.

Her hands slid up his back, nails dragging over his gray Henley until she reached his shoulders. She moved one of her hands around to rest on top of his shoulder, and the other slid into his hair, raking over his scalp. He moaned into her mouth and bit down on her lower lip.

Breaking the kiss, he stared down at her. They were so close she could taste his breath, a strange mixture of beer and cream. His pupils were blown, but what caught her attention most was the green ring encircling them. The light from the movie on the TV made them gleam like jewels.

"Your eyes are so beautiful," she murmured, moving the hand on his shoulder to brush his stubbled jawline. "It's like they're glowing. "

Those narrowed eyes that looked at her with such intensity rounded.

He shot up off the couch and stood above her, breath heavy, panic etched in every line of his body. She lifted herself onto her elbows and looked up at him.

"Aiden?"

He flinched, snapping his gaze to hers.

"Aiden, what's wrong?"

"I've had too much to drink," he muttered, his voice a rasp. "I'm sorry. I'm…" He looked all around the room, avoiding her eyes. "Can I go shower? It might help."

"Yeah," she said, feeling awkward. "Sure. You know where the bathroom is. I'll get you a blanket and pillow so you can rest after."

"Cool. Yeah."

He didn't sound like himself. That wasn't the way he spoke. But he didn't give her the chance to ask questions. He turned away and stormed out of the room, slamming the bathroom door behind him.