Chapter Twenty

Aiden

The Wedding

B ec is avoiding me. She couldn’t make it any more obvious. We need to have a conversation about last night. We happen to have mutual friends. It doesn’t change a thing for me, but Bec’s skittish behavior tells me it’s messing with her head. She’s dancing around me like a magnet, opposing me at every turn, using my movements to drive her own further away in the opposite direction.

“You gonna make a move in this lifetime, or are you just going to keep staring at her?” An unfamiliar voice rings out from my left. One of the bridesmaids I met earlier, Dee, leans against the bar with a shit-eating grin on her face and a beer in hand. “You could try to be a little less obvious. Bec scares easily. Don’t get clingy too fast, baseball boy.”

“Your friend has a knack for evading me completely. I don’t think I could make a move if I wanted to.” Which I fucking do. I’m not in the habit of showing my hand to someone who’s basically a stranger to me. But hey, Dee’s close with Bec, and if she’s willing to give me advice, I’ll gladly take it.

“I may not know you well, but if Dom trusts you, then I’m willing to go to bat for you too. See? See what I did there?” Dee asks.

I laugh. Dee might be even more ridiculous than Bec.

“But if you tell her I talked to you, I’ll deny the entire thing. I swore not to intervene,” she says.

“Ah, so she told you,” I say.

“I’m the only one she’s told. I had to practically drag it out of her. But with you leaving evidence on her neck like a fucking teenager, it was hard to ignore. And I’m very persistent.”

“You sure as fuck are.” Dylan approaches and puts an arm around Dee’s shoulders. “Same as me. Can I get you another drink, Dee?”

“I can get my own drink, Dylan. Go crawl into whatever hole you snuck out of.” She pushes him back, and he withdraws with a chuckle, leaning behind her to order another beer from the bartender. “Good luck, Aiden.” Dee strides off before I can ask her for more insight on the woman that’s held my attention all night.

Dylan claps me on the shoulder. “So Bec told Dee…I’d say that’s a good sign. If she wanted to hide you like a dirty little secret, she wouldn’t have told any of the girls. They’re tight. If Dee’s on your side, that’ll only work in your favor.” I told Dylan about how I met Bec last night, not wanting to bother Dom during his own wedding with my single-life bullshit, but I’m starting to regret telling anyone at all.

“Doesn’t seem like it’ll do me much good if she’s running away from me all night,” I grumble in response.

“You heard the boss. Dee told you to back off. Sounds like you should stop chasing her. Let her come to you. You’re gonna freak her out, man. Give her a second to breathe.”

“Yeah, I can do that. I’m gonna get some fresh air outside, you coming?” I ask.

Shaking his head, he says, “Nah, I’m going to go talk to that blonde that just walked in. Unlike you, I haven’t found anyone to keep me busy this weekend. Time to work some magic.” Dylan straightens his shoulders, runs his hand through his hair, and strides away.

I make my way outside to clear my head, finding a secluded spot behind a lattice wall. I get comfortable on the L-shaped couch, placing my drink on the table in front of me, which has a low-burning fire pit in the center. The string lights hanging above give off a soft glow. Normally, I’d enjoy the privacy this moment affords me. I’d soak in the peaceful seclusion, knowing that I rarely get time to relax by myself like this during the season. Instead, all I can think about is Bec and what Dee’s brief words really mean.

I’m not usually a clingy guy. In past relationships, I typically get complaints that I’m too distant, maybe a little too rigid, if anything. So why can’t I leave Bec alone after knowing her for only a day? Less than a day. Talk about an inconvenient time to act out of character. When she needs someone more aloof, I’m basically falling over myself to get a chance to talk to her.

Leaning forward to rest my elbows on my thighs, I rub my hands over my face, trying to force some sense into my brain, when I hear a small intake of breath. I look up to see Bec standing at the edge of the nook, eyes locked on me.

“Hey,” I say softly.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Seems like you’re trying to get some space. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Bec, wait,” I call out. I stand but stay where I am. “Please…sit with me?”

Is this too clingy? I’m second-guessing every move I make, the exact opposite of the way I felt around her last night. Shit, maybe any chance of us working out is already fucked.

She hesitates, but after a moment she sits down a seat away from me, keeping a bit of distance between us. I fucking hate it. She sits there with her perfect body looking like a goddamn dream in that red fucking dress. That dress is going to kill me. I return to my seat, unable to take my eyes off her.

“You’re beautiful,” I say. “Red suits you.”

She drops her head and smiles. “Oh, Aiden, you’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.” Yeah, I’m fucking nervous.

“Well, thank you. I welcome flattery.” She laughs, but there’s an anxious energy emanating off her that wasn’t there last night.

We’re both in our heads now. Fuck .

“Call me naive, but not once did I consider that you might be here for the same wedding as me when we met last night,” I admit.

“Ha, neither did I. I thought I hit the weekend fling jackpot,” she says.

Ouch . Okay, I guess I can’t be too hurt by that. Did I expect anything serious to come from an impulsive weekend with a beautiful stranger while visiting another state? Not really. But the more time I spend with Bec, and the more time I spend in the same room as her but not with her, leaves me craving more. I know in my gut that one weekend would lead to every weekend.

“Let me guess, you’re not feeling like you won anymore?” It pains me to ask, but I need to know.

She drops her gaze, watching her own fingers twitch and tap on the glass of her drink. I’m not the only one who seems to have misplaced the confidence we both wore last night. Maybe it’s the loss of anonymity we had when we were unconnected strangers with an undeniable, unexplainable connection.

“I’m…I’m not sure, Aiden. Doesn’t it all seem a little…I don’t know, complicated?”

Yes. But for once, I think I’d welcome a little bit of complication into my life if the complication were her.

“I think it’s a different opportunity than I originally thought,” I say.

She lightly scoffs, her eyebrows raising at me, and I realize that I might have just sounded like a total sleazeball.

“Sorry, that came out wrong. What I mean is that last night, I thought I met a stranger who’s intriguing, funny, and sexy as fuck. Instead, I find out she’s also important to people I care a lot about. You being in the same wedding was a shock, but if anything, it makes me want to get to know you more.” I take the leap and lay it all out there. Something inside propels me forward, causing me to lean in further instead of retreating, instead of doing what’s safe. My stomach is in knots, unsure if risking transparency like this will pay off and get me a real shot at getting to know Bec better.

The conversation lulls, and I can feel my heartbeat in my throat. I just met this girl. Why am I so invested in seeing if this goes somewhere? Bec sighs and looks out over at the skyline, avoiding my stare completely.

“I can’t say I totally disagree with you. But I…I don’t think I’m ready for something like this. I mean, we live in different cities. Different states, right? And before, when we didn’t realize we were both here for Ellie and Dom, things were different. It’d probably be easier if we didn’t push for anything more to happen between us. I don’t want to distract at all from Ellie’s big day or make anything weird.”

Does she raise valid points? Sure.

Do I still think they’re bullshit? Sure fucking do.

Because I know Dom, and I’m starting to know Ellie. Not as well as Bec does, but I don’t think either of them would have a problem with us exploring this. The distance, sure that’s not ideal, but what’s the harm in talking more to see if it’d be worth the extra effort? Something tells me Bec would be more than worth it. I can’t resist wanting to hold onto the way she makes me feel for as long as she allows.

“I understand not wanting to put Ellie and Dom in the middle of anything, especially during a weekend like this. And yeah, I live in Detroit. I’m not looking to trap or trick you into anything. I just…” Feeling frustrated, not able to find the right words to communicate the ache I feel in my gut when I imagine this being as far as things go. Physical connection aside, I just want to see her again. Running my fingers through my hair, I go on. “I don’t feel right walking away from you just yet. I know we only met yesterday, but this feels…I don’t know, Bec. Does it feel different to you? Is that just me?”

She smiles softly at me. Fuck, is that pity in her eyes?

“Aiden, I’m sure you’re a really great guy. I mean, if things were different, maybe. A different time, different place, different circumstances. I think we’re better off if we just focus on Ellie and Dom this weekend and just forget about last night.”

And there it is. Over before we’ve even begun. I can only offer a soft smile and a quick nod in response before she quietly walks away. Call me irrational, but I know that this feeling is unlike anything I’ve ever felt for someone. Do I wish Bec would give me a chance? Of course. But I’ll honor her choice and do my best to keep my eyes to myself tomorrow and keep from asking myself… what if?

Except that doesn’t work. I keep a respectful distance; all of our interactions are surface level and friendly during the wedding. But all the while, my mind races, imagining all that could be between us. When I pack up and leave Columbus on Sunday, I can’t fight the hollow feeling that settles in my gut knowing I fucked up something that had the potential to be great with a one-in-a-million woman.