2021, February 14th
(Maine, Caspira)
AIDEN
So what if it was Valentine's Day?
It's just dinner. Right. Just dinner.
What the hell was I thinking, getting involved with Keira? My family's dislike of Elena(because of how shit went down with her and John) had nothing on their fears about the Dormers. The Condrons would lose their shit if they knew how I spent my six months away from home.
It doesn't matter to me. I only care that you're home Elena had said.
Elena said and did all the right things, just like she said she would a year ago. She took me away from Caspira when she saw that I was struggling to be around my happy family. No questions asked.
I spent the last few months living in her mansion and working for her. No, a prince didn't need a job, but she needed the help and I welcomed the distraction. Plus it was a reason to be around her. Get to know her again.
Three failed relationships later, I sat across from Elena, having a not a date (totally a date) dinner.
Gradually we'd slipped into old routines. She was becoming my El again. The woman I couldn't quite see past. It scared the shit out of me. I was spiralling. There had been too many women too fast. I just wasn't ready for her. This wasn't happening quite the way I'd pictured it, but after six months of dragging my feet, it was now or never.
"More wine?" she asked, throwing me a dazzling smile. "I know you don't get drunk like the rest of us, but it may at least slow that brain of yours. You know, stop it from exploding."
A sheepish grin graced my face.
"I'm that obvious, huh? It's just been—"
She reached over and laid her hand over mine.
"A really long time coming," she said impulsively, making me gulp.
Did she realize just how many lines she crossed when she was with me? Always so familiar and yet she spent a decade swearing she didn't love me.
I couldn't help but scowl at the memories. John. John. John. Always John. Never me.
"Sorry," she said, withdrawing her hand from mine timidly, eyes cast down to her plate.
I'd let her pull away every time she touched me even in the slightest since I came back. Some part of me appreciated the consideration, but we weren't doing that tonight. I took her hand in mine.
"Don't be. I don't want to be with some put on version of you. You never used to shy away from touching me. Don't start now, not when we're finally about to give it a go."
"We are?" she asked softly, hopefully.
That vulnerability, the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me. It didn't matter if I was ready because my heart wouldn't stop reacting to her. I went right back to being sixteen. I was completely captivated by her.
"You didn't know it, but when I was sixteen, all you had to do was ask and I would have done anything for you."
"Of course I knew," she said with a sigh, eyes still cast down as she cut into her food. "The truth is, had you somehow managed to look past my fascination with John and asked me out, I would have given you anything too."
The revelation was bittersweet. It couldn't undo all the water under our bridge, but it was a start. We had a long way to go, but I wanted my shot with Elena Moore.
I raised her hand to my lips and kissed it. Then I took a deep breath and said, "I'm not going to tell you that I'm still that kid, I'm not. I expect things, El. I expect you to show up and want me like I want you."
"I have been. I do," she declared desperately, jumping out of her chair and turning her back on me.
I got up too and pulled her into my arms just like I used to.
"How was I in these arms for so many years, telling myself it was about someone else? My father always tells me how smart I am, but I was a moron when it came to you and John. All I ever wanted, back then and now, was for you to hold me," she muttered softly, her continued declarations music to my ears. She turned around in my arms, looked up at me through stormy greys and said with a trembling lip, "I wish I could change it somehow, realize sooner—"
By now she was in tears, completely at her wits end. I chuckled at our idiocy. Her crying used to be life or death for me. I would have given her anything to make it stop.
I pulled away from her and looked down into her tear filled eyes. My thumbs wiped away the tears as I beamed at her. These tears didn't hurt me. Messed up as it was, they put me at ease. They weren't for John or because I was hurting her without knowing it. Everything was about me. About us.
"Are you listening to me, El? Did you hear everything I said?"
She wrapped her arms around me tightly and buried her face into my chest.
"I don't know what else to say to make you believe me," she sobbed.
I stroked her hair comfortingly. Gone was the grown up Lady Elena Moore who had just offered him more wine. She was the majority shareholder of Moore Industries . The boss bitch I always knew she'd become. But in my arms she was just attention seeking, greedy, needy Elena. She was still just the girl I fell in love with all those years ago.
"Clearly that's a no. You're not listening. I'm saying I want you. I'm saying some part of me will probably always want to give you what you want."
She let herself look again, the complete and utter mess that she knew she was. Nothing could have made me let her go. My gaze dropped to her lips. The tension between us sizzled with potential. All I wanted to do was kiss her.
"I want this to be the one that works, Ron. Don't go digging in dangerous places if you don't—" she started ranting, clearly sensing the shift in mood.
"Tell yourself that," I said, cutting her off.
I slid my fingers through her strawberry blonde strands and kissed her like I used to.
It was thoughtless, careless, downright foolhardy, but our time was now. It was finally us. I wanted her. She wanted me and that was that.
Or at least it would have been if she didn't make an appearance.
"Hello, Prince of Assassins."
Still mid kiss, I felt the cool metal be pressed up against my skull. I pulled away from Elena slowly and raised my hands up. Gingerly turning around, I faced my assailant. My eyes widened when I saw who was holding me at gun point.
What was this feeling? Happiness? Anger? Pain? All of the above? Whatever it was, it wasn't fear. How could six long months suddenly seem like nothing? What kind of nightmare was I living now?
"Keira?" I rasped out, my throat tightening as I said her name.
"Try again, Romeo," said Keira, stepping out of the shadows.
She came up behind her sister, a gun aimed at her head.
"Put the gun down, Katie," she said, not so much as a glance in my direction as she zeroed in on Kate.
I was far less composed. The room, Kate, the guns, even Elena faded away. All I could see was Keira.