“What?”
Gently, he kissed me again. I wasn’t sure what to think. “Matthew loves you. He told me. I’m yours, Kenzie, all yours, but I need to know that you’re not mine because you and Matthew didn’t have a chance.”
“Aiden, no. I love you.” There was no arguing with my conviction.
“I know. But I need to do this so I don’t torture myself with what if’s.” Giving me one more tender kiss, he said, “I’ll be back this afternoon so we can make a game plan. Whatever happens, I’m in this with you until the end.”
“I love you, Aiden.”
“I love you, too. Forever.”
Aiden walked out the door and I stood there and whispered, “Forever.”
Matthew’s words had struck a nerve with Aiden. Part of me wanted to be aggravated that Matthew had placed the doubt within Aiden’s mind, but I couldn’t. I never wanted Aiden to doubt my love for him. If Aiden needed this, he’d find out that it changed nothing.
After hearing the door shut, I returned downstairs. Matthew was on the couch and I joined him, sitting a few feet away. Tilting the frame he held, he showed me the picture of where Aiden had his arms wrapped around me. We were both smiling into the camera against the rock background of Mount Kessler.
“You’re happy. You love him, don’t you?”
Taking the frame, I gazed at my blissful expression. “I do love him. With my whole heart.”
“I can tell.” Matthew took the frame from me and returned it to the mantel. With his back to me as he looked at the frame, he spoke, “I’d imagined a very different life for us. But, Sarah, I won’t push. Just know that I care for you deeply.”
Facing me, he watched my expression. A lone tear fell down my face. “It’s not enough is it?”
There was hope in Matthew’s voice. I never wanted to give him false hope. “No. I love him, Matthew.”
Resuming his position on the couch, he gave me a wink and tried to lighten the mood. I could still sense the sadness in his features. He leaned back. “All right. Well, fill me in on what’s expected in this society. I can’t believe how seamlessly you adapted to all this without any help.”
The kindred friendship would never die. “Well, you had pizza last night. Let’s try one of my other favorite foods. It’s called ice cream. While we’re eating, I’ll fill you in.”
It was a little early for the ice cream, but I didn’t care.
“Sounds perfect to me. The food here is much better.”
Going into the kitchen, I yelled over my shoulder. “I know. Wait until you try a hamburger.”
TWO AND A half hours had passed as well as a gallon of ice cream. Licking his spoon, Matthew laughed. “People really say th
ings like that?”
I’d spent the last thirty minutes filling Matthew in on the slang terms I learned.
I tried to get my laughter under control. Only someone from The Society could really see how absurd some things people said here were. “They do. If they say something you don’t know what it is, smile and nod. Those two gestures got me through many awkward moments.”
“I’ll remember that.”
My phone vibrated. It was Aiden.
Aiden: How are things going?
Me: Good. Matthew knows I love you. My feelings for you haven’t changed. But, I’m glad you let us talk.
Aiden: Love you, sweetheart. I’ll be there in about an hour.
Me: Can’t wait to see you.
I put my phone back on the table. “Aiden will be here in about an hour.”