“One of my favorite places. Sit back and enjoy the ride,” I reply.
His hand rests on my thigh and every time I go over a sliver of a bump it moves up, leaving me taking a deep breath. The attraction is real and the sexual chemistry we will find out later. Of course, that’s a big part of a relationship, and being able to adequately please each other. I have zero doubts in my mind that Aiden will be able to fulfill my every need. Sure, he was my first, but since then we have both slept with other people and learned new things.
I pull into the parking lot of Giovanni’s and turn the car off.
“Alright. Already have a reservation so we should be seated quickly. My stomach won’t stop growling,” I say, opening my door to get out.
“I’m definitely hungry right now,” he says, winking at me.
The restaurant is not packed since it’s only Monday night, and we get seated within a couple minutes of arriving. Aiden pulls my chair out for me, and then sits across.
“So, what’s good here?” he asks, looking over the menu.
“I’ve tried about everything and haven’t found something I didn’t enjoy.”
He nods, continuing to look it over while the waitress brings us our drinks and bread. And it’s to die for. It’s like a mixture of Olive Garden breadsticks and Red Lobsters’ cheddar bay biscuits. Some of the best bread I’ve ever had anywhere. If he isn’t careful, I might eat it all myself.
“Have you two decided on a main course yet?” the waitress asks, holding her pen and pad. “Any questions about the menu?”
“I think I’m going to have Linguine all’Aragosta o all’Astice,” he responds.
“Tonnarelli alle Uova di Riccio for me, please.”
The waitress hurries away with a smile to put our order in and this gives us some time to chat before we scarf down our delicious food. Instead of jumping right into a complicated conversation, I start small by asking him how things are going between him and his brothers? It seems that they aren’t as close as when I first met them. Or maybe, I’m reading too much into their body language, especially with Liam. When we all met at the diner, he didn’t seem that enthused with him or his questions. Or maybe, he is trying to watch out for me. Liam never liked us together, and to be honest, I always thought he had a crush on me.
“Things between us have gotten better over the last year or so. We try to hangout more often, but they still think of me as a child. It’s like they are my parents, you know. No matter what, they always think of us as their little babies and not adults. That’s how they are.”
He goes on to tell me more about things happening lately. Apparently, Liam’s girlfriend, Harper, was attacked and put into a coma. When she came out, most of her recent memories were gone, and she couldn’t even remember meeting Liam. How scary. I’m glad they were able to work everything out and she gained her memories back. It gives me bad vibes thinking he would have had to get her to fall in love with him all over again. Tessa has problems with her child’s father, who apparently kidnapped her from school one day, and had the Jackson’s on red alert. They might not get along one-hundred percent of the time, but they are there for each other when it counts the most. Each one of them have their own flaws and problems. Yet, they are practically saints.
“I’m glad to see all of you are firefighters now. Your dad would be so proud,” I say, grabbing another piece of bread.
The next question is one I didn’t think he would ask, especially at this dinner, but oh well. He asks about my divorce and what happened. The reason behind our failed marriage is exactly why I’m scared to take this leap with Aiden. How do I tell him that I don’t want the same thing to happen? My job requires so much of my time, undivided attention, and I love him.
“Sorry, if it’s too much to ask.”
“No, it had a lot to do with my job. He didn’t like the fact that I worked very long hours and didn’t give him all of my time. Towards the end, he made me feel like a bitch for spending my time beefing up my career to make a better future for both of us, but he was secretly sleeping with his secretary. He says I made him do it, but I call bullshit.”
Things between Roger and I started to go downhill after I took the job at the firm, and he worked as much as I did. Towards the end, it seems like he has a problem with women holding down good jobs. He almost outright said one day that I should be at home when he is, and that my job should never affect my time with him. Yet, I never asked him to do that for me? There are so many reasons why we wouldn’t have lasted, but the biggest one is the infidelity. It’s one thing I don’t forgive.
“Any man who cheats on you is an oblivious asshole who doesn’t realize the good thing he has. It’s common with people that are insecure. Luckily for me, that opens up the chance for us. And don’t worry, I won’t let your job affect our relationship. If you chose for us to have one.”
His hand is on mine, and our eyes lock. Why can’t I answer him? I know he is looking for a decision in the next few days, and this trip is going to help me. Hell, this dinner is already showing me that Aiden has always been and will always be my first love. He knows my struggles and how hard I fought and what I gave up to get where I am today. If I walk away from the firm, all that is for nothing.
The waitress sets down a tray and sets our plates on the table. “Can I get you anything else right now?”
“No, thank you.”
Things between us are smoothing out and there are going to be many conversations about our past and what we want for our future. Jake is a big part of that future—I hope. Tomorrow will determine if we get to meet our son, and that can drastically impact what comes next in our lives.