Chapter 72
Hooked at myself in the mirror, adjusting the fitted black dress that hugged my curves just right. It had a classic, elegant cut, with a neckline that dipped tastefully but wasn’t too revealing, and short sleeves that sat softly on my shoulders. The fabric was smooth, with just the faintest sheen, and ended just above my knees. I’d paired it with black heels that gave me an extra boost of confidence and a gold bracelet that glinted delicately against
my wrist.
Thad pulled my hair back into a sleek low bun, with a few loose tendrils framing my face. I went for a subtle, smoky eye and a deep red lipstick, enough to give my face definition without looking overly made up
As I looked at my reflection, I felt a small surge of confidence but it quickly faded as doubt crept in Should I really be letting Aragon take me out for damer? There was so much between us, so much unresolved. But I’d already agreed to the date, and I hated going back on my word. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and gave myselfone last glance.
I was half tempted to say that I was sick but this was long overdue between us and the least I could do was to grant him an audience. He clearly had something to say and I was dragging the whole thing out by letting him plead to spend time with me over and over again.
A knock sounded as the door, I grabbed my purse, a simple black clutch that held only the essentials, and walked to answer it. I’d dropped Charlie off with his friend for a sleepover earlier. The last thing I wanted was for him to get overexcited or to start thinking Aragon and I were reconciling. I didn’t want to burden him with the confusion that lingered between his father and me.
I know how much kids his age wished their parents were together and it wouldn’t be hard to put the picture in his head when he sees us going out Together. He already drew a picture of what he wants his perfect family to be and I didn’t want to ruin that for him.
My boy was a smart boy but he was also still a child who could get caught up in fantasies like that so quickly.
As soon I opened the door. I was met with Aragon standing there, looking polished in a dark suit, his hair swept back. The moment he saw me, he took a sharp breath, his eyes sweeping over me.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual
That quadrupled my confidence enough for me to stand straight and accept that I looked so good.
A small smile tugged at my lips. “Thank you.” I felt a bit of warmth rise in my cheeks despite myself. “You look nice, too.
He extended his arm, gesturing for me to step outside. “Shall wet”
I locked the door and let him lead me to the car. He opened the door for me. his hand lightly grazing my back as I slid into the passenger seat. The touch was light, but is sent a shiver through me. I wasn’t sure if it was excitement or nerves.
The drive was quiet at first, but comfortable. Aragon (urned on some soft jazz music, filling the silence with a soothing melody. It felt strange to he here, beside him, as if no time had passed. Yet, everything had changed.
“So how’s Charlie doing!” he finally asked, glancing over at me as we stopped at a red light.
“He’s good,” I replied, nodding. “He was excited to go to his friend’s house tonight. It’s his first sleepover there.”
He smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. “He’s growing up fast, isn’t he? 1 benyou don’t want him to grow up,”
“Yes, he is,” I said. “Sometimes I just look at him and wonder how he got so big it the other day, I was begging and crying for him to let me sleep when I juss gave birth to him.”
se focused back on the road, but there was an uncomfortable sence, like I had just ruined the mood by bringing that
The light turned green, and he
am sony you had to face that alone,” he finally said.
I sighed. “I didn’t tell you that just for you to feel guilty. I have no regrets about him or how he came about. Did I wish had someone by my yes, but I wont be naive enough to assume I didn’t make that choice myself.”
“sull, I am sorry.”
“Apology accepted.”
side?
We arrived at the restaurant, an intimate little place with dùm lighting and soft munk. Aragon had clearly put thought into this. He held the door open for me, his hand finding the small of my back again as we walked inside. The warmth of his touch was grounding, a subtle reininder of what oner was and, perhaps, what could be.
Once rated, we ordered our food, and the water poured two glasses of wine. I swirled mine slowly, feeling a bit self–conscious under Aragon’s gaze. He was watching me intently, a small smile on his face
“Why are you loodange at me like that?” I asked, trying to sound ligluhearted but feeling vulnerable.
“Just and been a long time since law you,” he said quietly, his eyes searching mine. “Timbed ic”
I looked down, my fingers tracing the stem of the wine glass. “I missed it too,” Ladimisted, alinou in a whisper
We shared a studle, and for a few moments, the past seemed to melt away. The waiter returned with our meals, and we dove into conversation. reminiscing about old memories anal laughing about the little things. It felt alunast natural, almost ravy until the reality of the present pushed its
As we finished our meal. Aragon leaned forward, has expression turning serious. “I know things haven’t been easy,” he began. “I don’t expect
Clujary 29
everything to be fund carmizde Bot. It have to try. If you’r
The urated, taking a loving sige of my wine, the fartemen
understand,” he said, nodding “hot for willing to work for an. I want to be pointed yn
willing to be patient and to work at your testi pare her Iain paveting my
Hooked away, feeling my defenses, die “Ti not that simple. Identi
“I know,” he replied, las done so. “And I don’t want to hurt bom, ruber bur done you thank mu happy, even if it’s just as friendo“.
Tsighed, feeling the weight of his words Ife wound
Aragon peelded, reaching areas the talde trudover
The warmth of lais hand over maur sent a surge of conducting conte
hat felt in a long time. Ir’s been in Pong for me, hurring a kid and building a company, there is n
This touch was already a reactive agent in my sensitive b
After a comment. Í gently pulled my Jand away, offering hun is small, bestane unile “Thank you to
He returned my smile but has eyes were filled with a pesse surve gline like my wins
As we made for way back to the car, a renfortalde silence serded over us. The drive h İmar. Arıgun jar th
already
leed him. “Ang
ere in front of my
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, afraid that my wore might betray the whirlwind of einninn awarding loude me
He leaned forward, has bared lingering to the door handle. “Gemeloide”
“Goodnight,” Immunored, my heart racing an Estepped out of the car
to turn around, to give in to the longing in his eyes fnstead. I opened
I walked up to my front door, feeling his gaze on my bark. I resisted the urge to turn ar the door, pave lum a final nod, anel slipped inside, dosing the door quartly behind me
As Heaned against it, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Tonight had been unexpected, a crack in the walls. I’d carefully built around my brant. And as much as Ftried to ignore I knew that part of non still wanted to see if those wills mighe ercome down entirely.
I peeked out of the window to see him still in his car, has had leaning on the seat. It could be because I was thinking because I found myself opening the door and calling out to him.
