Tending Their SECRET by Crystal Perkins

Author:Crystal Perkins [Perkins, Crystal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: bartender romance
Goodreads: 23014550
Published: 2015-08-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Aiden

I haven’t gone out hunting since my mom was attacked. I can’t, and honestly, I don’t really want to. I guess it took having someone I love almost get killed because of me to kill my bloodlust. Or at least tamp it down. It’s been almost two weeks now, and I haven’t felt the urge.

What I have felt is guilt. Ellie and I are working our way back to where we were again, but it hasn’t been easy. She still lets me hold her hand, and even kiss her, but there’s been no more sleepovers, or really seeing each other outside of work unless our friends are around. I know she’s hurt, and scared, and I hate it. I’m hoping I can make us both feel at least a little bit better today.

It’s our day off, and I’m finally giving her the date I promised. I didn’t tell her where we’re going, just to dress casually. She’s waiting outside of her townhome when I get there, and I hate it. She won’t even let me come in to get her. I still have my key, but I won’t use it again until I know she wants me to.

She stands up from the step she was on and walks to my car. I barely have time to get out and open the door for her. “Thanks,” she says. It’s all she says, and I realize that I have more work to do than I initially thought I would.

“You’re welcome. You know I like to get doors for you.”

There are a few minutes of awkward silence as I’m driving before she breaks it. “Am I dressed okay?”

“Yeah. You look perfect.”

She does. She has on skinny jeans and a flowing top that falls off one shoulder; both are perfect for today. I’m also glad to see the Toms on her feet. We’ll be doing a little walking, and heels or sandals might not have been as fun for her.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“No. I will tell you it’s not dinner and a movie, though.”

“Since it’s nine o’clock in the morning, I figured dinner was off the table. Literally and figuratively.”

“I was hoping I could keep you entertained for all three meals today, if that’s okay.”

“Oh. Yeah. I didn’t have anything planned for later. Faith said she’d stay with your mom today.”

“Ellie.”

“I just needed you to know that.”

“What I need you to know is that I know you’d never leave my mother unprotected. You didn’t do it the night of the bomb, and you wouldn’t do it today nor tomorrow. You don’t have to tell me, because I know. I should never have said the things I did, and I will regret them for the rest of my life.”

“You don’t need to regret them for that long. I forgive you. I shouldn’t have brought it up right now. I want to have a good first date with you, and I’m already screwing things up.”

“Since we haven’t arrived at our first destination yet, we can pretend that it hasn’t started yet, and just go from there.

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