Chapter 84


    I am on my own.


    A wave of sheer panic curled its way down my spine. Something else too.


    Something that tasted a lot like betrayal. Which didn’t make sense really. When it came to Aaron, I


    wasn’t entitled to feel betrayed. Or abandoned. I also didn’t want those emotions wreaking havoc in my


    head. Or my chest. Not when I was more than able to understand why he would get cold feet.


    This whole thing was crazy anyway. Total nonsense. So, why would he go through with the insane n


    I had concocted?


    My eyesnded on the suitcase and the weekender bag pooled at my feet as I tried really hard to


    shove away the way I was feeling.


    You are fine, I told myself. Ignore that stupid, crushing sensation you have no business feeling and go


    check in your bags.


    Thest thing I wanted to do was board that ne alone, but I would do it. I would face my family—and


    Daniel and his fiancée and the past I had left behind—and the consequences of my lie with my head


    held high. And I’d do it on my own as much as I had allowed myself in thest forty-eight hours to trust


    I’d be doing it with someone by my side.


    Dios. How had I let this happen? How had Aaron ckford made himself indispensable in my life?


    Bracing my hands on my hips, I remained where I was for what I promised myself would be onest


    minute. And just to be thorough, I vowed to myself again that I’d be fine.


    The pressure building behind my eyes? Nerves. Going home had always filled me with equal parts of


    joy and remorse. With as much nostalgia as the pain that came with the memories. That was why I


    didn’t go back all that often.


    But that did not matter. I was a big girl. Before Aaron, the n had always been to do this on my own,


    so that was what I’d be doing.


    With one shaky exhale, I emptied my head and chest from every thought and fleeting emotion, and I let


    my arms drop from my hips as I reached for my bags.


    Ya está bien. Time to go. Hell waits for no—


    “Catalina,” a deep voice I’d thought I’d never be d—not just d, but also relieved, happy, freaking


    ted—to hear said behind me.


    Closing my eyes, I gave myself a moment to get rid of the swirl of overjoyed and inappropriate


    emotions I had unsessfully tried to push away less than a heartbeat ago.


    Aaron is here. He came.


    Swallowing hard, I pressed my lips together.


    I’m not alone. He is here.


    “Catalina?” he called one more time.


    Turning very slowly, I couldn’t stop my mouth from finally shaping into what I knew was a wobbly smile.


    One that probably gave away every single emotion fighting to burst out of me.


    Aaron’s frown weed me, and I swore I had never been so happy to see that stubborn knot th


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    at wrinkled his brows together.


    He came, he came, he came.


    He tilted his head. “Are you o—”


    Before he could finish formting that question, Inded on his chest with an oomph. Then, I wrapped


    my arms around him the best I could. “You came.” The words were muffled against the soft fabric of


    whatever he was wearing. His chest was warm and wide and snuggly, and for a second, I didn’t want to


    give a damn about how I had plunked myself onto him or how embarrassed I’d be about itter.


    Because for better or for worse, I was hugging Aaron.


    And he … he wasn’t returning the embrace, but he was letting me. With his arms hanging on his sides,


    just where they had been when Iunched myself at him. His chest wasn’t moving much either. It felt a


    lot like hugging a marble sculpture, unyielding and hardened under my cheek, only that it pounded with


    a heartbeat. Thetter being the only sign that I had not shocked him into cardiac arrest.


    Because besides that, Aaron remainedpletely still.


    Taking one step back very slowly, I gazed up.


    Okay, so he looked like a statue too. Perhaps I had broken him with my hug.


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