(A/N: As this is my first story/series, feedback/comments are always appreciated. Thanks for reading)
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"So it's been, what, three weeks?"
"Yup."
"And no text."
"Nope."
"No call?"
"Just telemarketers."
"Honestly, Heath, they might be dead."
"You are not funny," I scolded, taking a crouton and aiming it at Aaron's forehead. A miss, but a valiant attempt. "I did contemplate it, but it just made it worse."
"Worse?" Aaron asked, brushing off crumbs from his suit jacket.
I picked up my fork and stabbed some lettuce onto it, a bit more aggressive than I intended. "They went on a double date with Bradley and his girlfriend. She's Landon's cousin, Ellen. Great girl actually, I'm surprised it took them this long to-"
"Focus," Aaron snapped his fingers. "So, they're officially avoiding you. What's your plan now?"
Was I supposed to have one? I was trying to force myself into metamorphosis, which mostly consisted of doing everything in my power to stop feeling like the scum of the Earth given the recent events. Picking up shifts at work, finally going to therapy (had to put my gym membership on hold for that one), and trying to do more favors for people around me - those who still talked to me.
Even though I still went to bed feeling terrible, the moments throughout the day were pleasant. I didn't know Sarah, my next-door neighbor, had a python (and our landlord wouldn't be finding out either). I didn't know there was a running group that met every Friday at my nearby park, which I had just joined. I didn't know Aaron loved trying new restaurants or that I would be having lunch with him at least once every week.
As the only person who knew every detail of what had happened, even if out of my initial desperation, I had increased our texts, which eventually turned to calls and became hangouts. Sure, most friendships didn't begin with o hookup, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I still didn't fully understand what Aaron did for a living, but if he made money, he didn't show it - clothes being the exception. He had his own two-bedroom house, charmingly rustic with a vivid garden front and back. A ten-year-old black cat named Elote kept him company and yes, I would give my life for him in a heartbeat.
The cat, not Aaron. At least not yet
"What do you mean?" I lied, taking the small cup of ranch our waiter had provided and drizzling it over my Caesar salad. Today's discovery was a Victorian-style house turned coffee shop. It felt like stepping into France, or at least what I imagined indoor France felt like.
"I mean, weren't you planning on telling Tara what happened?" Aaron asked, taking a sip from his coffee. Psychopath - he liked it black.
If I could avoid it? No. But otherwise? "If she asked or got back to me, but I keep wondering if she never texted me 'cause she didn't wanna confront me."
"If it's eating you up," he started, "then it's probably worse for her. For you, it's keeping a single thing. For her, it's Pandora's box with the love of her life."
I squeezed my eyes shut, cringing at myself. I didn't love how often Aaron said the quiet part out loud, but it was mostly overdue. Turns out your redemption actions don't undo the damage right away.
"But be honest," he continued, "are you more scared of Tara knowing you slept with Landon or with accepting that Landon isn't the guy you thought he was?"
"I mean...." I dragged. Aaron was not amused, He held my gaze as he drank his coffee. We both already knew the answer.
"It's just a lot, alright?" I answered, "I mean, Landon and I are so close. You don't know what it's like being joined by the hip to someone for so long and then poof - you have to question everything they said to you."
Aaron swallowed and cautiously put his cup down. "I do actually. I had a divorce finalized two years ago."
An "oh shit" slipped out of me. I quickly sat up and covered my mouth. Aaron laughed sadly.
"It's fine, it just had to happen."
"What do you mean by that? Did he cheat? Don't tell me he cheated. Or was it a she? Did you end up coming out when married?"
"Slow down, cowboy," Aaron scolded playfully, dabbing the edge of his mouth with his cloth napkin. "Nothing happened with him. We just... weren't in love anymore. It was mutual."
"Bullshit," I called out, moving around the chicken on my plate. "Mutual breakups don't exist." I brought some food into my mouth.
"Just because you've never had one doesn't mean they don't exist."
I sped up my chewing, covering my mouth as the last parts were swallowed. "Mm-mm, that's not how it works."
"Careful, I figured you wouldn't struggle with swallowing," Aaron teased. I rolled my eyes, sipping water as he went on. "I've been in bad breakups, but it wasn't like that with my ex-husband. We just realized the spark wasn't there anymore."
That sounded worse than being cheated on. At least there you knew there was a reason. Falling out of love after investing all that time? I couldn't survive it. "I'd rather them just dump me. I don't know how you dealt with that."
Aaron's shoulders rose with a deep breath. "Well, since he was my first on everything-"
"Please tell me you're joking." The mere thought of marrying your first boyfriend, the first guy who saw you naked, the first of all firsts only to end up divorced someday? This anecdote was starting to make me feel worse.
"No, and I'm glad. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better man for all those experiences. He just wasn't, you know," Aaron shrugged, "the one."
