Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 143

He's right there, and we've held each other before, so why does his body still feel like uncharted territory? Completely off limits? Untouchable despite the fact that it's his warmth I'm most familiar with?

With Axel I can just walk up to him and start talking. With Carson, he just gives me all the affection I could ever ask for (and then some...) without me ever having to ask for it. But Aiden...

What do I do an Aiden? Do I walk it lol? What's it's primary diet? Am I ready for this kind of responsibility?

I can't just hug him. I can't even talk to him, let alone physically move towards him and initiate full on frontal contact... right? I mean, it's Aiden. His number one rule is don't touch me or it's all your fault and blah blah blah encouraging behavior.

One part of me knows that it's just his defense mechanism. Just like Onai avoids main roads to stay away from people who are mean to him. And Axel lies to keep a false sense of security. And Carson constantly needs to be the center of attention or he feels unwanted. Even Michael feels the need to be in change and in control, so that he can protect all of us.

Aiden has to push people away. Maybe it's the loss of his parents. Maybe its just his personality, but for some reason he just can't admit that he needs, or even wants, anyone else.

If I want for him to hug me, I'll be waiting til hell freezes over, and it's not like I can swallow my pride long enough to do it, so we're kind of just wasting our time here.

I avoid eye contact with the spectators around us, equally as fascinated with our... inability to interact. I never knew two feet could feel like miles of separation.

"Well, I don't wanna rush you guys," Ethel starts, and I believe him with the way he's rubbing the back of his neck, almost afraid to speak. "All things in good time of course, but I'm just wondering if you guys ever plan on-"

"Ethel."

That's exactly how Aiden says his name. Flat. Harsh. Unforgiving. I stare between the two of them.

Ethel pales. "Um..." He clears his throat. "Yes, Aiden?"

From my perspective, Aiden doesn't really do anything. He's not exactly looking at Ethel like he's his favorite guy in the world, but his expression doesn't change at all. He just stares at him, but something about the way he does it-or maybe something said in mindlink-sends Ethel flinching thirty feet back.

Aiden wastes no time looking at the others, and they all make themselves scarce immediately. Axel, Carson, and Onai take a few steps back and pretend to talk about some kind of pressing information. Carson alone looks like he could be discussing the fate of the universe, but I hear the words "ice cream" and "let's skip econ" more than once, to which Axel vigorously nods along with Onai.

Are they serious?

I just shake my head and look back at Aiden. What should I say to him? Where do I start? I cross my arms, thinking. "About the bed thing..." I sure hope Michael can't hear this. I talk even lower. "I didn't mean-"

"You don't need to explain yourself," he says. "I already understand."