Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 142

He laughs and holds me tight before letting getting.

Axel's next.

"Alright, I thought I could be supportive, but I can't," Michael says.

I once again ignore him.

Axel puts his hand against my cheek. "Please be safe. Rest. I'll handle your attendance."

I smile. "I will. You too."

I go in and hug him myself. He holds me close and I melt into his warmth.

When we seperate, I tell Onai thanks and wave bye to Ethel.

Aiden keeps his distance the whole time. I don't know what to do. I was hoping things would've changed, but they still haven't. He's still as far away as ever. He's not even looking at me.

"Bye, Aiden," I say.

He nods.

Michael cocks his head back. "What's wrong with him?"

I wave him off, not wanting to get into it. I'm about to get in the car when Ethel says something. "Aiden wants a hug, too."

I stop.

If looks could kill, Ethel would be roadkill at this point. He's hiding from Aiden behind Axel and Onai.

Really? I stand up again and look at Aiden. He's still avoiding my eyes, and now he looks pissed off. I know that if I ask, he'll just say no he doesn't. So I don't ask what he wants. I clear my throat.

"Can I have a hug, Aiden? Before I go." Let's see if that works.

He doesn't do anything. For a while at least. Then like clockwork he looks up. This is ridiculous, but I won't be the one to point that out. I expect him to walk over here, but he stays in place.

"Are you coming?" I ask.

He gives me an uninterested glance. "If you want a hug, you can come over here yourself."

"Who are you talking to?" Michael asks from the car. "Get in, Mia. Don't entertain that."

I'd like to thank my mom and dad for raising me right, Michael for pushing me to be all that I could be in my moment of need, and Ethel for speaking the truth even when he might've died for it. He still might be killed by tomorrow.

I look up at Aiden through the window with a smile on my face, ready to receive my Grammy, but it doesn't look like that's the case. After my eyes adjust to the glaring sunlight, I see his eyes glaring at me. What's that look for?

"Get out of the car already," he says coldly.

Hmmm... I don't break eye contact with him as I press the button to lift the window back up. Yeah, nevermind. I don't wanna get into that right now.

"What are you doing?" He knocks again.

"I'll see you later, Aiden," I say as I shield my eyes from the sun. "Whenever you've cooled down." I say it as more of a joke, but the expression on his face is anything but.

I wish I meant that in a funny way, but I don't.

He looks genuinely... I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. Upset? Over it? Fed up? I guess I kind of forgot the whole "get off my hospital bed" thing I did an hour or two ago. Maybe now's not the time for jokes. I don't think it ever is with him. But what am I supposed to do with him glaring at me like that? He looks like he wants to kill me! Not literally, but still. It's not exactly a warm welcome.

I step out of the car before Michael can stop me. I ignore his warnings of "bad news" and "I thought it was Carson I had to worry about, but I've changed my mind." I put one foot down onto the concrete, then the other. Then I close the door behind me, slowly. I stand in front of Aiden, and I'm overwhelmed with that same awkwardness that can't seem to leave us.

It's like it's stuck in the air between us. Every time I sigh. Every time he breathes in and out only to do it again. It's in the tension every time our eyes accidentally meet, every movement of his body under that grey hoodie and my own beating heart. It's what makes the two steps between us feel like a cliffs edge instead of something so close I could almost touch it.