Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 139

Maybe this time, things wouldn’t get too messy after all. She had already done everything she could to clear things up, and she hadn’t done anything wrong to begin with. If anyone still didn’t want to believe her, or decided to make trouble, she could only deal with it as it came.

Bonnie felt lighter inside, a little more herself. Aiken seemed to notice, too. They wandered the mall for a while, window-shopping and talking about nothing in particular. As evening set in, Aiken drove her back to her apartment complex.

“I’m not coming in with you. Get some rest,” Aiken said, standing to block the wind so it wouldn’t hit her directly. “Don’t overthink what happened tonight. Stuff like this doesn’t usually get around much. Even if someone tries to post about it, and you feel bothered, just call the police. We’ll take care of it.”

Bonnie nodded. “I get it. You should get home… and, thank you. For everything today.”

If it hadn’t been for Aiken, she doubted she could have calmed down so quickly. She probably wouldn’t have thought to stand up for herself or get those bystanders to delete their photos and videos.

Aiken smiled, his voice gentle. “No need to thank me. This is my job, helping people, especially when that person is you.”

Bonnie’s lashes fluttered, and for a second she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Aiken’s expression softened as he leaned in, searching her eyes.

A gust of wind whipped by, and Bonnie blinked as something got in her eye. She lifted her hand to rub but Aiken caught her wrist.

“Don’t, your hands might be dirty. Let me see,” he said, stepping closer.

She felt a little embarrassed, dropping her head and rubbing at her eye with the back of her hand. A tear slipped free, the scratchy sensation finally fading.

“It’s okay now, just some dust probably.” She wiped away the tear and gave him a small smile. “You should get going. Drive safe.”

Aiken straightened and gave her a nod. “You go inside first. I’ll leave after you’re in.”

He hadn’t been planning on saying anything, just parked on the roadside hoping, maybe, to catch a glimpse of her by chance. For a while he sat, engine off, lost in his own thoughts, until he saw Bonnie and Aiken arrive. They seemed close, laughing and talking together.

From where he was, he couldn’t see Bonnie at all. Aiken was tall enough to block the view entirely, so Lawrence had no way of knowing if Aiken had leaned in to kiss her, or if they were just chatting.

Either way, it stung. The ache was sharp and bitter.

For a second, Lawrence was tempted to get out of the car, to push between them, to claim Bonnie as his own. The urge clawed at him, wild and ugly, and he had to clench his fist to keep from acting on it. The corners of the cigarette box bit deep into his palm.

He closed his eyes, tasting nothing but bitterness. It had already been a month; he hadn’t dared to approach her for a whole month, and every day had felt like torture.

He missed Bonnie. He missed her every single moment.