Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 88

Aiken showed up almost before Bonnie realized it. She was still lost in thought, staring at the fallen leaves, when he crossed the road with long, easy strides, a paper bag swinging from his hand.

She noticed his hair right away. It looked freshly washed, the bangs across his forehead still damp and curling a bit. He looked younger than usual, almost like a college kid just out of class.

“You got here so fast. Why didn’t you dry your hair?” Bonnie asked, eyeing him with concern.

Aiken grinned and raised an eyebrow. “We have a response time to keep up, you know. I can’t risk being late, especially not for you.”

He slid onto the bench next to her and held out the bag. “My mom made cake. She asked me to bring you some.”

Bonnie’s eyes widened in surprise as she took the paper bag. Inside was a glass container with a slice of mango crepe cake. Her favorite.

“Sweets are supposed to help you feel better,” Aiken explained, removing the container and popping open the lid. He handed her a spoon. “My mom even tried to give me the chemical reason for it, but honestly, I can’t remember any of the terminology she used.”

Bonnie couldn’t help but smile. She imagined Aiken’s mom as an easygoing chemistry teacher, probably the source of his goofy sense of humor. Growing up in that kind of household must have been a lot of fun.

She took a bite of the cake. It was soft, perfectly sweet, and not heavy at all. Bonnie looked at Aiken and said with genuine appreciation, “This is amazing.”

Aiken’s smile softened. He looked at her for a moment, his eyes landing on her red-rimmed lashes, then quietly asked, “Bonnie… why does it seem like every time I see you, you’re about to cry?”

The question made Bonnie pause, spoon halfway to her mouth. She thought back to the first time they met at the ski resort, her stubborn face flushed, eyes ringed in red from holding back tears. Then there had been that time at her place, her ex-boyfriend causing trouble. She probably cried then, too. The third meeting was different, but the fourth—when Aiken walked her home and she saw her parents—she’d barely held it together.

It was obvious she’d been crying today as well.

He stood near a trash can, his fingers hovering over the overflowing ashtray. It was littered with cigarette butts, but he hadn’t smoked a single one. The urge was there, strong as ever, and just inhaling the faint smell from the bin seemed to dull it a little.

After leaving the hospital, he hadn’t planned to stay long. He just wanted to sit in his car for a while and breathe. But then Bonnie exited the building, head down, her posture tired. Instead of calling out, Lawrence kept his distance, simply following as she walked, watching her switch the paper bag from one hand to the other. Sometimes, she’d pause to rub her ear absentmindedly.

Every time she did, Lawrence’s chest tightened, like something was squeezing his heart.

He’d never believed their breakup would hit Bonnie so hard. He always assumed she was too proud, too stubborn, that she’d shrug off the news and move on. In his mind, that would make things easier for him—he could play dumb and pretend nothing had changed.

But Bonnie hadn’t let it go. She chased him all the way to the airport. Then even further, to the States, breaking her own heart right in front of him, her pride unraveling for all to see.