or exactly how you expect it to be,” Aiden murmured.
I swallowed as I turned to him. His light eyes seemed brighter under the moonlight, and it was impossible to ignore how my body was hyperaware of his. His every breath seemed to affect my own. His every movement made my gut clench in a feeling of anticipation.
“I guess you can say the same about people. You’re not exactly how I expected you to be either,” I replied. There was a sweetness to Aiden that he hid beneath his playboy persona, and when you looked past all his teasing words, he was a genuinely good guy.
Even today, he had surprised me. He’d shown so much concern for the girl behind the cash register at the supermarket, and tonight, he’d agreed to do a puzzle with his mom just to make her happy. Those moments were only just scraping the surface though. His kindness had really shone through when he’d gone out of his way to get medicine for his elderly neighbors. Then there was how much he’d worried for his mom when she’d been called into work again. He was always looking out for her and the people around him. It was strange to think I was one of them.
He’d spent the day keeping me company when I was sad, and he organized an iso-prom so I got to wear my dress. He’d even included his little brother in our impromptu dance despite the fact Elliot seemed to drive him crazy. The fact he’d even noticed how much his elderly neighbors loved each other was something I never would have expected.
Aiden was not simply the player I thought he was.
“And how did you expect me to be?” he asked.
I smiled at the question. “Well, for starters, I was certain I wouldn’t be able to stand even one day of your terrible flirting.”
“Terrible?” He placed a hand against his chest. “Clary, I’m hurt. I’ve been giving you my best pickup lines since the moment you arrived.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you have.”
“What else did you expect?” He looked genuinely curious.
“Well, I’m not sure. I knew you were a player, but living with you has made me realize that you’re actually kind of a good guy once you get past your cocky, annoying side.”
“I’m going to choose to ignore the part about me being annoying,” he said with a smile. “But I like the rest.”
I smiled in return, but staring into his eyes sent my mind racing. Why had Aiden only ever shown the arrogant, boisterous side of his personality at school? His kinder side had been there all along, but why had he hidden it? And why had it taken me so long to realize it was there? Right now, it felt like I was finally seeing Aiden clearly for who he was, and I really liked the guy I saw.
“Aiden, why haven’t you ever had a serious girlfriend?” The question was out of my lips before I’d even really thought about it, and I had no idea where it came from.
He didn’t hesitate to respond. “Because the right girl was never interested in me.” His answer was simple, but it made my heart flutter. From the way he was looking deep into my eyes, I felt like he was talking about me.
“So, no girl’s ever been the right fit?” I clarified. My heart was racing as I waited for his response. I wasn’t sure why his answer mattered so much, but it did.
He paused before he answered this time, a flicker of uncertainty entering his eyes. His gaze didn’t leave mine though, and when he spoke, it was with slow, precise words. “No, Clary. No girl has ever been like you.”
All breath escaped my lungs as I looked into his beautiful blue-green eyes. His gaze was warm, and his voice was filled with genuine emotion. As I stared at him, I realized I wanted his words to be true. But, how could they be? This was Aiden: notorious flirt and the heartbreaker of Harford High. There was no way he was interested in me. This had to just be another prank of his.
I looked away. “You don’t mean that.”
He lightly took hold of my chin and turned me to toward him once more. My skin tingled from his touch, and his face was closer than it had been before. “Clary, I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”