Love Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (23 page)

"Thanks, Mom." He turns back to face the front as Mike pulls out of the long driveway.

We get back to the apartment in time to see a truck unloading furniture. We pull up and make our way to the truck driver.

"Hi, we have a delivery for Mrs. Callie O'Connell."

"Yes, that's me." She walks over to him, signs the paperwork, and the deliverymen start to move the furniture into the elevator.

"I'll show you the way," Mike says to the deliverymen, going into the elevator with them.

I see how happy Mike is. His face is beaming with a smile so brightly that the wrinkles around the corners of his eyes become visible. I wonder when Aiden will pick up on what's happening.

We take the bags out of the trunk of the car and make our way to the elevator, waiting for it to come back down. The doors open, we step in, and Aiden presses the button for level two.

We proceed down the hall to apartment four, which is across from Mike's.

"Mom, this is home." He opens the door to the apartment which is small but big enough for one person. The deliverymen are placing and adjusting the furniture and the apartment slowly becomes Callie's.

"Mom, I'll get you a swipe card so you can come up to our apartment if you need us."

"I forgot to tell you. I might have lost my card. Can you get me a new one too, pretty please, with sugar on top?" I say.

He shakes his head. "Baby, you have to be more careful. It means anyone can get into our apartment if they find it. Luckily the swipe card doesn't have our address or any thing linking it to this building, so I don't think I have to worry about anyone getting in."

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to it." I pout my bottom lip.

"I'll get you a new one, but seriously, don't lose it again."

"I promise." I lean in and kiss him.

"Oh, young love ... Isn't it wonderful?" Callie says.

***

It starts to get late as we finalize setting up Callie's new apartment.

"Oh, we've managed to get you everything you need, except you don't have any food in the fridge."

"I'll take Callie out shopping tomorrow for her groceries."

"Thank you, Mike." Callie touches him on the arm and smiles.

"How about we all go out for a celebratory dinner, on me?" Aiden says.

"I want to call Brielle and let her know what's happening first," Callie says then she walks into the other room.

"Mike, what's going on with you and my mother?" Aiden whispers when Callie leaves. Finally, it's clicked. Mike looks at him, his breathing escalates and his eyes widen.

"Oh, nothing, we're good friends."

"Okaaay." He sounds unconvinced.

I start to laugh, thinking about his father. Aiden looks at me curiously.

"What's funny?"

"Your father is going to have one hell of a hangover at work tomorrow."

"Yeah, great, my father plus hangover equals mega grouch," he says with a sarcastic tone.

Callie walks back in. "She's fine but upset that her father hurt her. You didn't tell me he pushed her into the table."

"I know. I didn't want to upset you any more than you already were."

"Thank you, honey, but I need to know these things. She's at Blair's; she's going to stay there for a while until things settle down."

"Is she working tomorrow?" I ask curiously.

"I think so."

"I'll have a chat with her tomorrow and see if she's all right."

"Thank you, honey, I'd appreciate that," Callie says with a yawn. "You know, it's been a long day. Can we stay in for dinner? I haven't had takeout in so long."

"Sure, Mom, what do you feel like?"

"Something very unhealthy."

"I know just the place," Mike says.

"I'll come with you, Mike." I want to give Aiden and his mom some time alone. He mouths,
thank you.
I blow him a kiss, and Mike and I leave for the car.

As we get into the car, I ask, "When are you going to make your move on Callie, Mike?"

"Miss Taylor, whatever are you implying?"

"Oh c'mon, I know what's going on."

"We're great friends, always have been." He starts the ignition.

"Ha! You want her. She wants you. What's the holdup?"

"Probably the fact that she's been separated from her husband for less than twenty-four hours."

"Really, Mike, do you like her?"

"Always have, Miss Taylor." A smile beams across his face.

I clap my hands together.

"But I'm not going to tell her that until she's been single for quite some time."

"Mike, trust me, she knows, but I understand you don't want to be the rebound guy."

"Exactly."

"Consider the subject dropped then."

He pulls into the drive-thru. We order a ridiculous amount of food and drive back to the apartment.

We carry the bags and drinks to Callie's. As neither of us have a free hand to knock on the door, I giggle at Mike as he struggles to tap on the door with his foot. Callie opens the door.

"My God, did you buy all the food in Mornington Vale?" Callie asks when we walk in and place the food on the kitchen table
.

Chapter 16

I wake to my alarm blaring. I sigh, turn it off and roll over to greet Aiden. To my surprise, he's already awake and sitting up in bed.

"Morning, beautiful." He leans down to kiss me.

"How long have you been awake?" I ask rubbing my eyes.

"A while," he says, stretching.

"What's wrong?" I'm a little concerned; he's never up before the alarm.

"I'm fine ... just worried."

I look at him and sit up. "I know, but your mom will be fine, and we're here if she needs us."

He shakes his head. "No, I'm more worried about my Father. I know Mom will be fine."

"What are you worried about?"

"He's had Mom there looking after him almost his entire life. I don't know how he'll cope without her there to take care of him. I mean look at the state he was in yesterday."

I can't help but feel a little sorry for Alistair. He was pretty messed up.

"You can talk to him today and see if he's alright."

"Yeah, might just do that." He kisses me on my forehead then gets out of bed.

We get to work and exit the elevator. Brielle is already at her desk. She stands up when she sees us, and I walk over to her briskly.

"Are you okay, Bree?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, only seven stitches." She shows me the bruised wound on her forehead.

I shake my head and sigh.

"Is he here yet?" Aiden asks.

"Not yet," Brielle replies.

Aiden frowns and continues to his office.

"Are you really alright?" I ask her now that her protective older brother is out of the room.

"Sure, a bit rattled that's all. Father has never done anything like that to me before. I know he didn't mean to hurt me, but he didn't even apologize for it. He's getting worse and worse, and I'm worried that he's going to fall apart without Mom there to guide him."

"Yeah, your brother said the same thing to me this morning."

"I want to go back home, but if I do, I know I'll be the one who has to take care of him, and it should be the other way around. I'm his child. He should take care of me, you know?"

"I completely understand. Maybe you can go back home in time, but for now, you should stay with Blair. We went to your family home last night to get some things for your mom, and Alistair wasn't coping very well at all. If you go home, he might take it out on you."

"Yes you're right. How's Aiden? He seems a little agitated."

"Yeah, he's worried about your father."

"At least Mom is set up now. That was nice of you guys to let her stay in the same building as you."

"It's not my building, but of course we wouldn't let her stay anywhere else."

The elevator chimes. Brielle quickly sits at her desk and I walk back to mine, both of us thinking it'll be Alistair. I get to my desk as the doors open.

A delivery driver comes in with a bunch of flowers; I put my head in my hands.

Brielle laughs. "Phew," she says jokingly, wiping her hand across her forehead.

"Hi, I have a delivery for Miss—"

"Yup over here."

He comes over and puts the flowers on my desk. I look at them while he pulls out the paper for me to sign.

"Thank you."

I look at the arrangement, all various sized orchids in different colors. It's a beautiful as they always are from him. I take the card out of the envelope.

To my beautiful Jeni,

You're so strong, and I'm in awe of the way you handle hard situations like my father. I love you more than life itself.

Forever yours, Aiden xoxo

I stand from my desk and I walk toward his office and knock on the door lightly.

"Come in."

"Aiden ..." I say as I walk in. I quickly realize he's on the phone, and I put my hand up to my mouth in reaction. Oops, I hope whoever is on the other end of the line didn't hear me. He gestures for me to come in. I close the door behind me and walk to his desk, sitting on the edge.

"I know. No worries, Mom. Look, someone has come into my office. I need to go. Yes, I know. I love you too." He shakes his head. "Mom, I know. I have to go. I'll talk to you later. Yes, I'll tell her. Mom I'm going. Bye." He hangs up the phone.

"Mom says hi." He stands, leaning in to kiss me.

"Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful as always."

He walks around so he's standing in front of me.

"I know a way you can thank me." He slides me toward him and stands between my legs. I giggle and I grab on to his tie.

"Oh, is it something like this?" I ask as I pull the tie, making him move down to kiss me.

"Mmm, definitely something like that." He pulls me close to him so our hips are touching in every way. My hands move into his hair, he holds onto my ass, kissing me seductively.

He leans into me, making me fall back onto the desk, knocking off the mouse and a book. He leans over, kissing my neck. His hands move to my breasts, and I wrap my legs around him. I feel his erection growing against me. He moves back to my lips, kissing me feverishly.

Through his kissing, he says, "Mmm, we can't do this."

I take my lips from his. "Why?"

"What if Father walks in?"

I laugh.

"No, I'm serious. You saw how he reacted to us kissing in the elevator. Imagine if he walked in on this."

"And, yep, you just killed it." I unwrap my legs from around him and sit up. He chuckles and straightens out his tie. He stands back from me, and all I see is his erection tenting in his pants. I can't help but frown when I jump from the desk and straighten myself out.

"What a waste of a perfectly good erection."

"Jenifer Taylor!"

"Well, it is," I say with a smirk.

He takes in a deep breath.

"I know. I. Am. Trouble."

"Yes, you are." He slaps me on the ass as I walk past him.

I go to walk out of his office, but when I get to the door, I turn back.

"Oh, and Aiden ..."

"Yeah?"

"You have lipstick on your mouth."

He shakes his head and wipes his lips. I open the door and walk out of the room with a smile.

Brielle looks at me and giggles.

"I heard something fall in there. Is everything okay?"

"Yup all good."

We start our day of work, and there is still no sign of Alistair while the clock ticks on. Aiden comes out of his office and looks at me. I shake my head; he huffs and goes back in. I hear him on the phone, but I continue working. He comes out of his office again and walks up to me.

"He's at home. Can you believe it?"

I look at him, with one eyebrow raised.

"What? I thought he never missed work," I say, catching Brielle's attention.

"What's going on?"

"Dad's at home," Aiden repeats.

"What the hell?" Brielle asks.

"Now, I'm really worried," he says as the elevator chimes.

"This could be him now."

"No, I rang him at home; he couldn't have gotten here that quickly."

The elevator opens, and another deliveryman comes through with a giant bunch of flowers. I look up at Aiden, and he shakes his head. We both look at Brielle, whose eyes light up.

"I have a delivery for Miss Jenifer Taylor."

I look at him, shocked and Brielle's face dims.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

I take the flowers, sign for them and open the card as Aiden looks strangely at me.

"I've no idea," he says.

I look at the card. The message is typed.

Not long now, Jeni <3

I look at Aiden, and his brows furrow as he looks at me.

"What's going on? Who are these from?"

I laugh and look at him. "Yeah, yeah, good one, Aiden."

"Jeni, I didn't send you these."

"What do you mean? Of course you did. Who else would send me flowers?" I start to become concerned.

"Be serious with me now. Who are they from?" His eyes steadfastly fixed on mine.

I shake my head. "I have no idea. What does it even mean, not long now? Not long until what?" I feel slightly uncomfortable.

"I'll find out." He picks up the phone and dials the number from the sticker attached to the flowers. He puts the phone on speaker so we can all hear.

"Hello, Forget Me Not Florists, how may I help you?"

"Hello, my girlfriend just had a bunch of flowers delivered to her, and I was wondering if you could tell me who they are from?"

"Who was the delivery for, sir?"

"A Miss Jenifer Taylor."

"A delivery was made to Miss Taylor. The sender has chosen to stay anonymous I'm afraid."

He runs his fingers through his hair. "Can you tell me if it was a male or female at least?"

"It was a female, sir."

Aiden exhales and slumps his shoulders, relaxing.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Have a nice day. Goodbye."

"Maybe it was your mother?" I ask, thinking of who it could be.

"Maybe, but what does 'not long now' mean?" Aiden says.

"I have no idea."

He shakes his head and makes his way back to his office. I put the giant bunch of flowers into the boardroom, as two bunches on my desk takes up too much room. I can't help but be a little pissed off at Aiden's lack of trust. I try not to think about it too much, as he's under a lot of stress at the moment. We continue on with our day normally, and I eventually forget all about the flowers.