Chapter 38: Chapter 38

RUBY.

"I don't think the rain is going to hold up anytime soon," I said, Aiden and I were both stuck in his car because it was raining cats and dogs outside, usually, the doormen would offer us an umbrella but it was beyond that at the moment. This was the type of rain that caught umbrellas in them and sent them flying. There was a long queue at underground parking and by now it would be full because it was rush hour so we were stuck waiting in front of the building with the heating on inside the car and the engine running. Today was the very definition of hectic. I had woken up late so I had to rush to get ready, eat breakfast and run through the door. The school was nerve-racking today too, I had to run from class to class and get the final paperwork for my internship submitted.¹¹ For the next six months, I would be interning at Daniels Corporation, in the same office as Toby.

"Let's dash it." He said.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You'll be soaked and have nothing to change into."

"Well, I wanted to surprise you but I got a place in your building." He said rather quickly.

"That's great news," I said, but he didn't reply. He just got down into the pouring rain and ran over to my side of the door to offer me a hand. We ran through the rain into the lobby of our building dripping water and laughing to the elevator.

"We are soaked," I said, stating the obvious as Aiden pressed the elevator to what must have been his floor.

"Mhmm.. I'll just head up to my apartment and then I'll meet you at yours after I've changed out of these wet clothes and had something to eat."

"Okay."

The rest of the elevator ride continued in silence. "This is my stop." He said when we reached his floor.

"Bye, see you later," I said with a wave.

I was cuddled up on the couch sipping my favourite brand of green tea and watching some sitcom that was on TV when I heard a knock.

"Work out time," Aiden said when I opened the door.

"No," I said in protest. We had been consistent with working out for the last week but today was too stressful. "I just want to lay on the couch and be lazy for today."

"That's fine with me but as a good friend and your accountability partner I have to remind you of your goal." He said, sitting down beside me where I had plucked down.

"Ahh.. I'll be right back," I said with a groan. I went up to my room and changed out of my woolly sweater and sweatpants into a neon pink pair of shorts and a blouse, a workout set I had bought last week.

"I'm back, let's go," I said leading the way to the gym.

"Let's work on your midsection." He said taking off his hoodie to reveal his toned chest, his sweat pants hanging low and for a moment my eyes linger at the waistband of his pants. "Ruby I said we should start with some planks," Aiden said, which snapped me out of my naughty thoughts.

I dropped down into a plank and he knelt beside me parting my thighs slightly, putting his arm on my back and tummy, trying to correct my form. Everywhere he touched sent weird feelings flying through me. He went into a plank beside me and we stay like that for a few seconds. I drop down first before he joins me. We do some squats, sit-ups and light cardio on the treadmill in about thirty minutes before we call it a night and I escort him to the door.

"Would you go out with me on Friday night?" Aiden said almost making me choke "it's just a friendship date," he added quickly.

"Okay, that would be nice," I said feeling rather relieved in his admission that it was just a friendship date.

"I could pick you up by seven then." He said.

"On second thought it might be better if we have the date here to avoid the paparazzi and everything."

"That would be great, I could order the food and send it over here just let me know where you'd like me to order from"

"See you on Friday then, maybe we could order from the new Italian place in town," I said. We said our goodbyes and I shut the door behind him.

"Why would I think he would ask me out when I was dripping sweat and looking terrible for even my standards?" I thought sadly as I headed towards the bathroom. I decided to have a bath to cheer me up. I watched the tub fill up slowly then threw a bath bomb into the water and watched it foam and turn a light pink colour.

I peeled off my workout clothes and settled in the tub, I instantly felt more relaxed. It would be nice to spend some time with Aiden whether it was a friendship date or not. The stress of the day ebbed away and the water grew cold so I hopped out of the tub and wore my towel robe.

After lotioning my body and wearing a comfortable pair of pyjamas I settled downstairs to watch a movie. Halfway through the movie right at a cliffhanger, the TV switched to a football match.

"Hey!" I said to Toby who had settled on another couch with the remote firmly in his hand. "I was watching that." I continued when he ignored me.

"I don't care, you can go watch it in your room."

"I have a bright idea, why don't you go watch it in your room," I said reaching out for the remote. I try to pry it out of his hands but he has a firm grip on it. As we continue to struggle I end up straddling him, trying to gain equilibrium and pry the remote forcefully out of his hands. He somehow flips us over on the spacious couch and we continue to struggle for the remote, our hands above our heads. By this time his entire weight Is resting on me and so I'm too exhausted to keep struggling.

"I give up," I said in a strained voice bringing my hand to rest on his shoulders. I noticed how uncomfortably close his face was to mine just before his lips crashed against mine, I froze for a moment before I began to kiss him back. We stayed in that position for a few seconds exploring each other's lips before I came back to my senses and pushed him off.