My Favorite of Aiden''s Girlfriends


    Iugh at something Nikki says, throwing my head back.


    I''m ted, excited and the ends of my fingers tingle from the rush of emotions that have been passing through me all night.


    The night air is warm, and yet cool with slight breeze. We''re standing outside the gym, waiting for Aiden and Parker to finish showering and changing in the locker


    room.


    The energy from the game is still in the air, and we can hear music sting from


    cars as


    they pull out of the parking lot.


    "That game was insane. I mean, Parker was so good, and then Aiden? That was awesome,"


    Nikki squeals, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me.


    I nod, trying to focus on the conversation. "They were both amazing, I didn''t realize


    basketball games could be so exciting."


    "Girl, wait until they start getting closer to state."


    "I can''t imagine."


    The lights from the gym cast long shadows on the ground and I wrap my arms around


    myself. The noise has quieted enough for me to start getting nervous. We''re probably the


    I nce at the doors, eager for Aiden toe out so we can get out of here and do


    whatever they have nned to celebrate.


    Nikki starts to say something, but my ears stop working. Her voice is muffled as I focus on


    the figure that emerges from the shadows, rounding the corner of the building.


    "Alina," Jake''s voice cut through the night, making my heart race.


    "Hey, Mr. Matthews," Nikki chirps from beside me, smiling wide at him.


    He throws her a casual face, his gaze returning to me with a heated re. He takes in the jersey I''m wearing again.


    My Favorite of Aiden''s Girlfriends


    A wave of tension crashes over me and I try to steady my breathing as much as possible before speaking. "Mr. Matthews, what are you doing here?"


    His throat moves with his heavy swallow and he shrugs. "I just wanted to thank you foring out to support Aiden. It means a lot to him."


    I nod stiffly, hoping Nikki doesn''t notice my unease, hoping she can''t read my mind as it practically shouts out that I''m standing in front of the man I basically had a sex


    marathon with.


    Who also happens to be my boyfriend''s dad.


    "Uh, yeah, of course. It was a big game." I tuck my hair behind my ear and step back, closer to the wall behind me.


    Nikki nces between us, her eyebrows slightly frowned. "Uhhh, how have you been, Mr. Matthews?"


    Jake peels his eyes away from me, the struggle evident in the way his jaw clenches. "Good,


    Nikki. How have you been?"


    "Great. Busy with school and everything, you know."


    He smiles, stiffly and it doesn''t reach his eyes. "That''s good to hear. Like I always say,


    you''ve been my favorite of Aiden''s girlfriends. I remind him every day how he fumbled the bag with you."


    Oh god, I just want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.


    Nikki awkwardlyughs, grabbing my arm. "Oh, trust me, Alina is perfect for Aiden. They


    look good together, don''t you think?"


    My body feels like it''s going to fall apart from how nauseous I feel and how much my


    stomach flips. My eyes flutter to Jake, and there is nothing but anger and jealousy in his dark eyes.


    "Sure," He mutters.


    My hands turn sweaty and I offer Nikki as much of a smile as I can muster. Myposure is holding on by a thread and I hate the feeling of my control slipping away. I swipe my


    My Favorite of Aiden''s Girlfriends


    finger across my scar.


    "Well, I won''t keep you," Jake says, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than


    necessary.


    As he walks away, I let out a loose breath and Nikki turns to me with wide eyes. "That was he awkward."


    I nod.


    "I''m sorry he said that about me and Aiden. I don''t know why he did that."


    I shake my head. "It''s not your fault."


    He did that on purpose. Either to hurt me or to ease his hurt. Still, it''s incredibly childish


    and for a moment it makes me d that I ended things with him.


    Even as my heart drums in my chest from the adrenaline of seeing him.


    "Are you okay, Alina?" Nikki asks, concern in her voice and a hand patting my


    back.


    I force a smile and stand up straight, trying to act natural. "Yeah, I''m fine. Like you said, it was just awkward."


    The door to the guy bangs open. Aiden and Parker step out,ughing and


    chatting, in their own little world. They make their way toward us, relief making my shoulders drop at


    the sight of Aiden.


    The carefree way in which he walks andughs with Parker is a wee change to the


    tension Jake just left us with.


    "Hey,dies,” Parker calls out, wrapping an arm around Nikki. “Ready to celebrate?"


    Nikki beams at him, kissing him before breaking into a fit of giggles. I turn from them, smiling at Aiden. His eyes drink me in, filled with warmth. Not just hunger, not just heat,


    but with actual affection.


    "You ready to go, baby?" He slips an arm around my waist, leaning down to nibble


    on my


    neck.


    My Favorite of Aiden''s Girlfriends


    I chuckle, his breath tickling. "Yeah, but go where?"


    "Just to some old-fashion celebratory fun," Parker winks at us, leading Nikki away


    with


    his arm over her shoulder.


    "It''s so much fun, trust me," Nikki smiles.


    They go to Parker''s car and Aiden leads me away to his car.


    "What are we doing?" I look up to Aiden.


    He sets his bag in the back seat, "You''ll see. We do it after every game we win.


    The whole


    team will be there and a few of our friends. I can''t wait to introduce you to everyone."


    I let him open the car door for me and when he sits in the driver''s seat I grab his hand, cing it on my thigh. He keeps it there, smiling at me as he drives off. Though most of the tension has melted from my shoulders, there''s still a shiver that makes me tremble.


    It''s fed by the image of dark, jealous, angry eyes.


    Kenophobia: The fear of empty or wide-open spaces.