Chapter 254
I look at myself on my phone, watching it ring and waiting for Aiden to answer. We’ve been so busy and it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to catch up.
I told him a call wouldn’t be enough, and I needed to see his face.
The call connects, and his face fills the screen, his smile immediately warm. He looks a little grainy and I can tell he answered me on his laptop.
“Hey, baby,” Aiden greets me.
I can’t help the smile on my face; it hurts. “Hey. You look different.”
He shakes his head, his hair longer than the last time I saw him. “Trying a new look.”
I chuckle, and he adjusts the pillow at his back.
“How’s everything going? How’s Italy treating you?”
I grin even wider, feeling my heart ease just a little at the sight of him. “It’s good. Really good. I’m settled in, getting the hang of the language, the culture, the food. I got a job helping Elena around. I think it’s just her way of giving me money in a way where I don’t feel guilty about it.”
He laughs at that. “That sounds like you and that sounds like Elena.
I shrug. “Living in another country can only change us so much.”
“What about your painting? How’s that coming along?”
I lean back in my chair, looking around at my tiny workspace in the studio. I look at the paintings I’ve finished as they lean against the walls, along with a few pieces I’ve started. There are some rough drafts, others are nearly complete.
“It’s getting there. I’m learning a lot, experimenting with new techniques and materials. Had to throw a few of them into the donation bin, but I think I’ve got
something here. I’ve even been networking a bit, talking with Elena about new ideas.”
Aiden nods, his eyes lighting up. “That’s awesome. Knowing the right people is like 90% of it. I’m glad she’s helping you out. It sounds like you’re really finding your stride.”
I smile, the sense of accomplishment making me feel a little stronger. “Yeah, I feel like I’m starting to find my voice here.”
“I knew you’d do well,” he says sincerely
I’m about to say something else when Aiden shifts his position, and notice something in the background, a familia. -framed by a thick wooden frame.
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.
“Wait,” I say, my heart skipping a beat. “Are you in Virginia?”
He grimaces, the expression fleeting but enough for me to know the anser. “Yeah.”
My heart rate picks up.
JOW
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Chapter 254
“I came for the weekend to visit Zaid.” His voice drops a little, like ‘s hesitant to continue.
“Oh, why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, suddenly finding my fingers very interesting.
“I didn’t want to tell you because I know you two aren’t talking right now.”
I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat, but I don’t want to let it show. I glance at the clock, and then back at Aiden, my heart a strange mixture of relief and nervousness.
“Can I talk to him, anyway?” I ask quietly, almost as if the words themselves might break something inside of me.
Aiden thinks for a moment, then nods. “Yeah, I’ll walk you over.”
He picks up his laptop, the camera following his movement as he crosses the room. I hear him knock on a door.
A moment later, Zaid answers, and my heart lurches as I catch the flash of his familiar eyes through the screen. His expression shifts from mild surprise to something I can’t quite place before he steps forward, taking the laptop from Aiden’s hands without a word. He disappears from the frame, the sound of a door closing softly behind him.
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