Because of My Best Friend

19. A Big Question

*AIDAN POV*

“Dude, you need to calm down!”

I ignore Tanner’s unhelpful ass as I ruffle through the papers yet again, making sure I have everything in the folder.  “Don’t you have somewhere to be… I don’t know… like Fairview?”

He props his feet up on my coffee table as I quickly run back to the bedroom, knowing I forgot my deodorant.  “Nah.  Girls are coming together… like I told you a few days ago,” he deadpans.   

I quickly pop my deodorant in my bag and zip up.  I check my watch for the billionth time.  They should be here by now.  “Aidan, grab a beer, sit down….  Chillax dude.”

Easy for him to say.  He’s gotten to see Kelsey for the past two weekends.  Me and Justine?  f**k, it’s almost been a whole month that I haven’t seen her.  First, she got the flu, then the next weekend I had to go to some stupid conference.  And last weekend, she said she wanted family time.  I think part of the reason was because the traveling is getting to be a lot, but I didn’t say anything.

We totally skipped over our 6 month anniversary.  But hopefully we’ll make up for it this weekend. 

I was able to convince Justine to take a 4 day weekend with me.  What she doesn’t know is that I plan on taking her back to the city where our whole adventure started.  Just the two of us.  I also have something serious to ask her, hence why I’m nervous. 

I haven’t told Tanner yet either, because he would intensify the whole thing.  And he would spill he beans to her best friend.   

I needed to focus on something other than how long it’s taking them to get here.  “How are you and Kelsey holding up anyways?”

He lights up like a schoolboy anytime her name is mentioned.  He sits up and smiles out, speaking low as if someone else was in my apartment.  “I love her, a lot.  Part of me wants to whisk her off her feet and take her to the courthouse and make her mine as soon as possible.”

I arch an eyebrow at him.  “Really?  All the way so soon?”

He shrugs his shoulders.  “I said I want to, not that I’m going to.  I don’t want to freak her out.  She would probably want a real wedding anyways.  She wouldn’t be able to resist me in a tux.”  I can practically see him daydreaming of that day right now.

I smile to myself.  I’m pretty sure Kelsey would be the last person to freak out.  “Just make sure you get Justine’s blessing before you ask her…. or she just might kick you in the balls.”

He shrugs his shoulders again.  “I would just say that it was your idea to make it a surprise.”

“Bastard.”

A knock on the door makes us both pause, then it’s like the Kentucky Derby with both of us trying to get to the door first.  I have more of a drive, since it’s been so long, so I really don’t feel bad that I trip him so I can get to the door first.  In consolation, he grabs my foot, attempting to make me fall down with him, but I refuse to budge.  I drag his body for two steps, then he does some weird body spin to attempt to kick my shins.  I cry out, because, damn, that hurt… and as he gets up, I take my first two fingers on each hand and stab him in the ribs.  He squeals like girl, falling down to the ground. 

I heave out a breath as I adjust my shirt back and walk casually to the door as if nothing happened. As soon as I open it, both girls are standing there with hands on hips, a gorgeous smile on Justine and a huff from Kelsey.

“You owe me five bucks Kels.  My man won!” Justine states, wrapping her arms around my neck.  “Hey baby.”  I pull her in for a well needed hug.  Just having her arms around me makes everything feel right.  It still amazes me how I spent 5 years in a relationship with someone and not feel this way.  Being with Justine is on a-whole-nother level.

Kelsey’s huff while bypassing us interrupts my moment of solace. 

“Hey babe!!!”

“Don’t you ‘hey babe’ me!  You cost me five dollars!”

Justine giggles while sniffling and I pull back to see her tearing up.  “You okay babe?”  I wipe her cheeks as she looks up and rapidly blinks.

“Yea, I guess I just missed you more than I thought.”  I smile hard and she leans in to peck me on the lips.  “I’m sorry, I should have come down last weekend.”

I pull her in for another hug.  “I missed you too sweetheart.  You’re here now.  That’s all I care about.”

Tanner interrupts us by throwing my bag next to my foot, and locking up my apartment, then tosses me the keys.  He and Kelsey say a quick goodbye and Justine raises her eyebrows for an explanation.

I let out an awkward laugh.  “Did I mention I had a surprise for us?”

*

“Mmmm, you are so forgiven,” Justine says on a moan.

“I’m glad,” I say with a smile.  I put her foot down back in the water, and pick up her other one, making sure I rub all the right spots.  We are both lounging in the large jacuzzi tub in the hotel room, relaxing from the week.  Justine wasn’t super hyped about a two hour drive after she just got off the plane, but once she settled into hot water, she seemed content.

“You know you didn’t have to do this Aidan.  I would have been just as happy being home with you.”

I love it when she calls my place home, hopefully soon it really will be our home.  “I wanted to do this. You’re a special woman, Justine.” 

She pulls her foot out of my hand and crawls forward, puts her hands around my neck, and lays on top of me.  “You really care for me, don’t you?”

“Yup, I love ya.  You’re stuck with me lady.”  I pat her butt as if I was playing the drums, causing both of us to laugh.  She leans forward and kisses me, and I don’t hesitate to return it.  When our tongues clash, we both let out a moan and my d**k jumps to life.  The tease that she is, smiles through our kiss while adjusting her body on top of mine, and slowly starts grinding.

My hands grab a hold of her hips, trying to position her where I can slide home, but she keeps wiggling out while giggling.  “Don’t be naughty Justine.”

Our eyes lock on each other as our each of our breaths come in pants.  She bites her bottom lip as she eventually stops moving around, and when I enter her, her arms tighten around my neck.  Slowly she rides me, neither one of us breaking eye contact, and I swear this woman has never looked hotter.

“I love you Aidan,” she whispers out.

“I love you too, baby.”  I guide my hand between us and touch her where I know she likes.  Both of us moan as her pace increases.  Water starts sloshing onto the floor, but all we care about is reaching our ends.  Her walls start clenching me and I know she’s about to come, so I rub faster and harder on her clit.  Her delicious sounds urge me on as well, and in no time, we each fall, coming together.

She rests her head on my shoulder and I hold her tightly to me as we gather our breaths.  We’ve only had s*x a few times without a condom, and I swear it gets better every time.  We stay together until the water turns cold.

Best start to our anniversary.

*

*

This weekend has been perfect.  We did last minute holiday shopping for our families and family, ate some awesome food, and really just enjoyed our time together.  I’ve been nervous to have the talk with Justine, but I didn’t want to have it our first day together, or wait until tomorrow when she leaves, so I guess it’s now.

We just got back from watching a movie, and decided to be lazy until dinner time.  Justine just got done changing into her PJ’s and is nestled in the bed, trying to get warm.  I open my bag up and pull out the folder.

“Hey Justine?”

“Yeah babe?”  I walk over to the bed and kiss her cheek, earning myself a smile, and I hand her the folder.  “What’s this?”  She opens it up and I can see it register on her face what she realizes what’s inside.  Confusion.  She quickly looks up at me.  “Aidan.. wha-?”

“You said you didn’t want to do online classes…. So.. I, uh, found a couple of colleges within an hour drive.”  I rub the back of my neck, knowing she’s still not getting it, but I haven’t spelled it out either.

“Not from Fairview, it isn’t.  I would have known about them.”

I sigh and take the folder from her hands and sit down next to her.  She immediately scooches in closer, taking a hold of my arm.  “They are from where I live.  I want you to move in with me.”  There, I said it.

Shock is her first reaction.  Her lips thin out as she’s processing everything.  “I know we’ve only been dating for seven months, and it’s all been long distance, but babe, I’m ready for this next step if you are.  I would move to Fairview in a heartbeat if I knew it would make you happy, but I wouldn’t be the partner you need if I did that.  I know you’re not happy at your job, and I would love to see you grow into your potential.  Even if you don’t move in with me, I just want you to have the push to do what you really wanted to do sweetie.”

She’s silent for more than a few seconds, and I know we can both hear how loud my heart is beating.

“This is really unexpected,” she says quietly, looking down where our hands are enlaced.

“Yea,” I laugh humorlessly.  “Sorry about that.”  She looks up to me with a small smile.  “I really love you Justine.  I just want what’s best for you.”

She leans in and gives me a soft kiss, then pulls back.  “I love you too.”  She picks up the folder, opening it, and sighs.  “It’s a lot for me to think about Aidan.  My whole life is in Fairview.”

“I know.  I know it’s not an easy decision for you.  I just needed to give you the option.  It doesn’t have to be immediate, but us living together is what I want in our future.  Do you see that as well?” 

God please say yes.

She sports on a big smile.  “I do.  We’ve got something great between us huh?”  I nod and she puts the folder on the end table, then climbs into my lap.  “Thank you.  I’ll give you an answer soon, okay?”

I kiss her once again.  Thank god she didn’t freak out on me and that we are both on the same page.  I really hope she decides soon, but I’ll be as patient as I need to be.