38 - SURPRISE PROPOSAL

PRESENT

Kyle’s Pov

*“Three words, eight letters. Say it and I’m yours”

*“I – I don’t want to hurt you”

Those words hurt to say but it was necessary. I couldn’t love her the way she wanted me to not with that dirty secret hanging over my head, looming over me everywhere I went, any time I saw her or perceived her scent around me. It was difficult to look her in the eye, knowing the amount of pain I had caused, even more that she was yet to realize.

“That’s fair” she said back with a neutral tone and an air of indifference hovering around her.

“Aria – ” I called even though there was a guilty hint to my tone, but I wanted her to understand me, I needed her to understand.

“I don’t want to be hurt either Kyle – so I understand” she didn’t understand, not even in the slightest bit.

“No, you don’t understand” I stopped her “I’m not trying to hurt you but I’ve done things, real terrible things that I can’t seem to escape from. Things that you’ll never forgive me for” the memories fluttered behind my eyelids haunting me as they did every night. I could still hear the gunshots every time I closed my eyes to sleep. My eyes sagged with exhaustion as the alcohol was beginning t wear off me but I couldn’t let her go yet, I needed her to understand that I loved her too much so I needed her to hate me a little so it could all balance out.

“What kind of things?” she asked suddenly with her eyes regarding me curiously. For a split second, it felt like the words were going to slip out of my mouth when I gazed into her eyes but I was able to stop myself before it happened. How does one even say something like that?

“I can’t – it’s too dark” my voice choked and I felt the unfamiliar but yet painful sting of tears hit my eyes

“Kyle – ” her soft voice rang in my head, trying to reach the delicate part of me I only allowed myself to bare out to her but I shook my head. She didn’t understand the kind of hold she had over me.

“I’d rather you hate me for not saying those words to you, than me letting you into the darkest part of my world. It’s not a place meant for you Aria. I can’t love you the way you want me to”
She nodded her head but not saying a word to me and I took a step back from her because I didn’t think I could hold myself if she remained that close to me. I needed to protect her from the truth and the only way to do that was to stay away from her.

“I’ll let you have the room for the night, if you want we can leave together with my private jet. The flight is at 10” I echoed to her silence before I stepped out of the room and only until I got outside did I let the tears fall.

*I needed her.

*Three words, eight letters

*I love you Aria – I whispered to the emptiness

ARIA’S POV

My heart weighed heavily in my chest while I left for the airport without Kyle. His words spoken with a finality had cut through me like a blade but I had resolved to understand even though I didn’t want to – he couldn’t love me, because he didn’t want to hurt me. What sort of bullshit was that?

I saw his eyes darken at the mention of a dark past he was trying to escape and the only thing I could think of was the conversation I had with Orion at his fashion show. Kyle was indeed running away from something and it was killing me not knowing what it was. I found myself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion, anger and a lingering sense of betrayal warred within me, vying for dominance and even worse that confusion waned through.

After I touched down in LA, I made my way through the bustling airport with my mind mainly focused on getting home and just drowning in my bed with a nice movie to wind down and take my mind of everything that was this three day trip to Florida – Kyle Suddenly, a familiar figure caught my eye – and it was Shawn waiting for me at the arrivals gate with a single yellow rose in his hand. Shock coursed through me, a jolt of surprise and momentarily speechlessness. I had completely forgotten about his offer to pick me up from the airport, I know I had texted him the details of my flight but that was it. I had been too engrossed in preparing to sign the contract and ultimately getting drugged in the end, being saved by Kyle and every other wild event that followed through.
And yet, there he stood waiting for me with a large smile on his face, his presence suddenly evoking a wave of nostalgia in me. As our eyes met, I returned his smile and a flood of memories washed over me. Despite the turmoil that still raged within me, I found myself drawn to him, the familiarity of his presence of was soothing. I allowed myself to be swept up by him in a hug that held a tint of awkwardness to it even though it was mostly on my part, Shawn looked like all was well and we had never broken up.

“I have a surprise for you” he said to me after we pulled apart but I barely responded before he took my hands and led me through the bustling airport.

“What surprise Shawn?” my curiosity peaked and he looked at me with a smile framing his handsome face.

“Something I should have done a long time ago”

By the time we reached the front door of the house, I could sense an uneasiness within Shawn because his hands shook nervously as he fumbled with the key.

“Do you want me to get that?” I said to him and he laughed nervously.

“I got it” he said and finally he opened the door, allowing me to walk in first and when I stepped into the house, I gasped.

There were balloons kissing the ceilings, and a trail of red roses lined the floors with red petals littered delicately around them. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to figure out what was going on. Was it my birthday and I had forgotten? I turned around to figure out what was going on from Shawn but when I did, he was on bended knee, holding out the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever set my eyes on.

I gasped even louder.

“What’s going on?” I said in shock, my heart pounding even louder.

*“Will you marry me Aria Thorne?”