Falling for my Best Friend’s Bully

I took a bite of the cinnamon roll, closing my eyes slowly as it seemed to melt in my mouth.

"This is so good!" I exclaimed.

Aiden laughed, a smooth, deep sound that caught me off guard for a moment. He picked up his cup of coffee and drank.

"How do these people not have more customers?" I asked.

Aiden shrugged. "They want it to be that way."

I raised an eyebrow, but he didn't elaborate further.

I picked up another cinnamon roll and took a big bite, chewing slowly as I looked around. The place seemed perfect for drawing in customers—great food, cozy decor, and right in the middle of the college community.

So why would they want to keep people away?

"Anyway, thanks for bringing me here," I said, wiping my fingers on a napkin. "It's a really nice spot."

"You can thank me by coming here with me again," Aiden said, finishing the last of his coffee and reaching for the second cup.

I shrugged. "It seems like a nice place to discuss our project, but next time, I'm buying."

"You're so funny, Ellie," Aiden said, shaking his head with a small smile.

"You're the one who's funny, drinking that much coffee. You're gonna be up all night."

"That's the plan," Aiden replied, taking a sip, his tone light but teasing.

I reached for my drink and took a sip. "Shiver me timbers, this hits."

I froze mid-sip as the words left my mouth, realizing too late what I had just said.

Aiden nearly choked on his coffee, his laughter breaking free as he tried to control it. "Did you just say, 'Shiver me timbers, this hits'?"

I mentally groaned. That was something Noah and I used to say when we tried something amazing. I hadn't meant to say it to Aiden.

I guess I was more comfortable with him than I thought.

Keeping my best poker face, I said, "I think you should go to the hospital and get checked for auditory hallucinations. Yours seem severe."

Aiden was doubled over, still laughing. "Shiver me timbers… I can't breathe!"

"Shut up, Aiden."

"You're so cute, Ellie," he said, his voice soft as his laughter finally subsided.

I lowered my head, focusing on my drink, hoping it would hide the warmth spreading across my cheeks. Aiden took another sip of his coffee, the moment settling into something quieter.

"But seriously though," I said after a pause, "you're going to be up all night with that much caffeine in your system."

"I should hope so," Aiden replied casually. "I work nights."

That explained the tired bags under his eyes I'd noticed since the first day of class.

"Every night?" I asked, curiosity slipping into my tone.

"Just on the nights I'm needed," he said, his expression calm. "And I'm needed tonight."

I didn't ask him what his job was. I'd learned to recognize when someone didn't want to elaborate.

"Well, you should be sleeping right now," I said, trying to sound reasonable. "The coffees should've come after your nap."

Aiden shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Hell no. Then I wouldn't be here with you right now."

I looked away, focusing on twirling my drink with the straw. "You're so dumb."

Aiden just smiled at my comment, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he took another sip of his coffee.

"So," I said, breaking the quiet. "What's the plan for tonight? If you're working, are we wrapping this up soon?"

Aiden shook his head lightly. "No rush. I've got time."

I frowned. "Don't you need to prepare? I mean, whatever it is you do, it sounds important if they only call you when they need you."

He looked at me, his expression unreadable, and for a moment I thought he wasn't going to answer. Then he said, "It is. But this… being here with you, it's important too."

"It's important because you're chasing me," I said, my tone sarcastic.

"Yes," Aiden replied, not missing a beat.

I rolled my eyes. "You're impossible."

He grinned, unbothered by my reaction. "But you like it."

His grin faded, and his eyes drifted outside, lost in thought. We both sat in silence, sipping our drinks and watching people go by.

The quiet between us was charged, but not uncomfortable. It felt like a prickly sweater—close, a little awkward, but somehow cozy all the same.

"I'm sorry again about Noah," Aiden said, still looking out the window.

I turned and studied his side profile. There was no smirk, no teasing glint in his eyes—his expression was completely neutral.

I thought about the boy who had given Noah more bruises than I could count, who had broken him in ways I couldn't fully comprehend.

I looked at Aiden, his gaze distant, and a wave of sadness washed over me. If it had been anyone else but Noah…

"Why did you do it, Aiden?" I asked quietly, my voice almost a whisper. "Why did you bully my best friend for an entire year?"

Aiden didn't answer right away. He stayed quiet, staring outside for a while longer. When he finally turned back to me, his eyes were heavy, older than I'd ever seen them.

"Because I was jealous, Ellie."