Chapter 88
\nThree Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 88<\/p>\n
Aiken showed up almost before Bonnie realized it. She was still lost in thought, staring at the fallen leaves, when he crossed the road with long, easy strides, a paper bag swinging from his hand.<\/p>\n
She noticed his hair right away. It looked freshly washed, the bangs across his forehead still damp and curling a bit. He looked younger than usual, almost like a college kid just out of class.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got here so fast. Why didn\u2019t you dry your hair?\u201d Bonnie asked, eyeing him with concern.<\/p>\n
Aiken grinned and raised an eyebrow. \u201cWe have a response time to keep up, you know. I can\u2019t risk being late, especially not for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He slid onto the bench next to her and held out the bag. \u201cMy mom made cake. She asked me to bring you some.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonnie\u2019s eyes widened in surprise as she took the paper bag. Inside was a glass container with a slice of mango crepe cake. Her favorite.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweets are supposed to help you feel better,\u201d Aiken explained, removing the container and popping open the lid. He handed her a spoon. \u201cMy mom even tried to give me the chemical reason for it, but honestly, I can\u2019t remember any of the terminology she used.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonnie couldn\u2019t help but smile. She imagined Aiken\u2019s mom as an easygoing chemistry teacher, probably the source of his goofy sense of humor. Growing up in that kind of household must have been a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
She took a bite of the cake. It was soft, perfectly sweet, and not heavy at all. Bonnie looked at Aiken and said with genuine appreciation, \u201cThis is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aiken\u2019s smile softened. He looked at her for a moment, his eyes landing on her red-rimmed lashes, then quietly asked, \u201cBonnie\u2026 why does it seem like every time I see you, you\u2019re about to cry?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question made Bonnie pause, spoon halfway to her mouth. She thought back to the first time they met at the ski resort, her stubborn face flushed, eyes ringed in red from holding back tears. Then there had been that time at her place, her ex-boyfriend causing trouble. She probably cried then, too. The third meeting was different, but the fourth\u2014when Aiken walked her home and she saw her parents\u2014she\u2019d barely held it together.<\/p>\n
It was obvious she\u2019d been crying today as well.<\/p>\n
He stood near a trash can, his fingers hovering over the overflowing ashtray. It was littered with cigarette butts, but he hadn\u2019t smoked a single one. The urge was there, strong as ever, and just inhaling the faint smell from the bin seemed to dull it a little.<\/p>\n
After leaving the hospital, he hadn\u2019t planned to stay long. He just wanted to sit in his car for a while and breathe. But then Bonnie exited the building, head down, her posture tired. Instead of calling out, Lawrence kept his distance, simply following as she walked, watching her switch the paper bag from one hand to the other. Sometimes, she\u2019d pause to rub her ear absentmindedly.<\/p>\n
Every time she did, Lawrence\u2019s chest tightened, like something was squeezing his heart.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d never believed their breakup would hit Bonnie so hard. He always assumed she was too proud, too stubborn, that she\u2019d shrug off the news and move on. In his mind, that would make things easier for him\u2014he could play dumb and pretend nothing had changed.<\/p>\n
But Bonnie hadn\u2019t let it go. She chased him all the way to the airport. Then even further, to the States, breaking her own heart right in front of him, her pride unraveling for all to see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-756","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}