Her Charming Secret (18 page)

“So you guys made it? Well done, Jo,” she mocked and walked away.

“What’s with her?” Aiden asked as he sat next to her and handed out a bottle of water.

“She doesn’t like me,” Jo stated as she sipped from the bottle. When Aiden raised his eyebrow, she continued, “You see, we were all in the same boarding school. We were friends at first, but things changed. She liked Seth, but he was dating Abigail.”

“Wait! Abigail? Your best friend Abigail? The wedding planner Abigail?” Aiden asked in disbelief.

She nodded and replied, “The same one. They dated for almost five years, but Brad came along and ruined everything.” Aiden had guessed that this guy wasn’t all that noble and his guess was right. Jo looked towards the trail; there was still no sign of Brad or Seth. Anne was around, so she wasn’t able to tell Aiden everything. A sudden noise made them jump and Seth came running towards them, stretching his arms.

“Yes! I made it,” he shouted and gave Jo an exuberant high five. “It took me more than two hours!”

Anne came closer and asked, “Where’s Brad?”

“He gave up at the second quarter. Man, it was dark – and those trees were creepy. Did you get caught in the rain too?”

Anne just nodded, but Jo replied, “Yeah, it was horrid. And the trail was steep,” she sighed.

“Well, it’s over now. Let’s go guys. Brad would have made it to the bottom already, and he said that he was going to wait with Amy; we can go to the Chalet and get something to drink. And buy our ticket for the Gondola ride.”

“I want to stay and check out the scenery,” Aiden said. “I’m not sure if I’ll come here again. This place looks great. You guys go ahead; I’ll meet you down or Seth can give me the address to his place and I’ll catch a cab later.”

Jo was surprised to hear this; she wanted to spend some time with him, but it looked like he had other plans. Aiden got up and held his hand out towards her, “Come on Jo, let’s go. Jacob would love to see photos of our trip, right? I’m pretty sure my folks would love them, too.”

She got up; still surprised by the way he was behaving. He had changed; he was smiling more, and when she hesitated, he winked.

“Sure, let’s go,” Jo said, smiling. “I’ll see you guys later.”

They wandered aimlessly around the top of Grouse Mountain, taking photos and talking about their next destination. Jo informed Aiden that her friends wouldn’t be joining them. 
Finally our holiday is starting,
 he thought.

“So where are we going next?” Aiden asked curiously.

“Storm Watching!” Jo replied cheerfully.

He smiled, “Great! Jo, I was wondering if you would allow me to choose the other destinations by myself. We’ll do it the same way. I’ll plan it all and you won’t know till we reach that place.”

“Ah! Sounds interesting. I can’t wait to see the place you choose,” she replied enthusiastically.

They spent some time there and bought tickets for the gondola ride. It was fun to see the whole place. Jo had planned for another great place and they were going to be alone this time. Later that day, she told him about the picturesque fishing village of Tofino where they would go storm watching. 
Another adventure, but the best is yet to come!

- Chapter 16 -

Windswept Confessions

“
Aiden,
”
he heard a voice, soft and gentle, calling him.

“
Aiden, wait.
”
Again!

He walked towards the voice, stumbling over roots, unable to see what was ahead of him in the darkness. It took him some time to realize what was happening and where he was. Suddenly, a piercing cry made him jump. He turned around to see a light, a faint light, and there she was, standing alone, with her arms wide open, calling him towards her.

This was the first time he saw her, and she was right there. Dark eyes filled with tears. She was calling him, and as he grabbed her hand . . . she disappeared.

               *  *  *

Aiden opened his eyes to see Gabriel and Adele standing in front of him. Adele moved to his side and helped him up. He looked around to see the familiar room of the hospital where he was once admitted.

“
What am I doing here?
”
he questioned Gabriel.

Gabe walked around the room and sat on his chair.
“
The girl from your dreams seems to be close to you in some way. Do you feel some kind of connection? Attraction, perhaps?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Aiden murmured and shook his head.

“
Do you think that you know this girl? Are you attracted to someone and you feel a connection? That
’
s what we need to find out.
”

*  *  *

Pushing his thoughts aside, Aiden opened his eyes to see water in front of him. He was on a ferry, and Jo was right next to him. Gabe spoke about attraction. But why did he remember that now?

Jo placed her hand on his shoulder, “Are you alright?”

“Huh? Yeah . . . yeah, I’m fine.” Aiden was trying to figure out what exactly was happening. They were going to Tofino. They left early in the morning to Nanaimo and it took them almost four hours to reach there. They were on the second leg of the journey, on a ferry to Tofino.

Suddenly, his mobile vibrated in his pocket and that made him jump. Pulling it out, he saw that Alex was calling him. He pressed the answer button.

“First you call me at stupid o’clock and then cut the call and disappear. I called Adele and Gabriel picked up, and he was mad at me as usual,” Alex yelled.

“Hi, Al,” Aiden replied patiently.

“Hi? HI? That’s all you gotta say to me!?”

“What else should I say? Bonjour? You don’t speak French, buddy.”

Jo couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the wide grin on his face.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Alex grumbled.

“Alex, calm down. Breathe.” Sometimes it was fun to annoy him, and Aiden felt thrilled. He could hear Alex take a deep breath on the other end.

“Okay! But seriously, Aido, where are you?”

“I thought Adele told you. Didn’t she?”

“I told you, Gabe answered and you know that he HATES me!” Aiden knew that Alex wasn’t exaggerating.

“Gosh! Then try to MAKE UP with him,” Aiden suggested.

“You think I haven’t? The man can’t move past bygones!” Even Jo could hear him scream. Aiden sighed and replied, “Say you’re sorry! And end this.”

“It wasn’t my fault! And that wasn’t why I called actually,” Alex calmed down a bit.

“Is it about Rachel again? She called me last week, and now you want to know why I didn’t tell you?” So he had been talking to Adele about this.

“Look, Aido, are you alright?”

“What? Of course! Why are you asking this now?” Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I don’t know, just felt like I had to talk to you,” Alex replied.

“So you finally got time, huh? Isn’t your girlfriend with you right now?” Aiden knew that he sounded rude, but that wasn’t going to stop him now.

“Let’s leave Abby out of this, Aido. Just tell me: you okay or not?”

“Abby? Her name is Abby? What kind of name is Abby?” Aiden sounded annoyed; he knew that Alex was playing around again. 
Didn
’
t he learn his lesson when he got dumped last time? 
After a minute or two, he calmed down a bit and said, “BC. I’m in BC.”

“Vancouver?” Alex asked curiously.

“On our way to Tofino, dude.” Aiden smiled at Jo. She grinned and looked towards the water ahead.

“What are you doing there?” He asked curiously. Just then, Abigail walked towards him and handed him a cup of coffee. He was helping her with the arrangements; the wedding location was changing, which was why he called Aiden. When she asked him if everything was okay, he nodded quietly.

“What do people do in Tofino, genius?” Aiden asked.

“Umm—” Alex looked at Abigail who mouthed,
Storm Watching
. 
Wow! Wasn
’
t she smart?
 He looked at her and whispered, “Beauty and brains, now that’s what I like about you.” She mock-punched him lightly on the shoulder and walked away.

“Beauty and brains what?” Aiden shrieked.

“I wasn’t talking to you, dude! And you going storm watching, right?” Alex smirked and sipped his coffee.

“Yeah, how did you know?” Jo whispered to him that they were about to reach Tofino. “Listen, Al, I got to go now. I’ll call you later.”

“Hey, wait—”Alex said, but Aiden cut the call. He sighed and decided to find out where he was going next, and he also knew the best person who would know about Aiden’s trip. “You just wait, Ashton. Here I come,” he said to himself and walked away, smirking.

*  *  *

Aiden and Jo finally reached Tofino. They stood at the edge overlooking the sea in turmoil, the waves leaping in hopes to catch bystanders in their icy claws. The scene was as beautiful as scary. The coastline, that a day earlier had been so calm and serene as they had walked along the edge, the sea reflecting the setting sun, was today like a beautiful predator: fluid and unpredictable, and the setting sun made the waves glisten like a thousand crystals raining down as they crashed onto the shore.

The sky was a whole different canvas, streaks of electric blue cutting through the seeping darkness and fading redness, sending shivers down all their backs. This orchestra of nature with the symphony of waves and raging winds commanded that its audience was left breathless taking in the essence of the true power and fury of nature.

Aiden stared at the view in front of him, awestruck by the raw energy vibrating in the air. Turning, he saw Jo’s face illuminated and couldn’t look away. She shivered a little and he put his arms around her, hoping he could protect her not just from the wind, but also from everything. She smiled at him and leaned into him a bit more.

“Hey, Aiden?” Jo whispered, her voice so low that he almost didn’t hear her.

He looked down at her in his arms and thought of how perfect she was and how she was exactly where she should be.

“Yeah?”

“I just wanted you to know—”

The deafening roar of the wave crashing on the rocks below drowned the rest of her sentence.

“I’m sorry, what?” he asked. She smiled and leant up to lightly brush her lips against his in a gentle caress.

“I trust you,” she said.

Aiden couldn’t stand it anymore. He couldn’t stop himself from pulling Jo forward, claiming her lips in a passionate kiss that sent a tingle up her spine. She froze for a minute before pulling him closer, her hands running up his back and into his hair, holding him in place as he put his hands on her hips to pull her forward. They were molded together, two pieces of a puzzle that fit just right. She broke the kiss to take in a huge gulp of air and grinned.

“Wow!” was all she could say before Aiden grinned at her and pulled her back into another kiss just as a huge wave crashed right over them, soaking them through. They stood there in each other’s embrace, blinking for a minute before Jo started to giggle and they both burst out laughing.

“I guess that’s nature’s way of saying get a room, huh?” said Aiden running a hand through his wet tousled hair.

Jo laughed again before nodding, “I guess we should enjoy the view; this can be continued at a better time.” Aiden smiled; the promise for later in her words not lost to him.

They stood there looking at the ocean till the darkness engulfed everything, and decided to go back to the hotel before dinner so they could change out of their drenched clothes. Once at the hotel, Jo smiled at Aiden and said, “See you in twenty minutes?”

Aiden grinned and leaned into her, whispering into her ear, “What if we just skip dinner?”

Jo smiled and lightly pushed him. “No, but if you behave, maybe you will get dessert.”

Laughing, she slipped into her room even as Aiden made a grab to snatch her wrist. Aiden grinned and walked into his own room, finally realizing that he was cold and starting to shiver. He slipped out of his wet clothes and stepped into the shower and set it to hot, finally letting out a sigh when the warm water hit his back, chasing away the frostbite he almost got.

*  *  *

Aiden stood at Jo’s door exactly twenty minutes later wondering if he should wait for her outside or knock. Even as he contemplated his choices, her door opened and Jo looked at him, startled to see him there.

He stood there staring at her, her eyes bright and hair in wet curls that framed her face. Even in jeans and a tee, she looked angelic. Smiling, he leaned in to give her a peck on the lips and said, “Hey!”

She smiled at him. “Hey, ready to leave?” she asked.

He nodded and held his hand out to her. “Yes, let’s go,” he said, his smile widening when she slipped her hand into his. Hand in hand, they strolled towards a quaint seaside restaurant that had an amazing outdoor area where the tables were in corners with a subtle glow over the whole area, the romantic yellow mingling with the bluish tinge from the moon. Walking in, Aiden smiled at the hostess, who had immediately straightened herself the minute she saw him.

“Hi, table for two please.” He smiled, and Jo watched, amused, as the hostess almost melted.

“I am sorry, sir, but—”

Aiden smiled at her, turning on his charm, and said, “Please don’t tell me I have to wait; I’m famished.” The hostess blushed, and Jo felt a tendril of jealousy creep over her.

“Well, we have a table, sir,” the hostess smiled and immediately Aiden moved his complete attention to Jo. Jo smirked at the hostess, who was fuming as she showed them to their table.

Aiden grinned. “You don’t have to look that happy. There was nothing to be jealous about.”

“Jealous? Who, me? No, I was just wondering how places like these hire women like that,” Jo seethed.

Aiden burst out laughing, “Women like that? Come now, Jo, seriously! And anyhow,” he said, leaning in over the table placing his hand over hers, “I already belong to someone else.”

“Yeah, to Aubrey!” He grinned as she swatted his arm in mock-anger.

“Well, she’s my angel. I miss her already.”

Jo was curious to know about something, and she asked, “Aiden, this morning you were talking to Alex about a girl named Abby, right?”

“Yeah, that’s his girlfriend’s name. Why?” he asked as he sipped some water.

“No, it’s just that I call Abigail
‘Abby’
, too.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think they are the same.” He ran his hand through his hair. Just then, a waitress came to their table.

“Hi, I am Rose, and I’ll be serving you tonight. Are you ready to order?” She smiled and spoke, but only towards Aiden. It was like she didn’t acknowledge Jo’s presence.

Aiden looked at the menu and decided on their famous lasagna; he looked at Jo and she ordered the same. The waitress, meanwhile, kept glancing at Aiden, hoping he would look her way, but he just ordered and turned back to look at Jo, playing with her fingers. He smiled, having kept her hand in his right from when they entered the restaurant.

Dinner was pleasant. Jo was debating whether she should invite him for some coffee, but a sudden phone call disturbed them.

Aiden looked at his phone to see a missed call from Ashton, who sent him a message saying,
Call me ASAP!

Knowing it was a crisis Aiden excused himself. He kissed Jo lightly before heading towards his own room as he called Ashton, who picked up on the first ring.

“Bro, help me!”

“Ash, what’s up? Are you okay?” Aiden asked, concerned.

“Alex almost broke the door down and demanded
your
exact location. I told him, and he is getting on a flight now.”