Aiden and his friends are sitting in the corner booth across the entrance. Natalie has her filthy hands on my boyfriend's thighs, and he has his arms wrapped around her waist. His beautifully chiselled face is a little flushed with alcohol. They all are laughing about some inside joke when Natalie spots me. She doesn't take her hands off my boyfriend, even when I give her the deadliest stare I can manage when I walk in their direction.

She is blessed to be beautiful with green eyes and rose-red lips. She has a type of figure that most men would go crazy for. Aiden spots me following her gaze and gets up to give me a hug.

When he wraps his arm around me, it feels heavenly. I trail my fingers along his hard abs as they collide with my waistline and my pulse quickens almost immediately. His scent smells fruity from the cologne I got him a few months ago. My mind feels relaxed and all my anger evaporates. I really love him more than anybody.

He breaks the hug and gives me a naughty smile. His hand runs down to my ass, giving it a gentle squeeze and completely catching me off guard. My face turns crimson red. Thank god the bar is dark enough that nobody must have noticed. This is the reason I am still with the guy; he knows exactly how to lighten up my mood. We take our seats at the farthest corner of the booth opposite to Natalie, her face immediately scrunches up. She is clearly pissed.

"I thought I told you not to buy this dress," Aiden whispers in my ears, pulling his eyebrows in a deep frown.

I give him a nervous grin, webbing counterargument in my head to defend my dress, but he cuts me off. "It's fine, you still look beautiful, love," he says with a tender smile I was dying to see.

My Aiden loves me. I know he does.

I notice that his dark blonde hair has grown even longer in two months. It was already long, but it has reached shoulder-length and I absolutely love it.

Aiden has an enormous group of friends. The bar is packed with unfamiliar faces, but I am happy that at least there are a few people I know sitting in our booth. Two out of five to be exact, excluding Aiden.

A girl with red highlights smiles at me, she introduces herself as Melissa. She is new to the group. I have met most of Aiden's friends, but I don't really know any of them. I sit next to him at all his parties and pretend not to exist at all.

"You look beautiful tonight!" Liam compliments me, catching my attention. He gulps a sip of beer as his hazel eyes scan my body.

He is Aiden's oldest friend and the hottest among the group apart from Aiden. I always felt he had a thing for me, but he never tried to act on it. I believe it is because of his respect for Aiden.

I give him the same weak smile I gave to the valet. I don't like compliments.

"Can I steal her for a few minutes Aiden?" Anna asks, pulling me from his side and even before he can respond she takes me away from the gang barging towards the loo.

Anna is the closest thing I have to a friend in his gang. She is a blonde with blue eyes just like mine. I met her two years ago at one of his parties. She understood I didn't fit in almost immediately. She kept me company when the gang failed to even notice I was there. Even though she is the loveliest person I have ever met, I still keep my distance from her when Aiden is away, and again I have no idea why?

"I am sorry about Natalie," she says as she pushes the bathroom door. "She is back in town, and she really wanted to see him."

"It's okay... She is one of his closest friends, she can see him whenever she wants," I lie crushing my burning desire of banging Natalie's head on the wall.

"You are an excellent liar." Her words surprise me.

"Then how do you know I am lying?"

"You have a tell." she chuckles.

"A tell?" Oh my god, Do I? I never really thought about it.

"What's my tell?" I ask, hiding my impatience.

"If I tell you, you won't do it again, and then I won't be able to catch it."

That was a smart answer. But I'm confused. Do I really have a tell or is she just making it up?

I fake a smile and excuse myself to the loo.

———————

The night goes dull as usual. After a few drinks, we decide to go to a lavish restaurant to have dinner, leaving all his other friends to enjoy the party. Liam, Anna, and Natalie tag along. Melissa doesn't join us, something about her boyfriend coming over. God, Aiden is really rich. I stand quietly beside him, and he tells the owner to send him a bill.

Gracie was the one who threw the party, but I can't see her anywhere. Lying wasted somewhere is my best guess. I ride with Aiden in his car and with some stars still in my favour Natalie rides with Liam in a car behind us giving me some time to think.

The car ride is quiet.

"You didn't tell me Natalie was coming," I say breaking the silence.

"I didn't know she was," he replies. His eyes still fixed on the road.

It gives me some sense of relief knowing he didn't actually plan this with her. I look out the window as I have nothing more to say at the moment.

"You are my girlfriend, not her, there is a reason for that... I love you," he says, tugging my hair behind my ears.

There is sincerity in his eyes. He brushes his fingers on top of my knuckles and just like that; I am smitten. The effect he has on me scares me sometimes. Even his subtle gestures take my breath away.

Natalie and Aiden broke up nine months before I met him. They were very close. He told her everything just like me, and he was also the guy who took her virginity just like he took mine.

Aiden has dated a lot of women. At first, I practically hated the idea of him being friends with them, but then I got used to it. But when it comes to Natalie, there is something about her that just makes me furious.

We reach the restaurant in fifteen minutes. It's an expensive place with lighting and amicable décor. I come to these kinds of places only with Aiden or my mother. If it were up to me, I won't even leave the house.

We take our seats in the left-most corner of the restaurant. This place is way more expensive than I thought. I love the name though, it's called Famish. The ambience is intimate with dim lights and soothing music. The interior is beautiful as well, and the blue walls fit perfectly with the lit chandelier. There is also a minibar opposite to where we are sitting. Liam takes a seat next to Natalie across the table. Anna sits next to Aiden.

Dinner is going smoothly, even I have spoken on an occasion or two, when a brunette walks towards our table. She is short but is wearing high heels to make up for her height.

"Aiden, I can't believe it's you!" she says, enthusiastically.

"Carol!... Hey, beautiful!" he greets.

"Take a seat." His hand grabs her elbow and ushers her to the vacant chair at their table.

She takes her seat next to Natalie, not taking her eyes off Aiden.

"This is Liam and Anna," and gesturing in my direction, he says, "This is Ava, my girlfriend, and you know Natalie."

"Carol is a model I work with in Italy. I have practically known her my entire life," he explains.

"And one of his closest friends," she adds, smirking.

Carol gives a gracious smile to Natalie and turns to look at me.

She tilts her head, checking me from top to bottom with a vacant expression. What the hell is she thinking? She whispers something in Natalie's ears, and then they giggle like teenagers. God, I hate her already.

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Dear Readers,

Carol seems like trouble and what is her relationship with Natalie?

I hope you have enjoyed the chapter. The next chapter is going to bring a major twist in the lives of Aiden and Ava. Keep reading!