Run, Girl (If You Can)

Chapter 125: Don't Be Too Impressed

When Aaron said he would make breakfast she had expected him to bring back a couple of yogurts or something. Waffles served with strawberries and whipped cream were the last thing she would have expected.

"You made these?" she asked in disbelief.

"Don't be too impressed; I used a box mix."

He handed the plate and a coffee mug to her and watched her with an expectant look on his face. For a split second he looked like a dog that did a trick and was waiting to be given a treat before he went back to being Icy Aaron.

"Dish ish weary dood," Keeley mumbled around a mouthful of waffle before swallowing. "What brand is this mix?"

"Stonewell Pantry. I bought it online."

Ah. It was probably way more expensive than the pancake mix she got at the grocery store. Pity. They were delicious.

Halfway through her waffle, she noticed he was still sitting there empty-handed. "You don't have to watch me eat. Go make yourself a waffle."

"Okay."

He got up and returned five minutes later with a waffle of his own. "Would you like another one?"

"Yes, please! You eat though; I'll make it."

She scampered off to the kitchen, still not believing that the great Aaron Hale descended to earth to make her waffles for breakfast. She didn't think he even knew how to work a waffle maker—in her past life a personal chef did everything for him. While she was at it, she made him a second one and brought them both back to the TV room.

"Thanks," he said with a soft expression before accepting the waffle.

They watched the show and ate in silence for a while before Keeley couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm so sorry about this morning; I really don't know what came over me and it must have been uncomfortable for you," she apologized. It was certainly uncomfortable for her once she was cognizant enough to realize what happened.

"Don't apologize; I haven't slept that well in ages."

She scrutinized him, unable to tell if he was serious or not. It's hard to tell if someone is messing with you when their face is practically made of stone. Although he had been oddly expressive lately for brief snatches of time…

Something she didn't realize yesterday had begun bothering her as she ate. "Hey Aaron, how did you know I liked Dancing with the Stars?"

He mentioned that he recorded it for her but why would he do that? Was it just a random coincidence?

"It's one of the first things that pops up in your 'liked' pages in your about me section on Facebook."

Okay, that was reasonable but… "Why did you record it for me?"

He furrowed his brow. "I would have thought that was obvious. You know some Spanish from your telenovelas, right? Mi casa es su casa."

My house is your house. Keeley knew this phrase—Valentina said it was a common thing people used to let others know it was okay to make themselves at home while visiting. So all of those snacks…were for her as well? She hadn't thought too much into it before but they weren't the types of things Aaron normally ate.

This guy must be even lonelier than she originally thought if he prepared all this stuff just to get her to come hang out at her house. She felt bad for him…and a little touched. Even though she didn't like him, it was flattering to get such special treatment.

Her lips quirked up into a little half smile. "You're very thorough."

"I try."

Keeley wrapped her arms around her knees and continued watching the show. After a while, Dinah finally made an appearance and jumped up into Aaron's lap.

She reached out to scratch under her chin. "Hey pretty kitty! I haven't seen you yet!"

"She has a lot of space to explore; sometimes I hardly see her," he explained.

That made sense. Her apartment was small and sometimes she still couldn't find Molly because the sneaky little thing knew where all the hiding places were. In a place this size, it was amazing he saw the cat at all.

Dinah looked perfectly comfortable in his lap; this must be a regular occurrence. Keeley never would have imagined her Aaron allowing something like that to happen even once.

She had to stop comparing the two. This Aaron shared a name, a face, a job, and a few mannerisms with her Aaron but that was about it. It was like he had a personality transplant. He was way too nice to her to be the man she married.

With that thought in mind, she steeled herself to ask a question she might regret. "Since you've already recorded all the episodes this season…is it okay if I come back after Thanksgiving and watch the last two? The finale is the day before the holiday."

"Of course! My TV is always at your disposal."

"Awesome, thanks!"

Keeley secretly peeked at him when she was sure he wasn't looking. He was absentmindedly petting the cat with a hint of warmth radiating from him. Maybe this version wasn't so bad after all.

She didn't want to be wrapped up with him long-term because his world was still terrifying but for now she should be more accepting of his friendship. She had been pushing back so hard all this time thinking he was the same man who destroyed her but he obviously wasn't. Would it really be so horrible having a friend who was this nice to her even if he looked and sounded like Aaron?

After she was completely caught up on the show, she reluctantly stood. It was time to face the music.

"I should get going. But first…do you still have that toothbrush I used last time by any chance?" Keeley felt gross after not brushing her teeth since yesterday morning.

"Yes, it's in the same bathroom as last time in the toothbrush holder."

She thanked him and scampered off to the bathroom. She really needed a shower too but that could wait until she got home and had a change of clothes.

Grabbing her spoon, Keeley asked to borrow a pair of shoes so she could walk herself. She was already coming back in a couple weeks so she could return them then. Even if they were huge, she was wearing thick socks so it should be manageable.

Aaron returned with a pair of black Louboutin heels. "…these are my mother's. They should fit."

If Roslyn Hale knew somebody else, especially a nobody, had worn her shoes, she would be furious. Keeley had never liked heels all that much even after wearing them for years but she was happy to wear these knowing her former mother-in-law wouldn't like it. She looked down at her fuzzy socked feet sticking out of the heels.

"I'm the pinnacle of fashion," she said dramatically and struck a pose before bursting out laughing, forgetting who she was with.

It was something she would have said if she was with her roommates. What had possessed her to do something so silly in front of Aaron? She glanced up at him nervously, ready to apologize for being a dork, when she saw him covering his hand with his mouth.

He was clearly trying not to laugh and his eyes had crinkled at the corners like he was smiling.

"Go ahead, laugh it up," she huffed. This is why you can't be silly in front of serious people.

"Sorry," Aaron snickered. "It's been a long—I mean, I've never seen you do something like that before."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

Keeley wasn't even self-conscious of who might be seeing her dressed so ridiculously anymore. She was too worried about getting attacked by her roommates for disappearing yesterday.