The Best Friend's Contract novel Chapter 48

''Are you just going to sit there and stare?'' I ask, after realising that we've spent the past couple of minutes, staring at one another without uttering anything.

''Then, what am I supposed to do?'' He asks, ''One of us has got to give in and that person is me. You can have the spot . . . I'll probably just sleep somewhere else. Maybe even head back to the house,'' He continues to speak, his eyes never moving away from mine while I feel anxious about the word 'house' because no, he's not going back to the house and leave me here sleeping in this tent.

''Are you serious? What if your parents see you?'' I furrow my eyebrows.

''Look . . . let's just work this out. We have to lay on our sides instead of our backs because that's not going to work. We're also going to be a little bit closer to one another than usually in order for us to fit. If only you would give that a try, it'll work.'' He replies, ignoring my question.

I remain quiet at his solution; not knowing if being close to him tonight would be a good idea when we've just went through something intimate this morning. We might even come to develop feelings to each other, things might get complicated.

''Kenna, do you trust me?'' He asks, his brown eyes are piercing deeply into mine; making me stare back, finding how those eyes belongs to someone I trust, someone who has always been there for me through thick and thin.

I nod my head before laying on my side, waiting patiently for him to come and join me in which he did, a few seconds after. My heart starts to beat fast at the body heat on my back as he tries to adjust his body behind me, causing me to stay still.

''I'm not used to sleeping on my right,'' He mutters near my neck which causes me to close my eyes at the warmth of his breath. ''I hope you don't mind if I face you while I sleep,'' He adds.

''As long as you stay on your side,'' I answer.

It takes me a few minutes to finally fall asleep due to his presence near me but I can't help but feel safe and comfortable by knowing he's right behind me without even having the intention to move away. It's kind of weird how we're this close for a long amount of time but as long as I don't think about it, it'll just be the same as sleeping with him on bed with pillows in the middle of the bed.

''Goodnight, Kenna.'' He whispers near my ear before slowly placing his hand on my waist.

--

The sound of birds chirping outside the tent causes me to open my eyes, blinking a few times at the change of light. Things were dark hours ago but now, the sunlight is pouring in and everything seems clearer, more likely brighter.

I turn around to find an empty space beside me, quickly making me step out of the tent. My eyes wander around before breathing in the smell of nature, it's by far the most calming sensation. Within seconds, I find myself staring at Aidan who has a shirt on with some shorts as he chop a few woods.

Earphones are plugged inside both of his ears as he pays attention to the woods, not looking anywhere else. The way his hands are gripping tightly onto the axe as he aims it to exactly chop the middle of the wood, it's breathtaking. Not by the way he chops the woods . . . obviously, but by the way his muscles reflex whenever he raises his arms up.

I blink a few times at the sight.

Am I dreaming or something? I begin to pinch my cheeks and shake my head a few times but I can't help feel the pain and the dizziness. So, this is by far as real as it can get.

I make my way towards the house, sparing a few glances back at him but as soon as I come face to face with Diana near the front door, she lets out a deep sigh which confuses me, slightly; leaving me frown.

I glance at him and it surprises me to see him lifting up his shirt, causing me to catch a glimpse of his V-line which leaves me staring but just as he's about to take his shirt off, his phone starts to ring, immediately causing him to pull it back down.

''What is it?'' He speaks on the phone.

Our eyes meet as he turns around and I quickly smile one last time before stepping out of the room. It's kind of weird to be reacting this way when I've seen him shirtless before, countless times and it hasn't bothered me, at all! But let me just say something, has he been working out more than normal because damn, his abs are more visible.

''Do you need any help?'' I smile at Diana who's busy chopping the vegetables but as soon as she sees me, she lets out a sight of relief.

''Thank God, you're here. I just need some help with the potatoes, would you mind washing them and cut them into small pieces?'' She asks and I nod as an answer before washing the potatoes; missing how I used to help my own mother in the kitchen, sometimes when I'm not busy.

But, now . . . I'm too busy to even cook for myself.

''How is he? I saw him going upstairs,'' She starts the conversation by asking about Aidan and I look up to see her still chopping the vegetables.

''He's alright; he came up looking a little bit stressed out but he smiled when he saw me. I guess that's a good thing, right?'' I reply, continuing to cut the potatoes into pieces after washing them.