“I’m saying that I’m excited that you’re finally angry. I know you well enough to know you hate confrontation, so lashing out at Adrian was probably cathartic, right?”

“Aiden, and yes, it did feel good actually.”

“Well, being in your feelings is a good first step in the right direction,” Eddie said gently. “But don’t lash out at the wrong guy. Save it for the next time you see Derek.”

She didn’t want to see Derek for as long as she lived. The humiliation that he caused her still burned. How could she confront the man who she fell head over heels in love with? Maybe Aiden didn’t know how to be as tactful as she wanted him to be, but could he have a point? “I think I’m afraid of Aiden,” she admitted.

“How so?”

“He just...he’s caught me by surprise. I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s not what I expected.” Antonia struggled to articulate her feelings. “I feel like I’m losing control of the plot.”

“Hm.”

“It was similar with Derek. Like, I just got caught up in his world and lost my own in the process. The difference is that while I’m still overwhelmed by Aiden, I’m actually enjoying myself. He lets me be myself, even when I’m pissy.”

“And he likes you when you’re being yourself?”

“I think so?” Antonia said. “Is all of this too soon?”

“I can’t be sure,” Eddie said. “I hate to sound corny, but you have to follow your heart on that one. I support you in any case.”

“I think I’m probably just horny,” she sighed.

“Ew,” he said. She could picture the scowl on his face. “You’re basically my sister; I don’t want to hear it.”

She smiled. “I had to hear all about it when you and Megan first started dating.”

“You heard nothing that could incriminate me later,” her friend reminded her. “But yeah, you’re probably horny. Go get some.”

“Thanks for signing off on that, but I’m going to stew for a while longer.”

“Whatever makes you feel better, but remember that Derek still deserves your anger. You have no idea how hard it was not to beat the hell out of that guy when I saw him last.”

“When did you see him?”

“When Octavia met with him to discuss dividing the cancellations. I saw them meet up at Murray’s Deli on Monday,” Eddie swore under his breath. “I stopped inside to see if she needed any help twisting his arm.”

“I doubt she needed your help,” Antonia said with a chuckle.

“No, she was her usual calm yogi self. Derek was being a dick about the cost of your ring and I wanted to lay that idiot out.”

“Well, he’s lucky I bothered to send the ring back to him,” she said lightly. “I’m sure he’ll find a way to pawn it.”

“Anyway, Octavia had to push me out of there before I caused a scene.”

“But you’ve been kicked out of much nicer places.”