Chapter Fifteen

SOLANA

I rest my chin on my hand, watching as Aiden works, completely in his element.

It’s fascinating.

The way his brow furrows in concentration, the way his fingers move with steady precision, like he already knows exactly where each stroke needs to go. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t second-guess. He just paints.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone this focused before.

It’s… kind of mesmerizing.

I glance at the canvas, taking in the stormy waves, the dark clouds rolling in. It’s intense. Powerful. There’s feeling in it, like the whole painting is alive.

I never would have guessed Aiden was capable of something like this.

I barely know him, but in the short time I’ve spent around him, I’ve only seen a quiet, awkward guy who keeps to himself. He’s never loud, never demanding attention.

But now?

Watching him paint, I realize there’s so much more to him than I thought.

And that intrigues me.

Aiden shifts slightly, dipping his brush into a different color. His hand is steady, his movements sure, and I suddenly have the urge to ask him a million questions.

When did he start painting?

Why does he keep it to himself?

But I keep quiet, not wanting to break his focus.

Instead, I just watch.

A few minutes pass, and then—

He pauses.

His shoulders tense like he just remembered I’m here, and he turns his head slightly, peeking at me from the corner of his eye.

“Are you… not bored?” he asks hesitantly.

I blink. “What?”

He shifts again, lowering his brush. “I mean, you’ve been watching me paint for, like, ten minutes. That’s not… boring?”

I tilt my head. “Should it be?”

His lips part, like he wasn’t expecting that answer.

I sit up straighter, gesturing to the painting. “It’s kind of amazing watching someone do something they’re passionate about.”

His jaw tightens, like he doesn’t know what to do with that information.

I lean back slightly, studying him. “You’re really good, you know.”

His ears turn pink. “Thanks.”

I smirk. “Do you always get this flustered when people compliment you?”

He exhales a small laugh, shaking his head. “People don’t usually… say stuff like that.”

That surprises me. “Really?”

He shrugs, looking down at his paintbrush. “Not a lot of people know I paint.”

I furrow my brows. “Why not?”

He hesitates, then shrugs again. “Just never felt like something I needed to share.”

I watch him for a moment, something tugging at my chest.

Aiden is talented. And from what I can tell, he doesn’t even realize how much.

I shift slightly, resting my elbow on the table. “Well, for what it’s worth… I’m glad I know now.”

He finally looks at me—really looks at me.

And for a second, something flickers in his eyes, something unreadable.

Then he clears his throat, looking away. “We should probably head out. You still want that coffee?”

I grin. “Absolutely.”

We step out of the art building, the crisp afternoon air making me pull my cardigan a little tighter around me. Aiden walks beside me, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, looking like he’s debating something in his head.

I let him think, used to his quiet, but after a few moments, he finally speaks.

“So…” He hesitates. “Are you sure this is okay?”

I glance at him. “What?”

He clears his throat. “Us getting coffee.”

I frown slightly. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

He shifts uncomfortably. “I just mean… won’t your boyfriend mind?”

My steps slow for half a second before I force myself to keep walking.

Tyler.

Of course.

Aiden’s gaze flickers to me, like he’s trying to gauge my reaction. “I mean, I don’t know him personally or anything, but…” He rubs the back of his neck. “I just don’t want to… you know, step on any toes or whatever.”

I exhale through my nose, rolling my shoulders. “He’s home today. The whole team has the week off.”

Aiden’s brows pull together slightly. “Oh. Yeah, I think Nick mentioned something about that.”

I nod, gripping my bag a little tighter.

I know what Aiden’s really asking.

Would Tyler be okay with this?

The answer is… complicated.

Because the truth is, I have no idea how Tyler would feel about me sitting in a coffee shop with Aiden. I don’t think he’d even think about it too much—Aiden isn’t part of his world. He’s not a threat, not someone Tyler would assume I’d be interested in.

But even still…

I shake off the thought and give Aiden a small smile. “It’s just coffee.”

He studies me for a moment, then nods slowly. “Right. Just coffee.”

We reach the coffee shop, a small, cozy place just off campus. The scent of roasted beans and vanilla fills the air as we step inside, and for the first time in a long time, I feel… light.

No pressure. No tension. Just… normal.

Aiden holds the door open for me, and I thank him, stepping inside. We approach the counter, and I glance up at the menu, though I already know what I want.

“What do you usually get?” he asks, standing beside me.

I smile. “Caramel macchiato. Hot. Always.”

He nods, lips twitching slightly. “Solid choice.”

I tilt my head. “And you?”

“Black coffee. No sugar.”

I blink at him. “What are you, eighty?”

He chuckles, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets. “I like coffee to taste like coffee.”

I wrinkle my nose. “That’s a little concerning.”

His smirk deepens. “You’re drinking sugar with a little bit of caffeine in it. That’s more concerning.”

I gasp, placing a hand on my chest. “Rude.”

He shrugs. “Just saying.”

Before I can retort, he steps up to the counter and orders. “A caramel macchiato and a black coffee. No sugar, please. ”

I open my mouth to protest, but he’s already pulling out his wallet.

“Aiden—”

“I got it,” he says simply, handing over his card.

I exhale, crossing my arms. “You really didn’t have to do that. I'm the one who asked you to join me.”

He glances at me, then shrugs. “I wanted to.”

I stare at him for a moment, something warm curling in my chest.

The barista hands us our drinks, and we find a small table in the corner, away from the crowd.

I take a sip, sighing happily. “Perfect.”

Aiden watches me with an amused expression. “I don’t get how people enjoy those.”

I smirk. “Because we have taste.”

He rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.

For a while, we just sit there, sipping our drinks. It’s… nice. Quiet, and a little awkward.

Eventually, I set my cup down, glancing at him. “So, tell me more about your art.”

He raises a brow. “What about it?”

I shrug. “Like… how long have you been painting?”

He hesitates, then leans back in his chair. “Since I was a kid, I guess. But I didn’t really start taking it seriously until high school.”

I rest my chin on my hand. “And you’ve just been hiding this talent?”

He exhales a small laugh, shaking his head. “It’s not really hiding. I just… don’t talk about it.”

I watch him for a moment. “Why not?”

He looks down at his cup, turning it in his hands. “I don’t know. It just feels personal, I guess.”

I nod slowly, understanding more than I expected to.

I know what it’s like to have something that’s just yours.

Something untouched by expectations, by pressure, by… other people.

“Do you ever want to do something with it?” I ask. “Like, professionally?”

He exhales, considering it. “Maybe. But I don’t know if I’d want to make a career out of it. Sometimes, when something you love turns into work, it stops being fun.”

That makes me smile. “That’s actually really insightful.”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “Yeah, well. I have my moments.”

I grin, shaking my head. “I seriously can’t believe you’ve just been walking around campus with all this talent and no one knows.”

He lifts a shoulder. “Some things aren’t meant to be shared with everyone.”

I bite my lip, watching him.

I get the feeling Aiden is one of those things.

Not meant for everyone.

Just… someone who notices.

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