85 NOT UNTIL I SAY SO

AIDEN

I laughed. Because this was a joke, right?

"Are you into jokes now? Why would you take it this far, though?" I asked, walking towards her now. She held a hand out like that would stop me from moving to her. I threw the hand to one side and pulled her by her waist to myself, joining our foreheads as I implored, "Tell me what's wrong, baby."

She placed her hand on my chest to push me away, but I did not move. This was not a joke. Something ...