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He spins on his heel, walks back to his car, and roars away, leaving us in a cloud of dust. No one knows what to say until Naomi steps forward. Her innate need to take control shines through, and she already has another plan.
"Chloe," she says, her voice steady, "Can you call someone to pick you up?"
I nod, "I can call my brother."
Her face lights up, "You mean, your ex-military, now hot doctor brother?"
I give her a pointed look, "Yes, that's him. But he has a girlfriend, you know."
Naomi huffs playfully, waving off my warning. "Just call him Chloe."
So, I do. I retrieve my phone from my purse and dial my brother's number. He picks up immediately, and I relay the disastrous sequence of events, finally asking if he can give me a ride.
There's a moment of silence from the other end before he speaks, "I can't right now, but I know someone who can. Remember Aaron, my best friend?"
My heart sinks. This really is turning into the worst day ever.
"You mean Aaron? The same Aaron who taught you to smoke?" I ask him.
He laughs, "That's him, Chloe. But he's changed a lot. He doesn’t even smoke anymore, and he's a lumberjack now, very dependable. Plus, he moved back to Willow Creek a few weeks ago. He's probably nearby."
With a sigh, I agree. It's not like I have a lot of options. I tell my brother my location, and he promises to text me when Aaron's on his way. With that, I end the call, hoping against all odds that this day won’t get any worse.
I tell Naomi what my brother said, and she asserts they will all wait until someone comes for me. Some people aren't too thrilled by this, one person even voicing out that they’ll be the last ones to arrive at the party and everyone will be paying extra attention to them.
Feeling a wave of guilt, I suggest that they go ahead, that I can wait alone.
Naomi dismisses my concern immediately, "We're going to wait, Chloe," she says, "I'm sorry about Chris. I really thought he had changed."
I wave her apology off. It's not her fault, after all, but before I can add anything else, my phone chimes, a text message from my brother:
'Aaron will be there in 10 minutes.'
One of our friends in the car honks the horn impatiently, asking how much longer they have to wait. The tension is mounting, and I insist again that they should go on ahead. But Naomi remains adamant; we will wait.
After a few tedious minutes, I see a truck approaching. Even through the windshield, I can see Aaron - roughened by years, his expressions hardened, but still the same features as years ago. The piercing amber eyes, the charming smile.
Someone in the car gasps, "Is that Aaron?" and another makes a remark about him showing up in an old truck.
I stifle a laugh. From what I remember about Aaron, he never gave a hoot about appearances or material possessions. He was always himself, and that was enough for everyone who knew him.
The truck grinds to a halt next to the cars, causing a loud racket as Aaron cuts the engine. He steps out, adjusting his flannel shirt, and I can't help but gulp.
I never thought of Aaron romantically, but he became quite the sight. His physique is much more imposing than it was ten years ago, his broad shoulders making him look almost intimidating.
I can see the other women gawking, surprise morphing into excitement, their sudden calls for him filling the air.
Yet, Aaron seems indifferent to their attention. He strides directly toward me, stopping only when we're face to face, my heart feeling like it's about to leap out of my chest.
Chapter 2 - Aaron
I can hardly believe this is really happening. Ever since I returned to Willow Creek a few weeks back, I knew I'd eventually bump into Chloe, my best friend’s older sister.
But this? Being her knight in flannel and denim, showing up to help her in some vague crisis? I never saw that coming.
I was about to fall asleep when Liam's call pulled me back into the world. Something bad happened. Chloe needs a ride. Without a second thought, I agreed, tossing on my jacket and boots before rushing out the door.
How could I not? Chloe was my first crush, the girl who haunted my teenage dreams. Even after all these years, she never entirely left my mind.
