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"Yes and no," he finally says.
I frown, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I always thought I'd find someone for myself outside, but I haven't." He shrugs, the slight smile hiding the layers beneath his words. "Maybe my true love is here, and I just haven't found it yet."
His words awaken a flutter in my stomach. I nod, my throat suddenly dry. He's right here, next to me. Aaron. A man I've known for years, yet a man I'm only just getting to know. There's a charisma to him that I've never noticed, a pull I can't seem to resist.
"Are we getting close to the party?" I ask him, trying to break the rising tension.
I find myself hoping we're not, craving more of this time with him. He glances back at me, eyes locking onto mine and once again making my defenses feel like paper in the wind.
"Still an hour and a half away. Honestly, I don't know why they had to make the reunion so far from the city."
I chuckle, leaning back against the seat.
"It's at Naomi's parents' big farm. She was adamant about having it there, and since she's paying for everything, no one argued."
Aaron grins, looking genuinely amused. "Is that a typical Naomi thing?"
"What? Paying for everything or controlling everything?" I tease, smiling at our shared understanding.
Aaron chuckles, a low rumble that vibrates in the air between us.
"I was thinking about the controlling part."
I grin, nodding.
"Yes, that's Naomi. Always wanting control. If she doesn't have it, she freaks out or pretends the problem doesn't exist. But we've been best friends for so long that I'm used to it."
Before Aaron can respond, the engine emits a sudden, unhealthy purr, and he only has time to drive onto the side of the road before the truck lurches to a halt.
Confused, I turn to Aaron, eyebrows raised. "What happened?"
He shrugs, worry lines creasing his forehead.
"I'm not sure. Stay here while I check."
I watch him as he steps out of the truck, removing his jacket and laying it gently on his seat. The contours of his broad shoulders strain against the fabric of his flannel shirt, making my breath hitch. I try to swallow, but my mouth is dry.
He catches my eye, grinning at me as the sunset deepens the hollows of his cheekbones.
"New jacket. Don't want to risk dirtying it," he explains.
I manage a smile in return, but as he turns to investigate the truck, my mind is suddenly crowded with thoughts of him. Shirtless. Dirty. My mouth waters at the thought of my hands sliding over the ridges of his abs.
I'm confident he has a six-pack beneath that shirt, and his muscular arms... they look strong enough to lift me easily, maybe even pin me against a wall.
I exhale slowly, my breath hitching in my throat as I rub my thighs together. I bite my lower lip, a flood of warmth spreading through me.
Yet, I must remind myself: this is Aaron, my brother's best friend. I must rein in these errant thoughts before they lead me to regret.
Chapter 4 - Aaron
I move to the front of the truck, flipping up the hood, and a puff of smoke billows out. I cough, waving my hand to disperse the white fog. Heat pours out of the engine, and the scent of overheated metal is overwhelming.
Once the smoke clears, I lean in, squinting to see what the issue could be. I'm not much of a mechanic, but I've dealt with my fair share of stubborn tractors and broken chainsaws. I hope this is something I can fix, if not for the sake of the vehicle, then to reassure Chloe.
A small part of me wonders if the universe is trying to push us together. It's a stupid, romantic thought, but I can't shake it off. Chloe and I stuck on a desolate road, away from the prying eyes of our small town, away from my friend—her brother.
