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She runs a hand through her hair, tugging at the ends as she takes a deep breath.
"Okay, Aaron," she finally says, resignation in her voice. "What do you need me to do?"
There's a spark in her eyes now, determination perhaps, and despite our dire situation, I find myself admiring her even more.
"Can you find us a good spot?" I ask, indicating the vast expanse of land around us. "Somewhere flat, without any slopes or rocks."
She nods and turns to head out.
As she walks away, I can't help but watch her. Her black dress clings to her every curve, emphasizing her curvy figure. I can't tear my eyes away, my heartbeat thunders in my chest, and I feel my bulge straining against my briefs.
But I must pull myself together, and with a deep breath, I manage to turn away and head back to the truck. By the time I grab the tent and return, Chloe has already found a spot. It's perfect, a smooth flat area under the faint shadow of a tree.
"Good find, Chloe," I praise her, managing to keep my voice steady.
The sun is dipping fast, casting a golden hue over everything.
"We need to get this tent up before dark," I tell her as I unroll the tent.
Chloe nods, determination set in her features.
"I'm here to help, Aaron." She says with a smile, and I can't help but feel a wave of warmth at her words, at the fact that we can be here, together, as friends.
But friends don't feel the way I do about her, right? Friends don't admire how the fading sunlight plays off her skin or how her lips shine slightly from the lip gloss she's wearing. Friends certainly don't dream about those lips the way I do.
We work together, setting up the tent. She's unafraid to get her hands dirty, grabbing stakes and driving them into the ground. I show her how to attach the tent poles, and as our hands meet over a clip, we both freeze.
Her hand is warm and soft against my calloused fingers. I can't resist brushing my thumb over her knuckles, her skin smooth under my touch. The world seems to hold its breath, and I dare to lift my gaze to hers.
In the dying light of the day, her eyes sparkle with an unspoken emotion. Her lips, slightly parted, glistening under the sun's last rays. And in that moment, I know I'm done for.
I've been lost in the wilderness of my feelings for Chloe for over a decade, and it doesn't seem like I'll find my way out anytime soon.
Chapter 5 - Chloe
I stare at Aaron in the dimming twilight, my heart racing. There's an energy in the air, sparking and crackling between us like static electricity. For the first time, I can't deny it anymore. There's something more between Aaron and me.
Not just friendship or the easy camaraderie that comes from years of knowing someone. It's different, deeper. I felt it when our hands brushed against each other, as accidental and fleeting as it was.
We pause, locked in a silent moment that seems to stretch on forever. Then Aaron smiles, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the dying sun. His smile is infectious, genuine, and without a second thought, I find myself smiling back.
We apologize simultaneously, the words spilling out of our mouths in a hurried rush, making us both chuckle.
Together, we finish setting up the tent. The task is simple enough, but my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, tumbling and colliding in chaos I can't comprehend.
Aaron tells me to wait as he heads back to his truck. I watch him go, my eyes tracing the broad expanse of his back, the curve of his muscles straining against his flannel shirt. He moves with an effortless grace that leaves me breathless and craving more.
He returns a few moments later, a woolen blanket in one hand, his jacket, and a few chocolate snacks in the other. The chill in the air is growing, and I shiver involuntarily.
Aaron hands me a chocolate bar, his fingers brushing against mine, and that spark, that chemistry, flares up once again.
"Eat," he urges, his voice gentle, "We need the nutrients."
I nod, my fingers fumbling with the wrapper as he lays the blanket on the ground - a makeshift cushion against the cold, hard ground. I sit down, purse by my side, my heart pounding in my chest.
Aaron moves to start a fire. And I watch him, my thoughts swirling. He's changed, grown since I last saw him. He was just a boy then, my brother's best friend. Now, he's a man, strong, capable, and so incredibly handsome.
But why would he ever be interested in me? I'm just Chloe, the librarian that never left her small town.
