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60
Claire
When Aiden comes back to the surface, I can’t help watching as he pushes his hair back. He’s always been good-looking, but right now he’s shirtless on a Florida beach, and that sheds new light on things—literal sunlight on the guy I’ve found attractive since I was sixteen.
He looks up and catches me staring at him, so I quickly ask, “Aren’t you worried about what’s in the water?” to deflect.
His lips quirk in amusement. “Are you?”
“I don’t know...” I say as I look down at the not-so-crystal blue waves. “I can’t see the bottom.”
He follows my lead and looks down at the water himself. “You’re right. We should probably stick together.”
My head snaps up, and I glare at him. “That’s not funny.”
“Who’s laughing?” he says seriously. “I’m just trying to help you out.”
“Sure,” I mutter as I stare down at the water and take a few more steps further into the ocean. When I look up again, he’s biting back a smile. “Don’t make fun of me,” I snap.
He treads water a few feet away, and his smile only grows. “Of all the things I’d like to do to you, that’s not one of them.”
My eyes widen, but I ignore his comment. “I won’t be able to reach the ground over there, you know.”
“I’ll come over to you if you talk.” His eyes sparkle like he knows he has me beat.
Crossing my arms, I say, “We’re already talking.”
Aiden shakes his head, his wet waves dripping water as he does. “Not good enough.” When I don’t say anything right away, he says, “Tell you what, either you come over here and tread water, or I come to you, and you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
I stay where I am, the water just hitting my hips. “What’s going on in my head isn’t very entertaining.”
It’s silly and immature.
And sort of embarrassing.
And makes me look insecure.
“Do we have a deal or not?” he asks.
He’s infuriating. “I have questions,” I finally say.
“So do I,” he fires back.
I have nothing against treading water, but if I can ask Aiden about his past without him being closed off to it, I guess I’m willing to play. “Okay,” I finally say, “a question for a question.”
“Alright.” He makes his way over to me, and when we’re both close enough to touch, he adds, “Ladies first.”
“So chivalrous,” I say dryly.
He cracks a smile, but he looks a little on edge—not unlike how I’m feeling. “Let’s hear it, then. What does Claire Ackerman want to know?”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I consider my first question. “Why did you tell me to hook up with Chad?”
Aiden rubs a palm against his chest like I’ve punched him. “Jesus, Claire, no warmup? You just go straight for the kill?”
Trying to hide my smile, I watch my hand as I touch the surface of the water. “This is your warmup.” Glancing up at him, I can’t fight my smile. The dumbfounded look on his face brings it out of me.
“Shit,” he says as he runs both hands over his wet hair. He seems to consider his answer for a moment before he takes a step toward me. “The truth?”
