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I admire their division of parental labor. I truly do. Because I could imagine it was hard for Aria’s mother to give up being more involved in her girls’ lives so her husband could have his turn too.
And that just makes this whole thing even more agonizing.
They are the perfect family. They love each other, they are committed to one another, and they put the good of the family unit above personal need.
And when they find out their eighteen-year-old daughter is dating me—well, that’s going to rip them apart.
I don’t want to do that. I really don’t.
But I won’t give her up. I know she’s off limits but I just do not care.
I think I’m falling in love with Aria Amherst.
“Are you even listening to me?” Ozzy says.
“Hmm?” I say, dragging my eyes of the view outside my window to stare at him.
“I just asked you about that house on State Street.”
“What about it now?”
“What is up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re so fucking distracted these days. Oh,” he says. “Oh, no.”
“What?”
“It’s that young one, right? You’re still dating that young one, aren’t you? I’ve asked you to come out with me and Danielle twice over the past two weeks and I just get flat nos.”
“Which one is Danielle again?”
“Funny,” he says. Then he opens his mouth to question me more, but thankfully we pull to a stop in front of the country club and he gets distracted. “Well, all right now. This is some setup right here. Reminds me of home.” He sighs.
“Yeah, me too,” I joke. “Horse shows and golf tournaments have always been my thing.”
Ozzy side-eyes me. “What’s gotten in to you, man?”
“Nothing,” I say, opening my door and stepping out. “I’m good. Let’s go drink some good whiskey and smoke cigars like assholes.”
“I’m in.” Ozzy laughs. “Let’s go.”
We walk up to the front of the club and immediately spy Mr. and Mrs. Amherst wearing spring fashion—light-colored linen suit for the Mr. and pale peach dress for the Mrs.—as they chat up their neighbors in the lobby.
“Oh, Mr. Herrington. Mr. North. So happy you could make it.” He extends his hand to each of us, then introduces his wife.
But I’m not looking at his wife.
I’m looking at his daughter. Because Aria Amherst appears through a set of double doors coming out of the garden party tent looking like a sweet little thing who has fucking on her mind.
CHAPTER NINETEEN – ARIA
“Come here, Aria,” my father says. “Remember Mr. Herrington and Mr. North?”
“I sure do,” I say, beaming at Ryker’s partner Ozzy, then at Ryker. He looks so nice today. Light gray slacks, a tan button-down shirt with no tie, and a short gray jacket. I have an urge to walk over to him and straighten his lapels, then kiss him on the cheek.
Such an urge to touch him right now.
“Nice to see you again,” Ozzy says.
“You as well,” I say. “But if you’ll excuse me, I’m going out to the barn to look at the horses. I’ve always loved show day when they’re all prettied up.”
I smile at Ryker one last time, then turn, making sure my short spring dress twirls, and walk back outside to the barns. Hoping Ryker will meet me out there soon.
It’s not soon, but Ryker does eventually show up. Poking his head into stalls and asking questions of all the girls showing today.
They swoon over him instantly and that makes me proud, not jealous. So I wait my turn, trying my best to be patient, as he makes his way down the shed row towards the bench I’m sitting on.
“Nice club you have here, Miss Amherst.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. North. But you should see the house.”
He grins, then shakes his head and looks down at the ground as he sticks his hands in his pockets. “I don’t think so, Aria.”
“Why?” I ask, all pouty and sad. “There’s a path through the woods right there.” I point to the blacktop path. “And on the other end is my backyard. Don’t you want to see my bedroom?”
He looks around, nervous. “Not today, sorry.”
“OK,” I say. “But I’m going home now. I need a nap.”
And then I do the flirty turn again and begin walking towards the path in the woods. I get just out of sight and then I wait, ducking behind a tree.
He sees me once he rounds the bend. “This is a bad idea.”
“We could go back.” I shrug. Like I’m not dying to take him up to my room. But I am, of course. It’s going to be very hard to see him anymore. I can’t just make excuses to go into the city every weekend. This might be my one chance for weeks. Hell, I might not see him until I move into the dorms for college in the fall. I can’t waste this chance.
