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The passion and yearning go hand in hand. Last night was explosive and unlike any other experience I’ve ever had with a man. The yearning, well, I long to have him again. To have his hands on me, his mouth, to know that his touch is all mine. That he’s all mine.
“That was sweet of you,” Mom tells Conrad, breaking our gaze. He simply nods and continues on to the laundry room.
“Aspen, will you come up to my room with me? I want to go over my hair and makeup plan.” My sister nods her head toward the stairs. The look on her face tells me it’s not her hair she wants to talk about.
“We’ve practiced,” I remind her.
When she asked me to do her hair for her wedding, I thought she was crazy, but we’ve done a few trial runs, and we’re ready. She wants curls, nothing fancy, just lots of curls in her long locks. We practiced with her short veil, which comes with a jeweled headband. She’s going to be a beautiful bride. Grant’s not going to know what hit him when he sees her walk down the stairs to him on Saturday.
“I know, but I want to go over it again. Mom, Lena, do you need us?”
“No,” they reply in unison.
“Come on.” Aurora grabs my hand, and I have no choice but to follow her up to the room she’s sharing with Grant. His only requirement for the wedding. He refused to sleep in separate rooms, and my sister happily obliged him.
“Where’s the fire?” I ask as Aurora pulls me into her room and shuts the door, turning the lock.
“What. Was. That?” Her hands settle on her hips, and she gives me a look that I imagine will have her future children singing like canaries. I, on the other hand, hold strong.
“What are you talking about?”
“That—” She points to the floor. “Down there in the kitchen. Spill it, sister.”
“Wedding planning? Maybe you should lie down. I think the stress is getting to you.”
“Aspen!” She stomps her foot. I have to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing. I love riling her up.
“Aurora!” I stomp my foot, mocking her.
“Stop it. What did I miss?”
“Lots of snow.”
“Damn it, Aspen.”
“Nothing. You didn’t miss anything. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Lies. All lies.
“Conrad. What was that? He looked at you like he wanted to eat you for dinner.”
Damn it. She had to go there. I feel my face heat. “There might have been a kiss or two.” Or fifty.
“And I’m just now finding out about this?”
“When was I supposed to tell you, Rory? While Mom and Lena were in full swing wedding planning? Or how about when Mom and Dad gave me a hug hello? It was nothing. We were here all cooped up alone. It happens. It’s done.”
“That look he gave you, the one you returned, that wasn’t nothing.”
“It is if I say.” I’m aware I sound like a toddler, but she’s backed me into a corner, and we both know it.
“You can tell me,” she urges.
“I just did. A few kisses, that’s it. It’s done.”
“Aspen.” Her tone is softer, and I can’t handle that. I don’t know what we are. We didn’t talk about it, and I know that’s my fault. I’m not sure what it meant, if anything, and I’m giving him an easy out.
“Aurora. This is your weekend. You’re getting married in a few days to the love of your life. Let’s focus on that.”
She studies me for far too long, and I’m worried I’m going to have to think of another way to leave this alone. “For now. After the wedding, we’re talking about this.”
“You’ll be on your honeymoon. Talking to me will be the last of your priorities.” I start to sing the lyrics of “I Just Had Sex,” and we both fall into a fit of laughter. “Come on, future Mrs. Riggins. Let’s go back downstairs and see what else we can do.”
Arm in arm, we do just that. I don’t know how I’m going to manage to avoid Conrad for the next few days, but if I’m anything, I’m resourceful. I’ll make it happen one way or another. We are not letting this, whatever this might be, ruin our siblings’ wedding.
I don’t know how, but I’ve managed to avoid Conrad the entire day. Until now. My dad and Stanley ran into town and brought back pizza. Everyone grabbed a chair around the table, and wouldn’t you know it, the spot closest to me is open. I focus on the pepperoni and cheese on my plate and pretend I don’t notice Conrad is not sitting at the table. I thought I might get lucky, but when I see him come around the corner with his plate of pizza in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other, I know my time is up.
