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Chapter Five
Aria
“You’re going to his family’s barbecue together? Woohoo!” Lily whooped.
“Shut up,” I mumbled as I scoffed down some hot chips.
We were sitting on the pier eating a very unhealthy dinner of hot chips with a seafood basket to rule all seafood baskets. This thing included lobster tails, crab legs, crispy shrimp, and fish all made from the freshest local seafood. It was heaven in a takeout bag.
“Here you were thinking you were immune to the charms of a SEAL.”
I hated how smug Zoey was.
“It’s nothing. We’ve become friendly, that’s all.” I shrugged.
“How friendly?” Lily asked.
“We haven’t done anything, if that’s what you’re asking. We went to the fairground together and wandered around the boardwalk, and then he drove me home.”
“Babe, he won you a unicorn. That’s not nothing!” Lily exclaimed.
I smiled. “I do like the unicorn.”
“We think you likehim,” Zoey said.
“It’s been a day!”
“So?” they said in unison.
I couldn’t believe how they were overreacting. I wasn’t the girl who fell head over heels for a guy on sight. I was more sensible than that. I had a level head on my shoulders and was focused on my career and life goals.
“And even if I did like him, where could it even go? We’re only on vacation here for three weeks, then it’s back to Brooklyn and our real lives.”
“Ah, so you do like him!” Zoey said with a smirk.
I huffed.
Lily’s tone turned serious. “Aria, it’s okay to have a summer fling. Sometimes they’re the best because there are no expectations and no strings attached. You can be whoever you want to be for a little while before we head back.”
“I can’t be anyone but myself, Lily.” I wrung my hands together. “You’re right, Zoey, I do like him. But if I do try to have a fling, what if I end up wanting more? We can’t, because he’ll still be living here, and I'll be back in New York.”
Lily gripped my hands in hers. “The best way to do this—if you want to—is to not think about the future. Enjoy his company and see where things take you guys.”
“I’m not good at this stuff. Why would he even want me?”
“Ah, because you’re gorgeous!” Zoey exclaimed. “You know, I would totally get with you, Aria. Except, you’re straight, and I would never want to ruin our friendship.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Forget what all of those jerks said to you back home. They were jealous. You have curves in all the best places.”
“I have stomach flab,” I said with a wrinkled nose.
“I have cellulite on my posterior,” Zoey argued.
“None of us are perfect,” Lily piped up.
“Shut up, Lily, you totally are. You can eat a ton of this shit and not put on a single pound.” Zoey waved a piece of crispy shrimp in the air before she bit it with a satisfying crunch.
“Alright, fine. I’ll go to this barbecue with Logan tomorrow and see how things go,” I decided.
They were both right. I wasn’t in high school anymore, and I had left my hometown to reinvent my life. But now I was the one holding myself back. Even if it was nothing more than a summer fling, I wanted to become more with Logan. I was well overdue to experience something that could be wonderful.
