AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No one asked me to join them. They were too busy having fun. Aaron had Poppy on his shoulders, the two of them duking it out with Ashleigh and Bryan while the rest of them cheered them on. Kaiden lazed back against the edge of the pool, his hair all damp and mussed up.
It was the sweetest kind of torture wanting something you couldn’t have.
When it became too much watching them, I slipped away unnoticed and went inside the house. The kitchen was a huge open plan room divided into the kitchen area and a family area that had a gigantic sectional and television. I grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator and sat down.
“Sofia is that—oh, hello, Lily,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“Hey, Mrs. B. I hope you don’t mind. Sofia invited us over.”
“Of course not, sweetie. Where are—” Shrieks filled the air, pulling her gaze to the yard. “Why is Kaiden Thatcher in my pool?”
“I guess Aaron invited him.”
“I see.” Her brows furrowed. “Did you eat?”
“Not yet.”
“I think we have some frozen pizzas. I’ll get them out. I have a ton of work to do. Do you think you can watch them?”
“Sure thing.”
She paused and studied me. “Why aren’t you out there enjoying the water?”
“It’s that time of the month,” I lied.
“Okay,” she looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn’t, “let me grab the pizzas, then I’ll leave you all to it.”
Mrs. Bennet brought a stack of frozen pizza boxes into the kitchen and placed them on the counter.
“That’s a lot of pizza,” I chuckled.
“Two words, Lily. Teenage boys. Aaron can eat at least one-and-a-half pizzas to himself. I imagine the others are no different.” She smiled, before going to turn on the oven. “You know where to find everything?”
“I think I can manage.” It wasn’t my first rodeo at the Bennet’s.
“Okay, I’ll be in my office. Holler if you need anything.” She disappeared down the hall and I was alone once more. I went over to the patio doors and watched my friends goofing around in the water. They were so carefree, I envied them. They were watching Cole and Bryan perform flips off the edge of the pool. But not Kaiden. He was staring up at the house, at me. I could just make out the frown crinkling his face. He probably thought I was avoiding him.
If only he knew.
But he never would. Because Kaiden Thatcher had written me off before he ever got the chance to really know me. And I tried to tell myself it was his loss.
But he wasn’t the one in here.
Alone.
* * *
“Yes, pizza. Thanks, Lil.”Aaron grinned over at me as I sat on the couch in the den eating my slice, watching them file into the room.
“It was all your mom.” I shrugged.
“Well, Aaron’s mom rocks.” Bryan grabbed a handful of slices and loaded his plate before flopping down onto one of the beanbags.
“Hey, you okay?” Poppy asked me, and I nodded. “You should have come in the water.”
“I’m fine.” I brushed her off, hoping she would drop it.
“Surprise,” Peyton appeared in the door.
