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I pick up my phone and call Tara back. She’s ecstatic to hear Miles is the friend I’m talking about. With that all set up, Miles and I decide to get milkshakes and go for a drive.
If there’s such a thing as a perfect day, this might be it.
Miles and I had a fun afternoon driving around and goofing off. Now I’m getting ready for the bonfire. I twist my hair into a braid, loving that it’s long enough for that again. It was cliché to cut my hair after everything happened with Aaron. It felt good at the time, but I ended up missing my long hair. Thankfully, it’s growing fast. I’m about to head for the window when the perfumes on the top of my dresser catch my eye. I grab my favorite one. One I haven’t worn much since Aaron and I broke up because it’s his favorite, too. But it’s summery and makes me feel sexy, so I’m wearing it.
I spritz a little in front of me, then twirl through it, smiling. I make my way out the window. Right as I’m shutting it behind me, Aaron appears at the top of the stairs.
“Hey,” I say with a smile. I make it a point not to call him Ace. Maybe it’s stupid. Or pathetic. Probably that one. But calling him by his nickname when he won’t call me by mine hurts in a strange way.
“Hi. You look…” He trails off, swallowing hard.
“Yeah?” I ask, walking toward him.
He shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it and looks at me. Then his eyes go a little wide. He smells the perfume.
“You’re perfect,” he whispers.
My heart beats wildly, and I have to plant my feet on the ground to keep myself from grabbing him and kissing him.
I clear my throat and smile at him again. Like a freaking idiot. “How was the meeting this morning?”
His entire face lights up and his eyes dance. “Amazing. Apparently, Coach is starting a baseball camp, and he wants Joel and me to be assistant coaches for the summer. He also wants me working with Jamie at practice until then.”
“Aaron, that’s freaking awesome! I’m so happy for you.”
Without thinking, I jump into his arms. He squeezes me tightly and inhales deeply when his nose is near my neck. Heat floods my body, but sadness quickly follows.
I’m tired of wanting what I can’t have.
I wriggle out of his arms and look up at him.
Awkwardness incoming in three, two, one—
“What about you?” Aaron asks, narrowly avoiding what we both felt coming. “You’re nannying, right?”
I chuckle lightly. “Yep. And it turns out Miles is going to work with me. The family I nanny for has another family member who needed a nanny as well, so the two of us are taking on six kids together this summer. I think it’ll be fun. Probably a little crazy, but I think Miles and I will be a good team.”
He smiles genuinely. “I think so too. He loves kids.”
“He’s gonna be an awesome dad someday. Fun, but still in control.”
Aaron laughs. “Miles? In control? Nah.” He playfully rolls his eyes. “If we could get him to plan our lives for us, they might run a lot smoother.”
“Can’t disagree with that. Well, should we head to Joel’s?”
He nods and extends his elbow.
I glance at it, then swallow and link my arm through his.
We’re just friends, I remind myself. But my body does not and has not ever gotten that message. My body knows one thing: Aaron is sexy as hell. And no matter where my heart or my brain stand on the subject of Aaron, my body is very clear. It wants him.Always.
Aaron
She smells fucking incredible. Damn it, that perfume is torturing me. It’s my absolute favorite. It’s like it was made for her. It mixes with her natural scent to create a smell so intoxicating it’s impossible to describe. I have to work incredibly hard not to grab her and kiss the hell out of her.
When we get to Joel’s, Rae bounces over to Nick and throws her arms around him. Nick’s eyes dance as he hugs her back, and they have a playful exchange. I laugh, watching them. They’re like two sides of the same coin, both emotional but strong and the most loyal people I’ve ever known.
I look around and notice Mackie off to the side of the deck, watching everyone else. I stroll over and sit down next to her.
