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She follows my gaze, then looks back at me. “Right.” Her gaze flicks to the left. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Auden.” Luke replies first. “We were wondering how long it might take for you to realize Reid isn’t the only person here.”
She blushes again.
“You two coming on the boat?” Josh asks, smirking.
I look to Auden. She nods. “Sure.”
“Do you want anything to drink?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“You’ve never asked me that, Reid,” Luke teases.
“I’m guessing she does some things for him you don’t.” Josh pauses. “Like laugh at his lame-ass jokes.”
I flip Josh off with one hand and grab Auden’s with the other. “Come on.”
It’s a relief to leave the crowded kitchen and step out onto the deck. There are plenty of people milling around the backyard, but at least the air temperature is twenty degrees cooler. I nod to a couple of people as they say hello to me but stay focused on navigating the stone path that leads down to the Hawleys’ private dock. It’s lined with little lanterns, but they’re more decorative than anything, barely casting any light.
Auden tugs me to the side about halfway down. There’s a group of people standing about a dozen feet away. Most of them glance over as we stop, but none of them say anything.
I look down at her and raise one eyebrow.
“My flight leaves at seven a.m. tomorrow.”
“I know.” I do, and the realization settles in my stomach like a lead weight. She’s leaving. I might not see her for ayear, if not longer. Will she continue “visiting her aunt” in college? I know that’s what she’s told her parents these visits are about. As far as I know, they don’t know I exist. They probably have some blond-haired, preppy douche in mind for their perfect daughter. The thought pisses me off—a lot.
“I want to enjoy the time I have left here. Enjoy…this.”
“You don’t want to talk,” I realize.
Auden raises and drops one bare shoulder. “Is there anything to talk about, really?”
She’s genuinely asking. She’s giving me a clean, easy out. I open my mouth, undecided about what to say. I’m warring with myself, which, honestly, I’ve been doing ever since the day I met her. Auden Harmon does something to me. I went sixteen years without knowing she existed. Now it’s hard to picture a single day of my life without her in it.
I used to pride myself on my discipline. I do more than what’s necessary without complaint and with dedication. But I’m not confident I have the willpower to walk away from her—even if I should.
“Reid! Auden! You guys coming?”
Josh, Luke, and Oliver are already down on the boat with a couple of our hockey teammates—former now, I guess—and several girls. I didn’t notice them pass—that’s how much Auden commands my attention.
“Yeah,” I call back, then look at Auden. “Look—”
“I just want to have fun tonight,” she tells me. “Okay?”
I search her face for any indication she’s lying and find none. “Okay.”
There are more stares when we step on the boat. For some reason, the attention has never bothered me this much before. The scrutiny didn’t feel this intense when we were fake dating. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone but Auden. I pull her back to the bench seat where we sat yesterday. We were pressed close together then, but it’s not enough anymore. I take a seat and pull her into my lap.
My hand flirts with the hem of her dress. She said she wants to have fun tonight. I’d be lying if I said I’m not hoping for a repeat of last night. I’ve been half-hard all day at the mere prospect, but maybe she’s sore? I have no idea, and I’m not going to ask her now.
“Elliot.”
“What?” I whisper. Oliver is cursing as he tugs at the ropes tying the speedboat to the dock. Normally I’d get up and help, but I don’t feel like moving.
“You’re acting very boyfriend-ly.”
