AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s true. Everyone else on the boat is doing the tired dance of flirty comments and lingering glances. Auden and I are removed from it, pressed so close together I can feel her heartbeat.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it,” she admits, leaning her head back so she’s tucked underneath my chin.
“Good.”
Neither of us say anything for the rest of the trip around the lake. I stare out at the smooth surface of the water, reflecting the full moon in rippling patterns of light, trying to recall the last time I felt this content.
I come up empty.
* * *
A flare of pain ricochets up my right arm. I look over and glare at Oliver. “What the hell, man?”
“I’ve been trying to talk to you for five minutes!”
“What is it?”
He looks at where Auden is standing, talking to Lisa Owens, obviously noticing why I’m distracted. “We’re playing cards out on the deck.”
“I’m good here.”
“Of course you are.”
I glance at him. “You got something to say to me?” My tone is sharp.
“I’m worried about you, Reid.”
“Don’t be. I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh-kay.” Oliver makes it clear he doesn’t believe me, but Josh has always been the confrontational one of our foursome. At most, Oliver will make a passive aggressive comment or two.
He leaves me standing here, staring at her. My phone buzzes with a text, and I glance down to see it’s from my mom. I sigh.
Mom:What time will you be home?
Elliot:Late
Elliot:Might spend the night at Josh’s
Mom:Okay…
Mom:Headed to bed
Mom:Be smart
“Elliot Reid, the loner? Doesn’t have much of a ring to it.”
I glance up at Auden then shove my phone back in my pocket. “I’m not alone.”
She moves closer. “Apparently, you’ve been staring at me.”
“Yep.”
“Want to get out of here?”
“You mean…”
