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She was perfect.
And it was at that moment that I knew I was royally screwed. It didn’t matter how much I tried to ignore it. I was forever going to think about this moment because all I wanted was her.
Still walking, she hadn’t noticed I was dragging my jaw from the floor because her eyes had zeroed in on the purple flowers I was holding. I whistled, stuffing my hands in my pockets to create some space because my dick was taking it away.
“Aster, you look-”
She didn’t let me finish her sentence. She lifted her hand and walked past me to the passenger side of my SUV. “Don’t. I know, I look ridiculous.”
Not the word I’d use, but I’d let her go with it.
She rolled her eyes, opening the door for herself. “We all have to wear it, and this one barely fits because it’s my mom’s.” She shimmied her hips, and I was thankful that the car was blocking my view. “I’ve determined that she was at least three sizes smaller than me.” There was some hoisting going on, but again, I was thankful I couldn’t see it.
When Aster ducked into the car, I followed suit. “I’m sure your mom will appreciate the gesture,” I said as I buckled the seatbelt.
When she locked hers, she gave me a small smile. “I’m sure she will too.” As she said the words, it felt like there was something more she wanted to say, but I was reluctant to ask because it didn’t feel like it was my place. As my eyes met hers, I gave her a smile, and she looked at the flowers in my hands. “Are, uh, those for me?”
I shook my head, feeling somewhat foolish, as I laughed hesitantly.
“Yeah, sorry, I should have given them to you immediately, but I just got a little distracted.” She pursed her lips as I pushed them in her direction.
She stared at them for the longest time, not saying anything. “What?”
She shook her head and let out a small laugh. “I’m sorry, it’s just no one has ever bought me flowers before, and you didn’t just buy me flowers… you bought me Asters.”
I smiled, feeling like a goofy idiot because I was proud of myself. “Yeah, well, I didn’t want to get you any old bouquet, so I went to this florist out of town and talked about you.” She smelled the flowers, twirling one in her hand. “Did you know that in Greek mythology, Aster’s were placed at the altar of Gods?” She shook her head, but I had a hard time believing she didn’t know. Aster knew everything. “Yeah, apparently symbolize love, wisdom, and faith. They should only be given to someone you have a deep affection for.” Looking her in the eyes as I said the last sentence, she stopped moving the flowers, and her lips parted with unsaid words.
She swallowed, turning away. “Thank you. I love them. They’re beautiful.”
“Nowhere near as beautiful as you, but sharing a name gives them a head start.”
She rolled her eyes before taking me in. “Look at you. Flowers, a stylish button down with a suit, and your hair perfectly styled. What a flawless first impression for a date. So does this usually work for you?” I couldn’t help but smile. She called it a date, and I withered inside because I knew my mind would flit to thinking about things I wanted to doaftersaid date, but again, that was a wasted hope.
I shrugged, resting my hand on the steering wheel. “Oh, Aster. You said you wanted memorable, and here you are thwarting my every attempt. But you told me I needed to wear gray, and this was all I had.” Grabbing onto the lapels of my jacket, I said, “What do you think? Will I fit in?”
“You, Mr. Joyce, could never fit in. Even on your worst day, you shine brighter than anyone I’ve ever met.”
She pursed her lips shut as though she didn’t mean to say it, and I just smiled because I had no idea how to respond to a compliment like that. She dropped the flowers into her lap, and shuffled around, I assumed, to stop the awkwardness between us.
“Are you ready for this?” I asked as I turned the ignition on.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered, unsure of where the night was going to take us.
As I looked down at my tie, I dropped my elbow to the now cold appetizers on the bar next to me. We’d been loitering here, at the corner of the bar, for at least forty-five minutes, and I wondered when Aster was going to build up the courage and mingle with the girls she so badly wanted to be in the sorority of. Didn’t she realize that she may be wearing the same dress as every other girl in this room, but that didn’t mean she looked the same in it? She stood out in all the best ways possible, and I had to admit, I was proud to be the guy on her arm.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” I swung one leg over the other as I glanced at my date. Even glowering at everyone else, she was the most beautiful girl here. The heavy mascara only served to emphasize her narrowed eyes and pinched lips.
She flicked her long hair over her shoulder, revealing her clavicle as she looked at me. Those glares. Combined with that unintentional pout, I knew exactly how she was feeling without her saying another word. She was pissed off and angry. But why was it directed at me? If I wasn’t here, she would be standing here with only the curtain for company. If anything, she should be thanking me for making it look like she’s not talking to herself.
Aster was riveting when she wasn’t throwing sarcastic barbs my way, but tonight she’d been acting differently. She was more withdrawn and had spent most of the evening looking at the bottom of her drink instead of making eye contact with anyone here. Including me. I couldn’t exactly bitch about the lack of engagement, considering I was the one that invited myself, but I honestly didn’t realize her aim for the night was to be as invisible as possible. What was the point in coming? Just by being here, she attracted attention, whether she liked it or not.
“What’s your question?” She asked with marked annoyance. I ignored it, leaning in because I was trying to make the whole couple thing believable. Honestly, if anyone had been watching us, they would have wondered if we knew each other, let alone that we were dating.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and that was when I realized I was staring. She really was the most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on, and it was starting to get creepy just how infatuated I was with her.
I cleared my throat and took a sip of my water as I looked around the room. The gathering was small, and it left me wondering why we were here. Sororities as old as this one were all about money and vanity, neither of which Aster cared about. The room we were in was smaller than the gym hall that held my senior prom, but maybe that was on purpose. Maybe they wanted to keep their exclusivity. They probably liked the idea that it was a small, intimate gathering of snobs.
