“Get out of here!” Granny yells from the bedroom.
“Fine!” I bark back.
I take my jacket off the hook and Brodie takes it from me, holding it open for me to slide my arms in. “You going to be warm enough?”
“I run hot anyway,” I say. I have on a long-sleeved black dress that accentuates my curves. All of them. Even my stomach, and I don’t care. And from the way Brodie watches me while I bend to put my boots on, he doesn’t care either.
In fact, he must like it, because as we swing the front door closed behind us, he pulls me close for an all-consuming, fire-stoking kiss. He squeezes my hip and cups my face. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and by the time he breaks the kiss, I’m breathless.
“Hi again,” he pants. “Missed you a little.”
I grin and bite my lip. “Might have missed you. Did you have a good nap?”
He sighs. “Not really. I couldn’t stop thinking about this one girl riding me.”
I stick my lip out. “Aw. Sounds awful. Guess she’ll just have to ride you again so you can sleep properly.”
His head sags back on his shoulders and he growls. “Do we have to go to this thing at all? Can we just skip to that part?”
I laugh. “No love lost from me.”
He narrows his eyes. “Nah, I said I was showing you off. I’m showing you off.”
NINETEEN
BRODIE
Ari’squiet as we walk toward Main Street. I had to park in the alley behind my building because the street’s blocked for the Fling. My hand slots nicely into her waist, and it’s a weird mix of exhilarating and foreign to be holding her in public like this.
“You okay?”
She lets out a shuddering breath. “Just afraid of High School 2.0.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” I flex my biceps. “That’s what I keep all these big muscles for.”
She rolls her eyes and laughs. “You’re ridiculous.”
I hold my hand out and she takes it, snuggling close to my arm. I’m awestruck looking down at her. Long lashes. Cheeks that turn into the cutest apples when she smiles. Lips perfect for kissing in the most lovely pinky-brown color.
My Aria.
She gave me another chance. The girl who didn’t turn away from my deepest fears, spoken in the stillness of the woods. The girl who held my innocence, my wildness, my heart.
I’m not doing anything to risk losing her again.
“What first?” she asks when we’re in the thick of the crowd. I wave to a few co-workers, trying to figure out what will make Arifeel the most comfortable. My high school experience was vastly different from hers, and I’m trying to put myself in her shoes. How would I feel walking into a place that had been anything but welcoming to me?
I spy Mindy and Sue on the dance floor, nestled into the empty building space Iris so expertly turned into a pocket park. “Dance?” I offer. “I owe you one or two.”
Aria nods. “That’d be great.”
We stroll onto the dance floor and dance with Mindy and Sue during a fast song. Skye and Simon filter in, as well as Iris and her crew. Skye compliments Ari’s braid, and Ari leans in to tell her something, which Skye acts like is the sweetest thing. Now I’m nosy and want to know what it is. I want to know everything when it comes to Aria Johnson.
Things get rowdier. Sue and Aria have some conversation over the music, I think comparing notes on their social media followings and maybe collaborating on some content. My heart swells. Sue’s a good friend, and I love seeing them hit it off. They talk for so long, all while still dancing, that I might be a little jealous. I want to show Ari off and I can’t do that when she’s busy making a new bestie. Still, she’s laughing, thriving, and it’s great to see it.
When a slow song comes on, I’m eager to steal Aria back.
My hands settle on her waist and she loops her arms around my shoulders. She’s gorgeous.
