To be touched, hugged, kissed… “I honestly don’t know. I’m glad that’s not the case.”
She nodded, giving up. Blair had asked Ariyon to the dance two days ago and he’d said yes, so this was a dead-end conversation.
“Is today the day you ask Hayes?” I queried.
Eden looked like she was going to be sick. “Can you ask him for me?”
I laughed. “I guess so, but isn’t that a bit primary school?”
Eden frowned. “Yes. But what if he says no?”
I shrugged. “Then he says no, we meet at my house after school, have a cry fest, and then go to the dance together.”
She paused in front of the school gates. “You said under no circumstances would you go.”
I gave her a small smile. “I mean, I’m open to it if you had no one to go with.”
I’d seen Avis again last night and she’d taken my measurements and asked my favorite color, “Just in case.” I had a sneaking suspicion she was going to surprise me with a dress right before the dance. And as long as I was careful, it could be fun. Even if I was just on the sidelines watching everyone else.
“Well, then, screw Hayes, I want to go with you.”
I laughed. “No, ask Hayes and I’ll still go. I’ll be a third wheel.” I gave her a thumbs up.
She looked over my shoulder and grinned. “Or not.”
I frowned, confused, and then spun to see what she was looking at.
My breath caught in my throat as Ayden walked towards me with a black cane in one hand to hold him up and a bouquet of red roses in the other.
I swallowed hard, my heart practically doing somersaults in my chest as he reached me and handed the flowers to me.
“Happy birthday, Fallon.” He smiled his sweet smile and I melted.
I shot Eden a glare because she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone it was my birthday, but she just grinned.
“Thank you, Ayden. Are you coming to school today?” I took the flowers and tried to press down the flush that I knew was creeping up to my cheeks.
He looked so incredibly good-looking in black slacks and a pale blue tunic.
He shook his head. “Not cleared yet, I’ll be better next week. Just wanted to give you those and see you on your special day. You look…beautiful, by the way.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze going to my bare legs.
Okay, I couldn’t take it anymore, he was too sweet. I knew he’d said he didn’t want to ever hurt me even though he liked me, so nothing would probably come of this, but I was going to put myself out there anyway and see.
“Will you go to the dance with me?” I blurted out. “I mean, it won’t be fun because we will have to be really careful not to touch and I totally get it if you want to go with someone else but—”
“Yes.” He grinned, shutting off my rant.
Eden squealed behind me, and I couldn’t help the smile that graced my face. Was this what normal felt like? It sure felt like a slice of normal pie to me. Maybe not the whole thing, but a slice would have to be enough with Ayden.
He stepped forward as if he were going to hug me and then thought better of it and reached out to squeeze my free hand.
Hug hard.
“See you next week,” I told him with a goofy smile.
“Or you could come over tomorrow after work. Bring E. Ariyon and I are baking cookies. It’s this weird tradition we have. Hayes will be there too.”
I looked at Eden and she nodded.
