“No. It’s just a coincidence.”
“That Ashton chose the woods as our first date?”
“We’re technically at a drive-in that is located in the woods. It’s different.”
“Aspyn, there’s even a river.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, but I don’t think it’s a bad sign.”
“Why not?”
Since Aspyn was the best friend a girl could ask for, she boasted, “Because you made the twins, and they’re the coolest little humans in the whole wide world.”
I smiled, nodding.
“Now go make Ashton the best lay you’ve ever had.” She stopped her car next to his Chevy. “Okay, you be a good girl and make sure to text me when you get home, so I don’t send a search party to his house.”
“Who are you kidding? I’ll see you in the morning when you’re walking into my kitchen, stealing my coffee, and asking me to dish all the dirty details.”
“Great. I’m glad we have that settled. Love you. Be safe, and whatever you do, don’t tell him how much you already like him. That’s a sure way to get him running out the door.”
“Right. I know. Love you too.” I blew her an air kiss and stepped out of the passenger seat.
Ashton was sitting in the bed of his truck, and as much as I desperately tried to not picture Memphis, I was shit out of luck.
Stop, Sage. You’re here with Ashton. Your dream guy.
It helped that Ashton looked handsome, cocky, radiating sex appeal, just sitting there waiting for me. He didn’t have to try—he was the epitome of sex on a stick.
“Did you dress up for me?” He grabbed my hand to help me up onto the bed of his truck.
“What? This old thing?”
He laughed, pretty much catapulting me in front of him as if I weighed nothing. “You look beautiful.”
Before I could thank him, he effortlessly gripped onto the back of my neck and brought my lips to meet his. Without any hesitation whatsoever, like we’d been kissing our entire lives. Ashton could kiss.
His lips were passionate.
Tender.
Panty-dropping.
I was under his spell, and there, under the moonlight I didn’t want to leave this little bubble we’d suddenly found ourselves in.
Pecking my lips one last time, he rested his forehead on mine. Looking deep into my eyes, he murmured out of nowhere, “I missed you.”
Those three little words caught us both by surprise.
My head couldn’t catch up to my feelings fast enough, and I blurted, “I missed you too.” Quickly, I swallowed the lump in my throat, pulling away from him. I needed a second to catch my breath and reel in my emotions that were getting the best of me.
When I turned back around, Ashton was still sitting where I’d left him. Completely consumed with me. It was one of those stares you’d see in a romantic movie and swoon over the rest of the night. There was no denying I was having a crazy effect on him too. I wanted to ask him what he felt. It was on the tip of my tongue, bursting to fly out.
I didn’t.
I held back.
Even though I didn’t want to.
Even though it felt wrong.
I simply changed the subject. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“What? This old thing?” he teased in a flirty tone.
I smiled, sitting on the edge of the truck. “You got a beer in there for me?” I nodded toward the cooler.
“Oh, you’re a beer-drinking girl?”
“I am. I am.”
“What kind of beer do you like?”
“My favorite is cider, but I’ll also drink a Corona Light if you have one.”
“You’re in luck.” He opened the cooler, grabbing an Angry Orchard. Opening it for me, he handed it over.
“Wow. Care to share how you knew I’d like cider?”
“That’s easy. You’re a chick. You like fruity shit.”
I nodded. “Fair.”
For the next thirty minutes, we just talked and hung out. It wasn’t weird or awkward. Again, it felt like we were old friends doing what we’d done for years. When the Uber showed up with food, I thought this guy couldn’t get any better until he showed me what he’d ordered. He had a whole spread of different kinds of food. Obviously, he didn’t know what I liked, ordering a bit of everything.
“What are you thinking about over there?”
“Nothing.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You know when you lie, your lip twitches a little.”
“Are you always this perceptive?” I taunted, bringing the attention back on him.
“It’s how I make a living.”
“Oh yeah? You use it a lot as a real estate agent?”
“I know what you’re doing. Just in case you don’t realize it, I’m aware that you’re trying to change the subject.” He flashed me one of his full-on dimple smiles I had become familiar with. “Fully aware.”
I rolled my eyes, giving him my undivided attention. “Okay, buddy, new rule. This.” I pointed from him to me. “If it’s going to work, this perfect thing you got going on, it’s got to be taken down a few notches.”