“You mind if I hang around until you find your friend? I’ll feel better knowing you have a ride.”
She appeared to think it over. I used the time to toss up a plea to the Powers That Be. Of all the times in my life I’ve wanted a girl to say yes to something, this moment was at the top of the list.
3
Emersyn
Any other girl would’ve gone home with him. I’d probably kick myself later for not taking him up on his offer.
He was mouth-wateringly handsome. But so was Ted Bundy.
I spotted a dark-haired girl over by the Ferris Wheel that could’ve been Camille.
Maybe. If I squinted.
Hard.
“Actually, there’s my friend,” I said, pointing at the girl. “But I appreciate your help. And it was nice to meet you.”
“Ah. Okay, then.” He picked up the bag of food he said was for his brother. “It was nice to meet you, too. Formally, I mean. Outside of class.”
He was nervous and it was so sweet, part of me almost changed my mind. But I needed to find the real Camille and get home.
“I’ll see you in class Monday night,” I said, not quite ready to walk away.
He gave me a curt lift of his chin. “Sure. I’ll save you a seat.”
I checked over my shoulder and saw the girl getting on the Ferris wheel. Perfect timing. “Guess I better go catch up with my friend before she leaves me. Again.”
He nodded but there was a wounded expression in his eyes. “Have a good night, Emersyn.”
I exhaled slowly. “You too, Aiden.”
Our gazes locked and, for a split second, I almost said to hell with it.
Take me to your place.
He would. He wanted to. I could see it in his eyes, in the confident way he moved, in the powerful barely contained energy that radiated off him.
A night with him would be unforgettable. A first time I’d actually enjoy. Something about his masculine hands and the confident set of his chin and shoulders told me so. He knew his way around the female anatomy, no doubt. These were the types of moments Drew was always telling me I needed to seize.
But I couldn’t. Not tonight.
I needed to get home.
I gave him a small, apologetic shrug and headed toward the ride, waving at strangers like an idiot, pretending I wasn’t completely full of shit.
When I made it to where the line was forming, I turned back.
I could tell him I was mistaken.
I could say she looked like my friend, but I was wrong.
I could ask him for a ride home.
But I couldn’t do any of those things, because Aiden Singleton was already gone.
I took one last lap around the carnival as they began to dismantle the rides and game booths. Thunder rumbled overhead, and I knew I was screwed.