“Okay, baby. See you soon,” Savannah says as she walks back into the kitchen, ending her call. “Josh is going to come with us. Mom said she’d watch Hope and Jacob.”
“Where’s Zara? Why can’t she watch Jacob?” I ask, frowning.
“She went to bed with a headache, so she’ll have no idea we’re all going out.” She grins wickedly and I can’t help but laugh.
“Ready?” Brody asks from the doorway, obviously having overheard our conversation.
I stand up, nerves bubbling in my stomach. A wave of panic washes over me and I shake my head. “Oh, God. What am I going to say to him?” I look frantically between Savannah and Quinn, who both just smile.
“Be yourself, Aria. It worked last time,” Quinn assures me.
I nod. “Okay, let’s go before I change my mind.” Savannah links my arm, and we head through the house to the front door. It’s dark when we get outside, and the porch light comes on, illuminating the driveway. I can make out a figure sitting in the passenger seat of Brody’s truck, but it’s too dark to see his face. I know he’ll be able to see me though, so I try not to stare too long in his direction.
I’m nervous, but excited to spend time with him. I’m determined to make the most of it though, knowing this might be the only time I can get him away from Zara. In a strange way, I feel like Cinderella without the fairy godmother or the glass slippers. Only for me, it’s not my horse-drawn carriage that turns into mush at midnight, it’s my heart when he goes back to her.
Jack
“Are you coming inside or waiting here? I’m hoping they’re ready to go,” Brody asks as we park outside Savannah and Josh’s house.
“I’m good here.” He nods and heads into the house, the porch light coming on as he climbs the steps. When the light goes out, I’m plunged into darkness and I drop my head back onto the seat, grateful for a few minutes alone. I think this might be the first time I’ve been alone since being discharged from the hospital. I know my mum means well, but she’s driving me a little crazy asking me if I’m okay every ten minutes. When Brody said he was driving the girls into town, I jumped at the chance to get out of the house for half an hour, plus, I knew Aria would be going and I’ve barely seen her all week. Jacob is asking for her all the time, and something tells me that, before the accident, she was an important person in both our lives.
My mum isn’t the only reason for wanting to get out of the house. Zara is driving me crazy as well. I have no idea how we’ve managed to stay together for the last three years. She pays no attention to Jacob, except when she thinks someone is watching her, and she constantly moans about how bored she is on the ranch. I can’t imagine we’re happy, although she assures me we are. She’s not happy with me at the moment though. We haven’t slept together since I got back from the hospital, and I don’t know why. It’s not for lack of trying on her part, but something feels off, and I can’t bring myself to be intimate with her. She’s beautiful, there’s no doubt about that. I’m just not attracted to her. I can’t help wondering if I felt the same before the accident.
Sighing, I go to reach for my phone, forgetting I’ve lost it. I really need to get a replacement; it feels strange to be without one. I’m guessing I lost it when I fell off the horse, but despite going back to where I had the accident, I haven’t been able to find it.
Suddenly, light illuminates the truck, and I look toward the house. My breath catches in my throat when I see Aria on the porch. She looks stunning, and I can’t take my eyes off her. I haven’t been able to push down the bizarre connection I feel toward her since talking to her at the hospital, and if I’m honest, I was hoping I’d see more of her this past week than I have.
As my eyes travel over her body, I take in the tight black dress that falls mid-thigh and hugs her curves perfectly. I groan inwardly as my eyes drop to the black heels on her feet that seem to make her legs look impossibly long, even though she isn’t tall. Her blonde hair is curled and falls loosely around her beautiful face, and I’m thankful the truck is in darkness so she can’t see me staring. My eyes follow her down the steps as she makes her way to the truck, her arm linked with Savannah’s. Other than stumbling into her room the night I was discharged from the hospital, I’ve hardly seen her, despite us staying in the same house. I can’t help but wonder why. We must have been good friends before the accident for her to have developed such a good relationship with Jacob. It was clear from the hospital that Zara has a problem with her, so the friendship can’t be theirs.
The rear door opens, illuminating the cab, and Aria slides across the back seat. “Hi, Jack,” she says quietly, and I smile as I look over my shoulder at her.
“Hey, Aria. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she says, her cheeks flushing pink. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her, and it’s only when someone clears their throat that I’m snapped out of my daze. Turning back to the front, I hadn’t even noticed Brody, Quinn, or Savannah getting in the truck.
“Change of plan, Jack,” Brody says, a smile pulling on his lips.
“Please don’t tell me we have to go back to the house?” I groan, and he laughs.
“No. Well, yes, actually, but only to pick up Josh. We’re tagging along with the girls on their night out.”
“Oh…” I turn to look in the back again, my eyes finding Aria’s. “That sounds fun.” She smiles at me and my stomach flips. What the hell is going on?
Ten minutes later and Brody is parking outside the Brass Hall in Marble Falls. Josh rides in the flatbed of the truck and jumps out as we park, holding the door open for the girls. The two couples walk hand in hand across the car park, leaving Aria and me to walk together.
“How are you feeling?” she asks as we join the queue to get in.
“Much better. I only get the occasional headache now, and usually when I’m tired.”
“That’s great. I hope it’s not going to be too loud in here for you. There’s normally a live band playing.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to getting out of the house for a bit.” We’ve reached the front of the queue, and I gesture for her to go ahead of me to the security guy. The others have already gone in, and I watch as the guy on the door goes through her bag, chatting with her and making her laugh. A strange feeling of jealousy washes over me as I watch him hit on her. It’s irrational to feel jealous when we’re only friends, but nevertheless, I can’t push down the feeling. I’m glad when he waves her through, and I follow her into the crowded bar.
“Wow, it’s busy. Do you see the others?” she shouts, going up on her tiptoes, her mouth close to my ear. I look around, but I’m distracted by having her so close.
“No. Maybe they’re at the bar?”
She nods and gestures with her head to the back of the room. “Bar’s this way.” She goes to walk away but I grab her hand, the same bolt of electricity shooting up my arm as when I touched her in the hospital. She stills and turns to face me, her eyes dropping to our joined hands.