“Harlow?” he called, and I stopped and looked over my shoulder. He had a small smile on his face, lifted his hand to run it over the back of his head, and took a step toward me.
I faced him fully, my heart in my throat, willing my face to not be as red as it felt. I licked my lips, my mouth feeling dry, forcing myself not to say anything else, not to put my foot in my mouth.
“I do work here,” he finally said, flashing me a straight, white-toothed grin. “I’ll probably be the one working on your car. Small world, huh?”
I smiled in returned and nodded, unsure what to say, unsure if I should say anything at all. “Thank you again,” I said and just shook my head slowly, wondering how many times in a day I could tell him that. I lifted my hand, waved, and said, “See you later.” And then I turned around and started heading back toward the car, my jaw clenched and my hands curled tightly at my sides.
Please don’t trip. Please don’t fall flat on your face and make this even worse.
I could feel him watching me walk away and glanced over my shoulder to see him still looking at me a second before he caught himself and lifted his hand in a wave. He made his way inside, and I still stood there as he disappeared behind the glass door, wondering how any of this would play out.
The truth was, because of Aiden’s lack of interest, he just made my curiosity in him grow tenfold.
Chapter Seven
Aiden
After that exchange, Harlow probably thought I was a major asshole.
I wanted to address the text, or my lack thereof. I’d wanted to tell her I wanted to see her again, that I wanted to take her out and hang out. But I froze, telling myself I had this last year of school to get through and focus on. Seemed easy enough for someone who didn’t have the shit school history like I did, one that was filled with fights, detentions, and suspensions.
I hadn’t actually meant to grow any kind of relationship with Harlow, not as friends, and certainly not as more than that. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I had other things on my plate that I should focus on.
But then I’d seen her at Mickey’s, and it was like kismet, like fate had our paths cross all over again. Or maybe it was just because Mickey’s was the closest body shop to the school?
Either way, I’d like to think it was the former, because forgetting about her didn’t feel right and something I knew I wouldn’t be able to do, even if that was what was best for everyone.
I wasn’t the type of guy she was probably used to hanging out with, those preppy jocks with money, who said sweet things to have them dropping their panties.
But I didn’t feel like I was a novelty to her.
I felt like I was someone.
* * *
Several days later
I’d told myself I was doing the right thing by keeping a wide berth from Harlow. I wouldn’t let myself fall any more than I had for her. But it seemed like telling myself that just made me want her even more.
The weekend had given me two days where I didn’t see her at school. I thought maybe that would’ve helped clear my head, to try to talk myself into focusing on other things. But there was this longing inside me to talk to her, to see her. I couldn’t count how many times I picked up my cell and wanted to send her a text, to ask her if she wanted to hang out. But here I was, Monday morning and sitting in my car in the school parking lot, hoping to see her.
I’d been working on her car at Mickey’s, but because we’d come into a snag with the part, it was taking longer than necessary. Hell, I wanted to call her and ask if she wanted me to pick her up, to see if I could be the one to drive her home after school.
God, I was fucking insane. I couldn’t even stop thinking about Harlow no matter how hard I tried. In fact, forcing myself to try to put her in the back of my mind only resulted in me thinking about her even more.
It was to the point I basically said fuck it, that I’d just give in. Because what was the point of fighting something that felt so right?
I grabbed my books and got out of the car before heading toward the front doors of Silver Creek High. There was a line of yellow school buses curved around the driveway, students piling out.
I moved around everyone, keeping my head lowered, although I wanted to search for Harlow.