“James, of course.” Claire answered, flicking her hair over her shoulder and my grip tightened on the cup, hating the images that flashed in my head of James and her together. Touching her like he touched me. Getting naked with her. Fucking her. I hated myself for getting jealous. “He’s the hottest and don’t tell me you wouldn’t fuck him if you had the chance.”
Most of the girls and even guys agreed, joking about him which infuriated me further. I looked away, wishing I could get out of the pool and maybe eat something—
“Truth or dare, birthday girl.”
My neck prickled at everyone’s attention on me. I knew what they wanted me to choose. So I drowned the content of alcohol from the cup and licked my lips.
“Dare.”
Guys whooped and discussed their worst dare. My stomach clenched and found the concerned stare of Emma and Summer. They were standing across from me and had already completed their truth and dares. Summer chose dare and had to take body shots from a girl’s stomach. Em chose truth and told us about the time she skinny dipped in her farmhouse in Italy while her boyfriend, Caleb, chose dare, locking him and a girl from cheer team in a closet for seven minutes in heaven. I was surprised that Emma didn’t react without so much as an arch of brow while her boyfriend couldn’t stop blushing.
“How about you come with me, Mia?”
My eyes widened seeing the flush on Aaron’s cheeks when he asked me the question. Everyone was subtly staring at both of us, and I knew if I said no, they’d groan and give me something else to do like body shots or bring them more beer. I didn’t want to do either of them.
And I wanted totry. Even though my stomach tightened with the thought, I agreed, ignoring the way my classmates snickered when I held Aaron’s hand before getting out of the pool. I even ignored the remark of someone shouting, “Wrap it before you tap it, Aaron!” and dried my body with a towel before shuffling on my shorts.
I swallowed the lump in my throat when he locked the door behind us after entering one of the many guest rooms. Aaron stood across from me and I could see the hesitation in his light brown eyes. The small tremble in his hand. James never hesitated before doing whatever he wanted. His hand didn’t shake when—
Why the hell am I comparing Aaron to him?
“Aaron, I don’t know why you asked me for this dare.”
He looked surprised and chuckled lightly, running a hand through his golden hair. God, he was really cute, but… my stupid heart and body liked someone else.
“I didn’t think you’d be so oblivious, Mia.”
“Oblivious?” I didn’t understand what he meant.
Aaron looked at me and said, “I like you, Mia. Since the first day of school, I made up excuses to be around you.”
My cheeks heated and all of a sudden, I felt vulnerable and too open in front of him because I never noticed it.
“But you paid me for all your homework and—”
“I did it to spend time with you, Mia,” he said, without a beat. “I know, it’s pathetic but I didn’t know how to approach you or ask you out so when I came to know about it, I asked you.”
I was stunned. I didn’t expect him to say that to me. I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t…this.
“I want to kiss you,” he said, but didn’t lean towards me. “But I know you don’t like me.”
“Aaron… I’m—”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t you dare say sorry or apologize for my crush. I just wanted to tell you about my feelings, and if you feel the same way…” He shrugged, sliding his hands in his pockets, “Maybe we can be in a relationship.”
“I don’t,” I said too quickly. “I mean. I don’t like you in a romantic way.”
I couldn’t meet his eyes when the awkward silence stretched between us. But I was relieved that nothing would happen between us. Relievedyetdisappointed.
“Maybe I should go…” I trailed off, waiting for him to say something, but his face looked like a puppy who had just been kicked, and I didn’t know what else to do.
Should I hug him? Pet his head?
“Yeah. I’ll see you in school,” he said and before I could open the door, he added, “Sorry about the dare. My friends wanted us to get alone so I could man up, but…yeah.”
“It’s okay, Aaron.” I flashed him a small smile. “I’m glad we had this talk.”
I didn’t wait for his reply and walked away. My head ran with so many thoughts, I didn’t even notice where I was going.