“I’m sure she’s fine,” I mumbled. “I’m going to go for a run.”
I had a fuck ton of energy to burn.
CHAPTER13
DAYNA
I was a coward.
All that Dutch courage I’d had two nights ago disappeared the second I woke with the headache from hell and an unfamiliar ache deep inside me.
I’d had sex with Aiden.
Sex with Aiden freaking Dumfries.
On the beach, no less, with liquor in my veins and recklessness in my heart. But strangely, I didn’t feel any shame or regret for my actions, the way I’d begged him to kiss me, to take me right there in the sand. No, what I felt was something else entirely.
But it was one night—that was all we’d agreed.
So like a coward, I’d hid, feigning a stomach flu. Not that he’d tried to contact me.
He hadn’t.
But by the third day, I couldn’t fake it any longer because Mom invited Carson and Aiden over for a cookout and insisted that I join them.
“There she is,” Carson said as I reluctantly joined them out in the yard. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, thanks.” I gave him a tight smile.
“You should lay off the shots for a while.”
“Dayna Bug,” Mom gasped. “You told me you didn’t drink that much.”
“I didn’t.” I shot Carson a hard look, and he chuckled under his breath.
“Don’t worry, Judy. Aiden looked after her.”
The knot in my stomach tightened at his innocent words, and I couldn’t help but glance over at Aiden as he chatted with my dad at the grill.
“Bug?” Carson called.
“Yeah.” My smile was forced as I looked back at him.
“You sure you’re good?”
“I’m fine. I’m just going to grab a drink. Does anyone want anything?”
“Can you grab the bag of chips off the counter? I think there’s some dip in the refrigerator too.”
“Sure, Mom.”
“Carson, son, get over here,” Dad called, and I was relieved Carson wouldn’t follow me.
I slipped back into the house, giving myself a second to catch my breath. I hadn’t expected things to feel so weird between Aiden and me, but what did I really expect?
We’d had sex.
Sex.