God, no matter how many times I said it, it didn’t get any less unbelievable.
I didn’t have sex with random guys. I didn’t have sex, period. But it’d been so good. So freeing to throw caution to the wind and just let go for once. It helped that Aiden knew what the hell he was doing too.
He’d done me a huge favor. Maybe now I could enjoy dating again. Get back on the horse and make up for lost time.
Who was I kidding?
I didn’t want to start hooking up with guys. I’d just wanted to feelsomething. And yeah, maybe a part of me had wanted to get back at Josh for cheating on me.
Anger zipped up my spine; I was so done with his bullshit. He’d been calling and texting me nonstop even though I was ignoring him.
I grabbed the dip from the refrigerator and turned to get the chips, only to find Aiden standing there, watching me. “Jesus,” I cried, my heart lodged in my throat. “You scared me.”
“You’re avoiding me,” he said.
“No, I’m not.” I grabbed the chips and made for the door, but he blocked my path, staring down at me.
“I think you are.” His eyes narrowed.
“I was sick.”
His brow lifted. “If you say so.”
“Aiden, can we not—” I went to move around him, but he grabbed my arm.
“Why are you being so weird?” he asked.
“Because… we had…sex, Aiden. On the beach, I might add.” My cheeks burned at the vivid memory.
“It’s just sex, freckles.”
“Just sex… right.” Unexpected emotion bubbled up inside me.
He was right.
It was just sex.
I’d said that. I’d said it was one night. Yet, hearing him say the words made my heart sink.
God, did I want it to be more?
“Excuse me,” I said, yanking my arm free and moving around him. “I need to—”
“Dayna, wait.”
But I took off into the yard, unwilling to make a fool of myself any more than I already had.
* * *
The whole evening was painful. I barely spoke to anyone, lost in my thoughts. In stupid, foolish thoughts of Aiden and me and the start of something more thanjust sex.
Carson watched me like a hawk, obviously sensing something was wrong. But he didn’t ask, and I didn’t feel like telling him that I’d had sex on the beach with his star hockey player. Something told me it wouldn’t go down too well.
“Are you sure you’re okay, sweetheart?” Mom asked. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just tired.”
“I know breakups can be rough, Dayna, but Josh doesn’t deserve your heartache.” Disapproval coated her words. “It’s obvious the two of you—”