Page 31 of After the Storm

The day isequal parts good and draining. It feels good to have spent a day with my best friends and to have had fun doing it, but still the morning weighs on me. The tears shared between Ares, Ravyn and I, but also the way I rushed Roman out this morning. He didn’t deserve it. He has been nothing short of amazing to me and all he got in return for it was me pushing him out of the house because I was scared.

Everyone has gone home now and I’m left here alone in the house. The sun has set and it’s dark outside. I double and triple check that my doors are locked. Still though, I can’t find it in myself to relax here. I have no idea if Tyler is here watching me. I pull out my phone and shoot a text to my boss about the trip before dialing Roman’s number.

Roman answers the call. “I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I blurt out quicker than I can really give any thought to what I’m saying.

“Then don’t be,” he states simply. I find myself wishing it could be that easy but with Roman, it is. It’s always easy with him and I think that’s my favorite part of whatever the hell it is that we’ve been doing. Even when it’s hard, it’s easy.

For a few moments I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts I forget to respond. “I need out of my head.”

“I know,” he says. It’s nothing special and yet it feels like it is. It feels nice to be known. I feel like there is this new version of me that my best friends don’t know yet, that I don’t even know yet, and still, Roman knows her.

“You’re the only person who can get me out of my head lately,” I admit.

“If you want something, just ask, pretty girl,” Roman tests. There’s another silence on the line before I finally speak up.

“Will you come and get me?” I ask. I don’t know where I want him to take me. I don’t know what we’ll do, but I do know that he’ll get me out of my own head.

“Let me lock up and I’ll be there,” he says.

“Okay. I’ll see you in a few.”

“Oh, Auds. Bring a bathing suit,” he says before hanging up and now I know whatever we do tonight, we shouldn’t be doing it.

I race up the stairs to slip a bikini on and throw a hoodie and shorts over the swimsuit. I wait impatiently to hear Roman’s Jeep pull into the driveway. Finally I hear the crunch of gravel and know he’s here.

I don’t even wait for him to text me before I go out to his car. When I get out there the passenger side door is already open and waiting for me to get in. I hop in the seat and he’s just looking at me all smiles. Just like that, the stress of the day, all the tears this morning, it all washes away.

“Where to?” I ask and the devilish smirk that creeps up on his face tells me everything I need to know about what my night will be like.

“You’ll see,” is all he gives me before pulling out of the driveway and driving away.

Chapter12

Roman

The passenger seatof my Jeep has never looked better than it does with Audra sitting there, hair blowing in the wind with the top down. She looks lighter, more relaxed than normal.

I want to ask her why but I can’t find it in myself to risk ruining the moment. I don’t take the risk of reminding her of all the things going on lately when she looks this happy tonight. I try not to let it go to my head that lately every time she’s been this much at ease, she’s been with me. Or that I seem to be her go-to lately for most things. I shouldn’t allow it to mean much but still, I do. I feel high on the feeling of knowing I meansomethingto her.

“I love this song,” she yells over the music, a sickly sweet smile plastered on her perfect face. Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ plays through the radio. In a normal circumstance I might flip the channel or turn the volume down but seeing the pure bliss on her face? I wouldn’t dream of it. Her smile is about as addicting as her laugh, each one I get just makes me want the next one.

“You remember your suit?” I ask her. She nods, lifting her hoodie to show me the bikini top she’s got on. There is a stark difference from the all black she normally wears and the bathing suit she’s got on. A bright orange bikini with pink flowers all over. Not to mention she looks so good in it that I could crash the damn car. I somehow pry my eyes from her.

“Perfect,” I say locking my eyes to the road. She reaches over, turning the volume down on the radio.

“Where are you taking me?” she asks, drilling her eyes into the side of my head.

“Swimming, clearly.” I shrug. She just laughs and I think I might hear her call me an asshole under her breath as she turns the volume back up. She can call me whatever she likes as long as she’s smiling in my passenger seat when she does it.

It’s a beautiful night, the warm South Carolina air whips through the Jeep. The drive is nice, Audra sings her heart out to a bunch of pop songs I would normally pretend not to like. The sky is clear, stars dance above us while I drive with the top down. Everything feels perfect. Finally, I pull into the parking lot of The Surf Shop.

“This is the big plan? Take me to your job?” she asks, looking at me confused. I just laugh because she really has no idea.

“No faith in me I see,” I call out as I make my way around the Jeep to open her car door. She shoots me a glare. “Might want to lose the clothes,” I add, slipping my shirt off leaving me in nothing but my swim shorts.

“You should take me on a date before you ask me to take my clothes off.” A smirk crawls up on her face and it’s far more seductive than it should be. Especially when she pulls her hoodie over her head and slides her shorts down her legs. If she wants to play though, I’ll play.

“Is that what you want, Auds? You want me to take you on a date?” I ask, raising a brow, looking down at her. Blush spreads across her cheeks and I mentally high-five myself for causing the pink on her cheeks.

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