Page 29 of Hunt for the Roses
Aria shouts back with no shame. “Yep!”
I’m still controlling my breathing as I throw a smile her way, and just stare at her as she walks closer into focus. I’ve actually never realized how petite and naturally fit Aria is. She’s five-foot-five with a lean physique, but has just enough muscle in her stomach, legs, and arms, probably from all the dancing she always engages in.
Aria’s voice cuts into my thoughts as she stands in front of me. “Do you think I did enough cardio today to let me off the hook for the month?” she asks through ragged breaths.
“Not quite,” I say with a chuckle as I peer down at her, and then I gesture a hand up and down her stature. “Look at the bright side though, you’re already small, so you don’t need to put in a lot of effort.”
She looks out onto the beach, still trying to regulate her breath as she responds with a shrug. “I guess that’s true.”
We start walking along the boardwalk side by side so we can head back home, and I speak first. “Excited for the school year to end this week?”
“Oh, yeah, so ready to be done. These kids have officially lost their minds,” Aria responds.
“I could only imagine what little bastards they are right now,” I say.
“You’re telling me. One kid started dancing in the back of my room the other day, trying to make a TikTok when he was supposed to be doing work.”
I’m laughing out loud. “Okay that’s kind of amazing. I could just picture the sheer horror on your face.”
She shakes her head as if to say she can’t believe that happened, and we walk a few more strides before Aria speaks. “Well, I definitely want to spend more time on the beach this summer. I miss it.”
A silence falls between us, because we both know why she’s missed it. However, I’m not going to open that can of worms unless she wants to take the conversation further, so I side-step her comment as best I can.
“We’ll go,” I say nonchalantly.
“Okay,” she responds, and then she looks over to me. “But I have some terms.”
“What’s that?”
“We get Kate and Trent to skinny dip, then take away their clothes and run,” Aria says with a devious smirk.
I extend my hand to her. “Deal.”
We both laugh as we shake hands, and then head home.
* * *
Later that night, I’m sitting at the bar at Shippers with Trent, drinking a beer, and listening to live music as we catch up.
“So how is she doing?” Trent asks after sipping his beer.
I stall in answering his question by sipping my own beer. The truth is, I don’t know how Aria is doing. She seems like she’s doing fine, but I know there’s a great possibility she’s masking her emotions just to appease her family and friends. “I think she’s just taking everything as it comes,” I finally let out.
Trent nods knowingly. “Kate wants to spend July Fourth together. Are you doing anything?”
“Oh you guys are finally gonna get it on?” I say as I raise an eyebrow at him.
Trent smirks at me, then he looks away. “I don’t know, we’ll see.”
“Whatever, man. You two go back and forth like dogs in heat,” I say.
“Listen, there’s no denying she’s hot. I just don’t want her to catch feelings the second we cross that line. I’m also trying to figure out what my feelings are for her. Not to mention, I also like keeping my options open.” He lifts his chin to gesture at something in the distance. “For example, your nine o’clock.”
When I turn to my left, I see exactly what Trent’s referring to. Long blonde hair, perky tits, flat stomach, legs for days. She’s standing in a light blue form-fitting mini dress with beige strappy sandals that lace up her calves, and the sight of her is making my mind dive into the gutter. I turn back to rest my forearms over the bar. “Wasn’t really planning on having sex tonight, but I think I’ve been convinced otherwise.”
Trent laughs at my side. “Don’t let me stop you. I’ve had my eye on the red head in the back corner.”
I’m resting my chin in my hand and peeking over at the blonde every now and then to contemplate the right time to make my move. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve gotten laid, so I feel like I deserve this.
