Until May (Until Her/Him #11)(12)

“I haven’t had a lot of time to read.” He places the menus on the counter facedown, then fans them out. “Choose one.” Reaching over, I pick one from the bunch, and he flips it over. “Pizza.” His eyes meet mine. “I’m guessing from that face it’s not what you wanted.”

“I wasn’t making a face,” I lie, because I probably was. Pizza is good, but that’s been our go-to the last couple of days, and you can only eat so much pizza before you’re sick of it.

“Choose again.” He leaves out the pizza flyer from the pile, and I pick another, then smile when he flips it over and I see it’s for the Jamaican restaurant that I wanted to try but hadn’t had time to. “Much better,” he says, studying me before he looks over the menu. “Do you know what you want from here?”

“Stew chicken, rice and peas, with mixed vegetables. Oh, and a beef patty if they have it.”

“Have you had Jamaican food before?”

“Often. One of my best friends, Toya, is from Jamaica, and she’s an amazing cook. Have you?”

“Only when I’ve been on vacation in Jamaica.” He pulls his cell phone out of his back pocket and dials the number on the menu.

As he places the order for our food, I study him in the light of the kitchen, noticing a small scar above his upper lip and another larger one just over his brow that disappears into his hairline, both making him look a little more interesting. His photos that were used on the app didn’t do him justice. Or maybe it’s just this version of him that I like a little more than the guy I was talking to. It probably helps that he’s real, so real I can reach out and touch him.

“They said it should be ready to pick up in about fifteen minutes. Are you up to riding with me to go get it?”

“Sure.” I shrug, then glance down at what I have on. The tank with a built-in shelf bra and pajama shorts are something I’d normally wear to bed, but with the sweater over it, it doesn’t look too indecent. It’s just standing next to him fully dressed to go out that makes me wonder if I shouldn’t change into actual clothes.

“If you’re worried about what you have on, don’t be. You look—” His eyes roam over me. “—fine.”

“Thanks.” I laugh at the lame compliment and turn with the intention of telling him that I’m going to go change, but my breath catches as his hand wraps around my bicep and he’s suddenly in my space. So in my space that his chest bumps mine as I take a breath.

“If I told you what I really think about how you look, I have a feeling you’d run from me. And I don’t want to risk that happening,” his voice rumbles, and my thighs squeeze together to fight the tingle between them. “Okay?”

“Okay.” I lick my bottom lip, and his eyes drop to my mouth.

“You should step back,” he tells me, the warning clear in his tone, but I’m caught in the heat that has flared to life between us, and I’m not sure that I want to listen. Part of me wants to push him to see what will happen if I don’t heed his warning. When his eyes darken, and I’m sure he’s going to make a move, my cell phone rings with the custom song that is attached to my sister April’s number. And just like that, the spell is broken, and he steps out of my space, clearing his throat.

With my hands balled into fists at my sides, half relieved and half disappointed that the moment between us was interrupted, I spin on my heels. “I’ll be right back,” I call over my shoulder as I take off toward the room I’ve been staying in since I got here.

Finding my cell on the bed, I pick it up and see the missed call from April along with a slew of texts from my other sisters in the group chat we share. Reading through the messages first, I shake my head. One thing that isn’t great about having a big family is the amount of gossip that goes around. No one can keep their mouths closed about anything for very long.

I should have thought about the fact that one of my cousins here on this trip would bring up Aiden to either one or all of my sisters at some point, having no idea what that information would do.

With a defeated sigh, I quickly type up a message confirming that the Aiden here is the one whose pictures were used on the app, but I tell them I will explain everything when I get home. After that, I send a single text to April, letting her know I will call her in a bit because I’m going to pick up dinner. Tossing my phone on the bed, I dig through my suitcase and find one of the dresses I brought with me and strip out of my clothes before putting it on over my head. The simple black maxi dress skims my body before hitting me just above my ankles, and I pair it with a jean jacket and my sandals.

Dressed, I tie my hair up in a ponytail and don’t even bother going to the bathroom and looking in the mirror. I have a feeling I would find a million things wrong with my appearance, and there’s not enough time to fix them all.

When I get back to the kitchen, Aiden is looking at his phone, but his eyes come to me as soon as I clear the doorway. I don’t know what to think of the look he gives me, I do know it makes my stomach flutter.

“Ready?” I ask, and he lifts his chin while tucking his phone away.

“I programed the address in for the restaurant. I just need to run next door and grab my car keys.”

“Sure.” I walk in front of him to the door and let us both out. When we get to the sidewalk, he places his hand against my lower back and leads me to a house just two down from ours. “I can wait out here.” I stop at the bottom of the steps.