Until May (Until Her/Him #11)(14)

“There you are.” Willow comes around the corner, smiling. “I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer.”

“I forgot my phone.” I point at the bag of food Aiden is holding as her eyes ping between the two of us. “We went out to pick up dinner.”

“Nice, we just decided to bring the party here and got the stuff to have a bonfire on the beach.” Her eyes lock with mine. “We even got stuff to make s’mores.”

“Yum.”

“Right?” She grins. “The girls just headed outside. Come join us when you’re done eating.”

“Sure,” I agree as we follow her into the kitchen area, and Aiden places the bag of food on the counter. As he talks with Carlo, I unpack everything from the bag, then go to the fridge. Besides wine coolers and beer, there aren’t many options, so I grab a couple of bottles of water.

“See you guys outside in a few,” Carlo calls before heading out, and I give him a small smile, taking a seat at the counter. I unwrap my beef patty from the small paper bag it’s wrapped in and take a huge bite as Aiden sits down next to me on a stool.

“Good?” he asks, studying me with a smile, and I nod while I chew, then swallow.

“So good.”

“Do you want to try it?” I hold out the orange, flaky, meat-stuffed pastry toward him, and he surprises me by leaning in to take a bite.

“Damn,” he mutters while chewing, and I can’t seem to drag my eyes off his mouth. “That is good.”

“Told you.” I clear my throat and place the patty down on the bag it came in, opening my meal and realizing the portion is big enough for two people. “I think we could have shared.” I glance over, seeing he got the same thing as me. “There is no way I’ll be able to eat all this, and I’m leaving early tomorrow, so I can’t even have the rest for breakfast or lunch.”

“We can still share. I’m sure the guys will eat this tonight or tomorrow.” He closes the lid on his, then gets up off his stool. “Do you know where they keep the plates?”

“Above the dishwasher.” I point across the kitchen, and he opens the cabinet, pulling out one plate before bringing it over to where I’m still seated.

“Take what you want, then leave me the rest,” he says, and I do, which means I leave most in the container, especially since I still have half the patty left to eat. “What time is your flight in the morning?”

“Seven fifteen.” My nose scrunches as I think about having to wake up at five so I’ll have enough time to get ready and make it to the airport.

“I can take you,” he says as I lift a forkful of food toward my mouth, and I meet his gaze.

“I already scheduled a ride.”

“Cancel it.”

“I don’t want to get up that early, so I’m not going to ask you to do that.” I take the bite that’s still held in midair.

“You’re not asking me to do anything. I’m telling you that I want to take you.”

“Seriously, you don’t have to.”

“I know.” He digs into his food, ending the conversation.

With a sigh, I start to eat, feeling flattered by his interest but also caught off guard by it. He’s not some guy who works a regular job; he’s a professional soccer player, and with the way he looks and speaks, he might even be a player-player.

On top of that, I don’t even know if he plans on staying in Tennessee. Then again, does it really matter? He’s not asking to marry me. He just wants to take me to the airport.

“What are you thinking?” he asks once more, and I turn to look at him.

“Nothing.”

“Hmm.” He reaches up and runs a finger between my brows. “These two lines tell a different story.”

“Rude.” I lean back and rub between my eyebrows. “Those exist because I need Botox, not because I’m thinking about something.”

“Right.” He presses his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh. “So what is it? Are you still worried I’m a serial killer?”

“No.” I roll my eyes, then turn when the back door opens and Hanna steps inside.

“Sorry.” She giggles as she stumbles, trying to close the door. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just need to use the restroom.”

“You’re not interrupting,” I assure her, and she looks from me to Aiden.

“You say that, but his face says otherwise.” She grins at him, then looks at me and wiggles her brows. “And you know I don’t like to say I told you so, but… I told you—”

“I thought you needed to use the bathroom,” I cut her off, feeling my ears get hot.

“Fine.” She laughs. “I’m leaving.” She walks past us, and I turn back to my food and pick up my beef patty, finishing off the last of it in one bite, then get up with my plate, which is almost empty, and carry it to the sink. As I’m rinsing it off, I feel Aiden come around into the kitchen, and it’s weird that I actually know he’s close without seeing or hearing him.

“Do you wanna go out and hang with everyone?” he asks, coming to stand next to me after putting his container of food in the trash.

I look at the clock to check the time, then tip my head back to meet his gaze. “For a bit, then I need to come in and pack so I don’t have to do it in the morning,” I say, and he grabs both our waters off the counter before opening the back door.