Until May (Until Her/Him #11)(15)

When we get outside, we walk to where everyone has gathered around a small bonfire on the beach, and as soon as Nalia spots me, she grabs my hand and pulls me down to sit next to her, while Aiden walks over to where the guys are all standing. “Try this.” She shoves a cup of liquid toward me, and I smell it before I take a small sip.

“Wow.” I cough from the sharp sting of alcohol. “What is that?” I wipe my mouth.

“I don’t know. The guys made it.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “I wish you didn’t have to leave tomorrow.”

“I know. Me too.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Do you know when you’ll be home next?” I ask, still thinking of Tennessee as her home, even if she hasn’t lived there in years.

“I’m hoping this spring.” She holds the cup out to me again, and I shake my head.

“I don’t want to be hungover in the morning when I get on the plane.”

“That’s probably smart,” she mumbles, then arms wrap around me from behind, and I turn, coming face-to-face with Hanna, right before Willow flops down on my other side.

“This has been a great trip.” Willow wraps her arms around Hanna and me. “We need to do this more often.”

“We do,” I agree. “I just wish everyone else was here.”

“Me too, but no, they all have to be married and have babies,” Willow grouches, and I laugh, because she makes it sound like something bad, when we all know our sisters and cousins who’ve gotten married feel the complete opposite.

“I wonder who’s going to be next down the aisle,” Nalia says, and all eyes come to me.

“No, no way.” I hold my hands up. “I haven’t even been on a date in forever.”

“We’ll, I wouldn’t be upset if it was me.” Hanna sighs. “I’m ready to settle down and have some babies.”

“Really?” I ask, honestly surprised since she’s always seemed to love being single.

“Really, I just need to find a man who isn’t a complete player.” She shrugs.

“Well it’s not going to be me.” Willow shakes her head. “I’m enjoying this time in my life. What about you sis?” We all look at Nalia.

“If it happens it happens, but I’m not actively looking for someone.” She shrugs then holds up her cup. “Whoever it is cheers to the last girls standing.” We all laugh, then I bite my lip when I find Aiden’s gaze on me through the fire burning between us.

Seeing the look in his eyes, my heart starts to pound, and just like that, I can’t help but think I’m in trouble.





Chapter 5


May

MY EYES FLY open, and anxiety instantly fills my chest when I see early-morning light shining into my room, while hearing the doorbell go off and someone knock. Sitting up, I grab my cell off the side table next to my bed and check the time. It’s way past when I should have been awake, and right now, I should be heading to the airport. With a very unladylike curse, I toss the blanket back and rush out of my bedroom, past the kitchen, and go to the front door, swinging it open.

“I overslept,” I tell Aiden as I step back to let him inside. “I swear I’ll be ready in just a minute.” I spin away from him and run back through the house, leaving him standing there… realizing only when I get back to my room that I don’t have on pants and the cut-off shirt I’m wearing doesn’t cover much. With no time to really think about how embarrassed I should be that he saw me half-dressed, I load up my toothbrush and shove it in my mouth.

While brushing my teeth, I put on my jeans, then go back to the bathroom to spit and rinse, and then I rip a hairbrush through my hair before tying it up. After I change my shirt, I tuck my sleep clothes, brush, and toothbrush into my bag and zip it back up.

Last night, I might have stayed out on the beach with everyone way too late, but I did pack up all my stuff before I went to bed, so I at least don’t have to do that this morning. It doesn’t take me long to finish getting ready, and once I’m done, I grab my purse along with my winter coat I left unpacked and drag my suitcase with me out of the bedroom toward the living room.

“Sorry about that.” I meet Aiden in the kitchen area, and he unfolds from the barstool he was sitting on.

“Do you have everything?” he asks quietly, taking my suitcase from me.

“Yep.” I look around, trying to avoid meeting his gaze. I might not have had time earlier to think about him seeing me half-dressed, but I’m definitely thinking about it now. “And if I forgot anything, Willow can bring it to me when she comes back in a few days.”

“She’s staying that much longer than you?”

“Yeah, school starts Monday, and I have stuff I need to get done before then,” I tell him as we head toward the front door. “When do you go back?”

“My flight gets in Tuesday evening.” He lets us out of the house, and I see that he’s moved his car to our driveway. “I’m surprised the girls weren’t up to say goodbye.”

“I’m not.” I laugh. “They were all pretty out of it last night when we got back, and I don’t know what time they went to sleep. But when I went to bed, they were still in the kitchen, making pancakes.” I hear him chuckle as he opens the passenger door for me to get in.