She swallowed before glancing around. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, and I’m not ready to share it yet either. Let’s just say that I’m a different person now. I went to Eastman to get away from the me I used to be, and now I’m not sure who I am. I thought I could change everything, be someone new, someone that was respected, but you mess all that up. You make me want to be the girl I was before, the one that didn’t care what other people thought of her, and was willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted. She wasn’t very nice, and she didn’t respect herself.”
It was all starting to make sense now. All the times she pulled away, but looked longingly at me. The kiss that had heated up only to burn out just as fast. The embraces that she shoved herself out of. The way she seemed so skittish at my apartment yesterday. They were all signs of her battle within herself. “You’re not a bad person for wanting to be around me.”
“Yes, I am,” she shook her head as she pushed up on the side of the pool and hoisted herself out. She sat on the side with only her feet in the water. “You’re exactly the guy that could drag me back to the place I worked so hard to escape from. Can’t you see that?”
“Ouch,” I leaned back away from her. “Tell me what you really think of me.”
“I’m not trying to hurt you, but like you said… I’m not like the girls you “date”,” she used finger quotes. “I can’t be like them, and I don’t see you changing for me.” She slid back and stood up, leaving me there bobbing in the pool. I watched as she grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself before walking to the beach.
My mouth dropped open as realization that she was walking away sunk in. “Damn it!” I punched the water as I growled in frustration.
“Go after her,” Emma called from the other end of the pool. When I turned to snarl at her, she pointed at the direction Mel had gone. “If you like her as much as you say you do, go after her. Don’t give up now. If she’s worth it to you, you need to keep pursuing it.”
“Stay out of it, babe,” Brock warned from beside her.
“No,” Emma shook her head. “I’ve been watching them. She likes him, she’s just afraid of him. He needs to show her that she can trust him. He’s changing for her. I’ve seen it.” She looked back at me, “What are you waiting for? Go!”
I quickly pushed up on the side of the pool, grabbed my towel, and followed the path Mel had taken. It didn’t take long for me to find her. She was sitting on the sand with her towel wrapped around her. Her knees were pulled up, and she was shaking as if she were crying. I felt like an ass for doing this to her. This was my fault, but I didn’t know how.
I quickly jogged over the sand, coming to stop beside her. Her head lifted as she stared out at the water. One hand wiped at her eyes before a strangled whisper came out. “Please don’t break my heart.”
I swallowed the lump that had formed from her plea before sinking down beside her. I tugged lightly at her chin with my thumb and index finger, begging her to look me. “I won’t,” I promised. “I swear, I won’t.”
She nodded before leaning into me and placing her head on my shoulder. How the hell would I keep that promise? How could I promise to never hurt her? I’d been hurting her since we met. Every time I thought I was making progress I’d screw up. I had to try harder. She was worth it, and I was going to prove that to her if it was the last thing I did.
Chapter 11
Melinda
The week went by quickly with Aaron and I spending pretty much every waking moment together. He either came over to Em’s house, or I went to his place. He took me to the pier one night, we had a couple more fires on the beach, and tonight we were going on a real date. It was my last night in Wilmington, and Aaron insisted that we stay up all night. Emma was doing the driving tomorrow, so I didn’t really need to be awake anyway, right?
“You’re not mad that I’m not going to be around tonight, right?” I looked up from where I was digging in my suitcase to find Em staring at me.
“Not at all. My parents want to talk wedding stuff. Well, at least my mom does. I think Dad just wants to make sure she doesn’t spend a fortune,” she laughed. “Have fun, and we’ll catch up tomorrow. Just make sure you’re back here by nine. I don’t want to get back to school late.”
“I agree. I want to be able to unpack and relax tomorrow before classes start,” I smiled as my fingers brushed over the soft yellow sundress I’d packed. “I just feel bad running off again.”
“You remember last summer, right? When you came to visit and I spent all my time with Brock. I get it. You like him, and we don’t live near him. This is your chance to be with him, so I’m not upset. I see you every day, and I’m happy that you’re happy,” she smiled before turning at the doorway to her room. “Enjoy your night,” she grinned before disappearing down the hallway.
I pulled the sundress from my bag and started getting dressed. Aaron had said that tonight was going to be a real date. I didn’t know what he meant by that. We’d already been out to dinner, swimming, walked on the beach, hung out at the pier. I didn’t know what else he had in store.
When he pulled up in his Jeep, I was sitting on the porch. I knew it probably looked way too eager and lame, but I was excited. I’d pulled my hair up, and now I was glad because Aaron had the top off.
“Hey, beautiful,” he grinned as he bounded up the steps. He was wearing a white golf shirt and khaki shorts. His golden tan from being on the beach all week stood out against the white fabric, and I couldn’t help but stare at the way it clung to his chest.
“Hi,” I offered a lame wave. I stood and brushed my hands down the front of my dress. I hadn’t worn a dress out with a guy since I’d dated Jason. He always told me he liked them because he could touch me in public and be discrete about it. After we broke up, I never wore them again. I always felt dirty, but with Aaron it was different. Over the last few days Aaron had shown me that I could be me and not lose what I’d worked so hard for. When I told him to stop, he did. He’s never pushed me, and I’m finally at a place where I can relax.
“You ready?” he held out his hand to me when he reached the top of the steps. I nodded and placed my hand in his. He led me over to the Jeep, and after helping me get in, he jogged around to his side.
“Where are we going?” I smiled as I folded my hands in my lap.
“You’ll see,” he smirked as he cranked the engine and turned onto the road. We drove for a little while before pulling into the parking lot of what looked to be a fancy restaurant. It had green awnings that covered the windows, and a large deck that ran along the side facing the ocean. Gas lanterns hung by the doors, and a sign was lit up on the roof naming the place “The Office.” “I hope you like seafood,” Aaron’s smile faltered as he held open the door for me.
“I love it,” I grinned up at him as I passed by and entered the restaurant.
The hostess didn’t even ask how many when we stopped at the stand. She smiled at Aaron and began leading us to the deck outside. “Your server will be right with you. Enjoy your meal,” she giggled as she backed away and I saw the way she was looking at Aaron. It was the same way most of the women did.
“You know her?” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice if I tried.
“Actually, yeah,” he chuckled.
“Fabulous,” I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the menu. I was no longer hungry or excited about this date, but knew I was stuck here.
“Susan and I went to high school together,” he snickered “and no, I’ve never seen her naked.”
“I didn’t ask,” I scoffed.
“You didn’t have to. I could see it all over your face. I do know girls that are just friends,” he chuckled as he set his menu aside. “I called ahead. She knew we were coming.”
My face heated in embarrassment, but it passed as Aaron let the conversation drop and acted like he didn’t know how jealous I really was.
“The swordfish is really good here, but so is the crab,”
he mused as he stared at out at the water.
“You really love the beach, don’t you?” I watched as a cloud washed over his face.
He nodded, “I do. It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve lived here since I was just a baby.”
“What’s wrong then?” I shifted in my seat. I could tell he was upset about something, but he was trying to hide it.
“You have to leave tomorrow,” he sighed.
“You knew this,” I shrugged.
“That doesn’t make it any easier,” he reached across the table and placed one of his hands over mine. “I guess I thought if I ignored it, it wouldn’t be true. It’s gonna suck tomorrow night when I don’t have you here.”
“What are you saying?” I couldn’t help but worry. With the way he was carrying on, it almost sounded like he didn’t want to keep doing what we’d been doing, like he was giving up.
“I’m saying that going back to talking on the phone instead of touching you is going to suck,” he laughed lightly. “I guess May isn’t too far away, though.”
“We can still see each other between now and then. You’ve come to Eastman twice now,” I giggled as I thought back to him ambushing me at school. I hated it at the time, but now it made me like him even more. He hadn’t given up, and it had worked out.
“You could come here, you know,” he tightened his grip on my hand. “I know we haven’t really talked about this, but you could stay at my place. You wouldn’t have to rely on Em, and I have plenty of room.”
“I don’t know. Maybe,” I murmured. The truth was, I had a lot going on and was lucky to get this week away. I was going to have a lot of catching up to do when I got back, and I wasn’t sure when I’d get time away again.
“Just promise me you’ll think about it,” he squeezed my hand.
“I will,” I smiled through the lie. I already knew my answer would be ‘no’ whenever he invited me back. It had to be, he just didn’t know it yet.
“Did you enjoy your dinner?” Aaron smiled down at me as we continued to walk down the beach. After dinner, he’d driven us to a public parking lot. It was dark now, but neither of us were tired.
“It was good. Thank you,” I leaned into him as he lifted his arm to wrap it around my shoulders. If a stranger saw us, they would think we’d been together forever. I was amazed at how fast he could make me relax. Over the last several days, Aaron had worked tirelessly to get me to open up. I was finally there, and now I was leaving. The melancholy feeling he’d had at dinner was now plaguing me. “It’s so beautiful here at night,” I mused as I changed the subject in hopes of lightening the mood. Maybe if we didn’t talk about it, the morning wouldn’t come.
“Yeah. This is my favorite part of the day. When I was little, my dad would take me for walks along our stretch of beach when I couldn’t sleep. He started when I was just a baby, and kept doing it until I was old enough to go on my own,” he pulled us to a stop, and turned to face the water. “Too bad it’s too cold now, or we could go for a night swim,” he chuckled, causing his shoulders to bounce.
“You just want to get me naked,” I mused in a teasing voice.
“The thought has crossed my mind,” he turned us to where we were facing each other, and before I could really comprehend what he’d just admitted, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
In the past, our kisses had started out slow and sweet, but this one was different. Aaron’s hands came up to hold my head in an almost iron grip as his mouth plundered mine. His tongue swept in with urgency, and an almost feral growl tore out of him. He seemed desperate, and he clung to me as if I were going to disappear at any second.
He pulled away panting, and rested his forehead against mine. “I’m really going to miss you. I feel like we’re finally getting somewhere, and now you’re leaving.”
I lifted my hands and wrapped them around his wrists as I murmured, “I’m going to miss you too.” Emotions rolled over his face but words never came. It was like watching the ocean as the waves lapped at the beach. The push and pull was a constant struggle, and though I feared what falling for him would do to me, I couldn’t help but give him a small piece of my heart in the moment. It had happened without me even planning it. I’d come here last summer intending to blow off steam, and now I was trying to figure out how he’d weaseled his way inside. Aaron was slowly taking the pieces of my broken soul, and healing them one moment at a time.
I shivered against the ocean breeze and Aaron chuckled before wrapping me in his arms. “It is a little chilly out here tonight. Wanna go somewhere and warm up?”
“That would be great,” I sighed as I burrowed into his embrace. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ve got the place to myself tonight. I was thinking we could watch a movie or something,” he pressed a light kiss to my bare shoulder.
“Ok,” I leaned back and looked up at him. “Just a movie?” Aaron had me all twisted up, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted in the moment, but he had to know I was vulnerable.
“You’re worth it, Mel. We’ve got plenty of time, so yes… just a movie unless you say otherwise,” his arms tightened in a quick hug before he turned us and began walking us back to his Jeep.
If this was the real Aaron, I was so dead. I could love THIS Aaron. He was sweet, caring, and everything I could want in a partner. This is the Aaron that could break me.
Chapter 12
Aaron
The ride back to my place seemed to take forever. I felt like an idiot for not remembering to bring the door tops, but in my defense, I didn’t think it would get as chilly as it did. When we’d left the beach, it was cool, but the temperature was slowly dropping more. Summer was around the corner, but this spring seemed to be taking its time warming up.
“Almost there,” I called as I reached across the center console and rubbed her knee. Mel was curled on the seat with her arms wrapped around her. The flimsy sundress she was wearing was fluttering in the wind, and every once in a while, I would shiver too. “When we get to my apartment, I’ll give you something warm to wear,” I offered her a smile, but she just nodded. I could tell she was uncomfortable, but she was trying to suck it up for me.
I could see the relief in her eyes when we pulled into the lot by my building. She rubbed her arms before climbing out and meeting me in front of the Jeep. I wrapped my arms around her, trying to warm her up as I guided us to the door. Once I got the door open, I ushered us inside and searched for a light switch. “Have a seat. I’ll get you some sweats,” I motioned to the couch, and then turned to go down the hall.
I stayed in the master, so my door was the last one at the end of the hall. It was dark, but I knew my way around so I didn’t need to turn on any lights. I wasn’t paying attention, so when she touched my shoulder, I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Holy shit! You scared me!” I yelled when I turned the knob to open my door.
“I’m sorry,” her voice was tentative. “I needed to use the bathroom. I didn’t know where it was.”
I laughed lightly as I pointed at the open door in the corner of my room, “You can use mine. I’ll put some clothes on the bed here. Just come back to the living room when you’re finished.”
“Thank you,” she smiled as she moved around me and disappeared into the bathroom.
I quickly rummaged through my dresser until I found a clean lifeguard hoodie and a pair of matching sweatpants. I placed them on the bed, and then rushed to get back to the living room. To say it was hard having her in my room, possibly naked, and not touching her would be an understatement. I’d been telling myself all night that she was different, and I had to treat her different. If I wanted whatever this was to work, then I had to wait for her to make the next move. She knew I liked her; the ball was in her court now.
Melinda
When I stepped out of the bathroom, he’d left me. The door to his room was pulled almost all the way closed, and a small desk light was on in the corner. There was just enough light to move around freely
, without the harshness of a bright lamp. A red hoodie and matching pants were sitting on the end of his neatly made bed, and I shivered with both excitement and cold. I shuffled over and picked up the hoodie, lifting it to my face. I buried my face in it, and took a big sniff. I never dared let Aaron know that I loved the way he smelled. I didn’t want to inflate his already oversized ego. The hoodie was soft from wear, and smelled just like him. It was a mix of coconut tanning oil, and the smell of the ocean with a hint of citrus like his cologne.
I smiled and closed my eyes just picturing us snuggled together on the beach. Before too long, I quickly slipped out of my sundress and pulled the hoodie over my head. After tugging the sweatpants up, and tying them so they wouldn’t fall down, I made my way over to his door. I shuffled down the dark hallway, careful not to trip on the too long pants as I approached the living room. I stopped and stared for a moment before he noticed me. He was sitting on the couch with his bare feet up on the table in front of him. His head was leaning back, and his eyes were closed as he faced the ceiling. His hands were linked together and resting on his stomach.
At first, I thought he may have fallen asleep, but when I moved the floor squeaked, alerting him of my presence and his eyes flew open. “Spying on me now?” he chuckled.
“Maybe,” I shrugged one shoulder as I moved closer.
“What do you want to watch?” he motioned to the TV. “I have a collection of DVDs in there, or we can just pick something off one of the movie channels.”
Trusting You Page 8