“Wanna take it to the resource room and have some fun?” I was teasing, but I got her to blush. It was endearing to see her badass attitude slow for a second. I had a habit of flustering her. I liked I could do that.
“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes.
Those damn eyes. I loved them—how expressive they were, how they grew darker when she was turned on. I loved how just a look could bring any man to his knees. I loved how she bit the tip of her pen when she focused and how she listened to shitty music.
I mentally cursed myself for being a mush. I needed to go break some shit or something because I shouldn’t be thinking these kinds of things all the time. Holy shit. I loved her. I fucking loved her. It was as if a truck hit me and fire exploded in my chest.
“I…uh, gotta go. Can I see you later?” I grabbed my bag and stood so quickly I banged my knee. “Shit.”
She yanked her headphones out and looked up at me. “What’s wrong? You have this frightened look on your face. You okay?”
“I just remembered there was something I have to do right this second. I promise nothing’s wrong. I’ll stop by tonight when you’re at work.”
“This isn’t one of those times I won’t hear from you for two days, right?” She nervously played with her hands, and I realized I scared her.
“No, Jenna. I promise I’ll stop by tonight. I just need to go take care of something super-important. Don’t frown. It makes a little line right here that’ll give you wrinkles later.”
“If you say so.”
I kissed her quickly and ran out of the library like it was on fire. I was having a panic attack about love. I knew I fucking liked everything about her. We’d been together since November, and if I were being honest with myself, I’d stopped seeing other girls in October. She’d been mine since then, so why should I be freaking out?
“Fuck.”
I walked back to the frat to catch my breath. I ran into Jon. I walked right past him and went to my room. I thought about calling my brother or my dad, but that wasn’t going to help me.
“Aiden.”
“What?” I snapped at Jon, who came into my room undetected.
“Jenna just texted me. She’s worried about you because you jumped outta the library so fast you hurt yourself, and—her words, not mine—you were acting like a fucking loon.”
“She texted you?”
“Yes, she’s worried. I am, too. You have this wild look in your eyes. Kind of feral. What the fuck is going on? Everyone okay?”
“My family’s fine. I just…God, this is embarrassing.”
He gave me a flat stare. “Aiden. You’re my brother. Spit it the fuck out.”
“I’m in love with Jenna. I fucking love her.”
“Your point?” He raised his hands and walked toward me. “Are you telling me you freaked the hell out because you ‘realized’ you are in love with Jenna? That Jaiden is actually a real thing?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Not the couple name…even though I like it.”
“Dude. You’ve been in love with her almost since she called your ass out at the bar back in August. No, I wouldn’t say then. Probably when you stopped hitting on girls at our parties and disappointing the entire freshman female population.”
I dragged my hands through my hair. “I’ve never loved anybody before. Love is fucked up. You saw what it did to my parents. Yours, too.”
He shook his head. “I would never want anything near what my parents had. You can’t let your parents’ failed marriage prevent you from being in a committed relationship.”
“It just…freaked me out. Damn.”
“That’s an understatement.” He sighed. “You realize this changes nothing, right?”
“How does it not?”
“Man the fuck up, Aiden Chad. You love a girl. I’m pretty sure she loves you, too. You either tell her or wait. You don’t freak out on her, make her worry, and pout about your parents’ failed relationship. I love you, man, but she’s the best fucking thing that’s happened to you. I know it. You should definitely know it.”
“Wow.” I stared at him, kinda shocked.
“Yeah, sorry. I’ve apparently been holding that in for a while. Normally I’m the chill one.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I’m fucking right.”
I hugged him. Not a weird, sensual hug, but a manly bro hug. “Thanks. I needed that.”
“You going to tell her?”
I needed more time to think. “Not yet. She’s just as messed up as I am, so if I dropped those words on her, she’d probably freak. I need to get myself sorted out first before I say anything.”
“Probably a good call. You feeling manly?”
“After this talk, not at all.” I scrubbed my hands down my face.
“Well, we have an open spot on our dodgeball team for a fundraiser. You’re in. It starts in an hour.” He smacked me on the shoulder.
“Perfect. It’ll help take away the panic.”
“You’re a mess. Text your woman and get dressed. Put on something with our sign on it. And pink socks. It’s cancer awareness.”
“Got it.”
Aiden: I’m really sorry I ran out. I was a dumbass. I got roped into a dodgeball tournament, but I’ll stop by after, okay?
Jenna: Yeah. You going to explain what the hell happened?
Aiden: Sometime, yes. Tonight, no. I’m just working through some shit, okay?
Jenna: All right. I won’t press. Good luck.
Aiden: Did we officially decide we were having our unofficial Valentine’s Day date this Friday?
Jenna: Yes. You really didn’t give me a choice asking me last night.
Aiden: :-) I know.
Chapter 39
Our Love Is Like a Toilet Seat: Ups and Downs-Jenna
IT was the weekend after Valentine’s Day. The only reason I agreed to go out with Aiden was because it wasn’t the Hallmark holiday. And well, because he asked me really nicely the night before while I was in a sex coma. He knew how to play dirty.
“So this is your non-Valentine’s Day date with your non-boyfriend?” Maya asked, holding back a smile.
“That is exactly what this is.” I tilted my head in confidence and flipped her off when she laughed. “What’s so funny, missy?”
“You two are just headcases. I know it’s still a taboo topic, but you need to DTR.”
“DTR?” I asked, confused.
“Define the relationship. It’s been months, and you still aren’t official.”
“I don’t need it to be official. It’s working out perfectly. I’m happy. He’s happy. We’re all happy. Hey!” I clicked my heels together and smirked.
“Just ask him if you’re his girlfriend. Has he told you he loves you yet?” she asked.
I spat out my drink and glared at her. “No and no. Thanks for shocking me, by the way.”
“Anytime. It’s what I’m here for. Moral support and all. I just think you should jump headfirst and tell him how you feel. It’s been two months since Christmas. It’s only gotten more serious.”
“Ugh! I don’t want to eff it up, okay? That’s what I’m afraid of. What if I say, ‘Hey, Aiden, I know we haven’t defined anything and hang out all the time and have amazing sex, but I think I love you’?”
She giggled. “Yes! Exactly!”
“What if he doesn’t say it back, or what if I freak him out and we stop being…whatever we are? Do you hear me right now? I don’t worry about this shit. I’d rather avoid it and enjoy the moment. I sound pathetic and annoying. I hate being this way.” I punched a pillow on the couch, then laughed. “God, I’m dramatic.”
“Ya think? But, babe, I’ve known you way too long. You never back away because something might be hard or challenging. This is just different because you’ve never been in love before, so it’s scary.”
I gave her a suspicious look. “Why are you so wi
se?”
“It’s all the reality TV I watch.”
I went up to hug her. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
“I don’t either. “She grinned and then motioned toward the door. “He’s here. Don’t do anything stupid, okay? Think about what I said.”
I rolled my eyes and opened the door to see him in blue jeans, a white V-neck, and his Yankees hat. He looked delicious. He eyed me up and down. “Happy Friday.”
“Happy Friday to yourself. Oh! I love your new Chucks. Gray’s a good choice.”
Aiden swung one foot. “Thanks. You ready to go?”
“Yup.” As I shut the door, I saw Maya making a heart symbol with her hands. I flipped her the bird for the second time in ten minutes, then followed him out.
He kissed me softly and with the sole purpose of touching me. Swoon. Of course, I had to change the intensity of the emotions, so I did the only thing I could—changed the subject.
“I know I said no gifts, but I found a card and thought it was necessary to give it to you. I mean this from the bottom of my tiny heart.”
He retrieved the card from my hands and took in the envelope covered in pictures of toilets I hand drew. I chuckled as he opened it up, distrust evident on his face.
“Huh? ‘My feelings for you are like a toilet seat…A lot of ups and downs but a necessity in my life.’ I’m so blessed. Thank you. This is…so romantic.” His lips tilted at the sides, and he put the card in his back pocket. “I’m going to save this.”
“Good. It’s an original.”
He laughed. “I can tell. Did you find a blank card with a toilet seat and add all the drawings yourself?”
“Yup. I’m artistic like that.”
He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I love it. Thank you.”
I snaked my arm around him, making it slightly awkward because of our height difference, but we made it work. We walked toward his car, but I stopped him. “Let’s not drive. Let’s just walk somewhere we’ve never been. Somewhere that looks shady, a dive.”
“No romantic candlelit dinner for you? I had all these plans.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I hope you’re kidding. You know I would rather have a greasy burger and play darts.”
“When will you learn to trust me, woman?”
“I trust you.”
“Then follow my lead. We aren’t going to drive anywhere, and I know you’ve been to First Friday before.”
“A couple times, but I normally work. Are we going?” I asked.
“Yup. And I know we agreed no presents, but I came up with a better idea. We each have five dollars to spend on the other person. We get twenty minutes to find a gift.”
“Ohh, I can be a fan of this. Let’s head over there!”
“Hold on, shorty. I also have, uh, something to show you. It’s not a present, because you would’ve bitched at me for breaking the rules.”
“I wouldn’t have bitched.” I noticed his expression and nodded. “Okay, yeah, I probably would have.”
“Instead, I bought myself a gift I want to show you.”
“Interesting tactic, but I’m listening.”
He popped open the trunk. “I bought myself a beer-making kit. You know, because I love beer. I heard it’s pretty cool.”
“Wow! I’ve never done it, but they’re supposed to be great. What type of beer?” I eyed all the materials and a big glass thing curiously. I always planned on making beer in my life.
“The problem is, though, I can’t have this at the house. The guys would drink it before it was finished. Plus, it kind of breaks the house code. Specifically, house code seventy-five, where we aren’t able to produce or sell alcohol of any kind,” he deadpanned. His chiseled face remained passive, but his eyes gave him away. They were a little too bright. A little too happy.
“You made up that code. I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh really? What am I doing?”
“Backhandedly giving me a gift.”
“No, no, I’m not. I am not giving you this awesome present. It’s just for me. I just can’t do it at the frat house, so I have to borrow your apartment.”
“You think you’re so smooth and slick. Damn.”
I looked back in the trunk and saw he’d bought everything needed to start the process.
He continued to stare at me with a fake innocent expression. I pointed a finger at his chest, but he grabbed my hand. “My, my, Jenna, are you insinuating I would break a rule we made and give you a beer-making kit? I would never do such a thing. And you’re being kind of selfish thinking it’s for you.”
“Two hundred asshole points, Aiden.”
He shut the trunk and smacked my ass. “Want to start tomorrow?”
“You bet your ass I do.” I initiated contact and grabbed his hand. “I love it, Aiden. I really do. We can do it together. Then when it’s ready, we can get really drunk.”
“That was my plan.”
We walked a good mile to get to the arts district of Phoenix to see all the street venders setting up for the monthly exhibit. We ran into some people from campus and said hi, but then we got to the flea market area.
“Twenty minutes. We meet right back here.”
“Ready? Break!” I shouted and took off in the opposite direction.
I walked around and saw a bunch of cool art, but the majority was way over five dollars. I thought about getting him a keychain, but they were all too random. I saw a stand with cheap beer koozies, coasters, and shot glasses. That was more like it.
I couldn’t decide between two but finally bought a koozie that said, Have a nice day! But then there was a middle finger printed on the bottom. Perfect. I thought it fit perfectly since we’d decided to become our own beer brewers.
I found him waiting for me in the spot we determined, a smile on his face. He turned his hat backward, and I wanted to jump him. It was a weakness of mine. Aiden was a weakness in general. But with that backward hat, I wanted to take him right there.
“On the count of three, we hand them to each other. Ready? One…two…three.”
I held out the koozie and dropped it in his hand…and he handed me the exact same one. “No fucking way.”
“This is either really funny or really sad,” he said, grinning down at the identical gifts. “What does this say about us?”
“That we both drink too much, are too sarcastic, and, eh, might be assholes.”
“You’re my perfect woman.”
He pocketed both of the koozies, and we stopped at a food truck to get dinner.
“I know this isn’t a Valentine’s Day date, because it’s overrated. But if this were one, this would be the best one I’ve ever been on,” I said between bites of my walking taco.
“Best date or non-Valentine’s Day date?” he asked.
“Does it matter?”
“Absolutely. Things to keep in mind for the future.”
The thought of a future with him didn’t freak me out at all anymore. My future slowly changed to include him in it. “A little bit of both. Thank you.”
“It’s not over yet. I want dessert. Like real food dessert. I’ll deal with you later.” He winked.
“Such a tease. Let’s get a brownie!”
We found an unoccupied picnic table across the road, and we walked over to eat.
“So can I finally get to ask about the heinous crime you committed to do time at the nursing home? Don’t think I forgot.” I shook a finger at him.
“Ah, man. I don’t want to tell you.” He cringed and took a huge bite of the brownie. “Plus, we have to exchange something equally as important. Do you have any dark secret you want to share?”
I thought about it and really didn’t come up with anything earth-shattering. “I made out with Maya at a party in high school once.”
“Wow.” He coughed on his brownie and had to wipe his mouth before continuing. “Not what I
was expecting. As much as I’d like to see that, not really too big of a deal.”
“Hmm…I punched a girl in the face.”
He shrugged. “Not surprising. I’ve seen you at the bar.”
“I stole a WWJD bracelet when I was eight.”
He laughed and shook his head. “This is enlightening. I’m finding out so much more about you.”
“I returned it, though, when my grandpa realized what I did.”
“So not really that badass or incriminating. Any other stories you care to share?”
I tapped my fingers on my chin. “Hmm, I used to skip school by sneaking out of the band room and putting a rock in the door.”
“You were in band?”
“No, I just knew two horny band people, and we worked out a deal. I would sneak out now and again. In return, I would be the lookout sometimes when they went at it in the little closet in the back.”
“So, in short, you’ve had a lesbian experience, gotten in a girl fight, stolen something, skipped school, and were kind of a pimp?”
I nodded. “Yeah, good summary. Now spill your crime.”
“I’m not sure I feel safe with you anymore. And no, even all those wonderful details about your deranged childhood don’t add up to mine.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, taking in the surroundings, hoping something would come to me. Nothing. Nada. “You’re no fair.”
“Too bad. Guess you’re going to have to move on.”
“You suck.” I pouted.
“False. You, on the other hand, are really good at sucking…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but raised his eyebrows and ran his fingers over his lips.
“Such a horn dog.” I kicked him under the table.
“Only for you.” He gave me a weird look. “Ready for part two of the night?”
“I like the sound of part two. Does it involve you taking off your clothes and letting me ogle you like the man candy you are?”
He tilted his head to the side and thought about it. “You’re jumping ahead to part three.”
“You and all your parts and planning. You’re sneakier than I originally thought. Or maybe more organized. Verdict’s still out.”
Let Life Happen Page 29
