Page 78 of First-Time Caller
“You don’t think I can do it?”
I don’t know why he sounds so offended.
“I think you can do it. It’s notAmerican Gladiators, Aiden. Finding me a date shouldn’t be that difficult.”
Not that my current track record would suggest otherwise.
“Fine. I’m going to pick your next date.” He says it like a threat, his jaw tight and eyes flashing. Another piece of pancake bites the dust. “And I’d kick ass atAmerican Gladiators. For the record.”
I’ve seen his arms. I’m sure he could.
“Noted,” I reply, unclear what we’re arguing about.
Grayson claps his hands together with a crack. “It’s settled, then. Lucie’s Highway to Happiness—”
“Road to Love,” I correct wearily.
“—continues chugging along.” He ruffles my hair. “I’m so proud of you, my Little Engine That Could.”
“Great.” Aiden’s teeth snap around a piece of bacon, his elbow resting on the table. His body is a lazy curve, slouched in the early morning light.
“Great,” I fire back, annoyed for some reason. Maya and Grayson look entirely too pleased with themselves. “Shouldn’t you two be off to the cosplay thing?”
“Oh shit.” Grayson pushes back from the table and leans across the island for Maya’s discarded hat. “Let’s go, Maya bean. I’m sure you have a crystal skull to save.”
“Crystal Skullis the worst one,” she moans. She pats the top of my head as she edges past. “Bye, Mom.” She tosses a shy wave in Aiden’s direction. “Bye, Aiden Valentine.”
He smiles, amused. His weird flare of obstinate tension has disappeared. Now he just looks tired. I remember him saying he’s not a morning person.
He waves at Maya. “Catch you later, Indy.”
She grins and hops out the door. Grayson disappears behind her. The kitchen settles into silence.
“I should head out,” Aiden says slowly, staring at the edge of his plate. I was fine when we woke up, but all of last night’s poor decision-making is catching up with me in flashes of disjointed, hazy memories. I remember begging him to dance to “Thong Song.” Wrapping my body around his at the Skee-Ball ramp. Kicking his sides with my heels while he gave me a piggyback home.
I cringe.
I decide to bury everything in the back of my mind to deal with another time and push back my seat. Aiden does too, stacking some of the dirty dishes and walking them to the sink.
“Sorry for, uh, manhandling you,” I say quietly while he rinses syrup off the cutlery and slots it neatly into the dishwasher. I notice he puts the forks prong-side up, the way god intended. My unfortunate crush gains momentum. “And thanks for keeping me company last night.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he says. He closes the dishwasher and dries his hands on the towel. The one with a whisk that saysWHIP IT REAL GOOD. “You don’t need to apologize either.”
“For the manhandling?”
That half smile again. “I like a woman who can toss me around.”
I bite the inside of my cheek against my answering grin. “I thought we talked about the flirting thing.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He folds my dish towel into a neat rectangle, then drapes it over the handle of my dishwasher. “I’ll be on my best behavior from here on out.”
We stare at each other across the length of the kitchen. A hazy memory of last night drifts across my mind. Aiden doing up the buttons of my jacket, his knuckles brushing against the curve of my breast through the heavy material. A look of naked hunger on his face, his lips parted.
I don’t think I want him on his best behavior.
Aiden drums his hands against the chair and I snap out of it. “I’ll see you at the station on Monday,” he says, and I like to think I’m not imagining the reluctance in his voice. “I’ll work on finding you that date.”
I nod. This is the plan. This has always been the plan. There’s no reason to be disappointed, but I can’t help but feel like I’m letting something slip out of my grip. I got a taste of the real Aiden last night, and now I want more.
