Page 46 of Wild Mistake
I don’t know if I even remember how to get there. “That’s almost an hour away.” Tempting as it is, I can’t spare the cost of gas. But fuck, it would be amazing to soak in the hot springs.
“I’ll drive.”
Aiden Wilder wants to take me to the springs.
Aiden, who used to be mine.
Am I dreaming or have I stepped back in time?
“I don’t have a bathing suit.” Not that I’d wear one in front of him if I did. My body is nothing like it was when we were young. I wonder if he’s turned off by my size? Jake was. He told me countless times how disappointed he was that I let myself go.
“You have a lot of excuses for someone who was just daydreaming of hot water.”
“Aiden.” I shake my head. “I can’t. We can’t.” I don’t even think I could make the hike through the woods, not after working a double.
“Why?” he challenges. “Because you’re a chicken?”
“I’m not. It’s just . . .” I don’t want to tell him the full story. Can’t stand the idea of seeing pity in his eyes. But I can’t come up with an excuse he’ll accept. Not by the determined glint in his gaze.
The reality is that I am scared. Terrified, really.
If we do this, I’ll expose all of myself, and all of my greatest insecurities to the first boy I ever loved, and the first man to make me doubt my worth. I’m not sure I am brave enough to face either of those realities.
“The boys. They’ll be expecting dinner.” It’s a lame, last-ditch effort to get him to drop this.
“Call your parents.” Aiden meets my stare. “Tell them you’ll be home late and that I’m dropping dinner by for everyone in twenty minutes.”
I cross my arms. “You are not doing that.”
“I sure am.” The satisfied smirk on his face says he’s prepared to shoot down any other ridiculous excuses.
“I don’t know if I can make the hike down to the water.” It pains me to admit that truth aloud.
Aiden only shrugs. “Then I’ll carry you.”
“Aiden,” I scold. “You are not. You can’t. I’m too heavy.”
He leans back and frowns. “Are you messing with me? Do you actually think I can’t lift you?”
I think of all the times I jumped on his back as a teen. “I am sure you’ve noticed I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed.” His gaze runs down my body. Hungry. Needy. Yearning.
My breath catches. He appears to like what he sees. The unexpected attention lights me up from the inside.
“Sarah, I can deadlift four hundred. My bench is two-fifty.” His stare is bold as it rakes over my body.
My mouth goes dry. “I don’t know what any of that means.”
“I’ll haul you into my arms and carry you out to my truck right now if you’ll let me.”
Oh.
The idea fuels my dirtiest fantasies. A man strong enough to toss me across the bed is enticing. He couldn’t mean it that way.Could he?I shake off the vision before I further embarrass myself.
“Call your parents. Order your boys their favorite items off the menu.” He taps the table and pushes to his feet. “We’re doing this.”
“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?” I hope he can’t hear the nervous shake in my laughter.
