Amelia chuckles next to me as Emma shakes her head. “Ridiculous. What about you, Amelia? What costume has been your favorite so far?”
“Hmm, it’s been a tough competition. There has been some real winning costumes and some absolute piss-poor ones.” She shakes her head. “Just because you put a scarf around your neck and call yourself Jack Frost doesn’t mean you dressed up.”
“Ugh, that costume was dumb.”
“It shouldn’t be referred to as a costume, but that’s beside the point.” I like how much Amelia is getting into this little pretend competition. She’s a far cry from the girl who first came home earlier. I love that having Tucker and Emma over has given me more time with Amelia, getting to know the woman she is today, but also managed to put that beautiful smile back on her face.
“So who takes the cake for you?” I ask, nudging her leg with mine.
Smiling up at me, she says, “Hands down it’s the little boy who dressed as Dwight Schrute from The Office. I think I giggled for five minutes straight after he left. That costume was spot on.”
“Oh shit, you’re right,” I reply as Emma and Tucker agree with me. “He even had the watch calculator.”
“And the small nose Dwight always complains about.” Emma chuckles. “Yeah, he has to be the winner.”
“Now, now, now, let’s not get too hasty. Little Debbie is still in the running,” Tucker points out.
Amelia leans forward, seeming incredibly comfortable, and says, “There is no way Little Debbie beats Dwight. Sorry, dude.”
The shocked look on Tucker’s face is comical. He’s just been put in his place and the old Amelia has returned.
I fucking love it.
***
“That’s the last of it. Thanks for helping me bring in everything.”
“Well, you’ve helped me anytime I have bags in my trunk, so it’s the least I can do.”
I nod, feeling a little unsure of what to do or say. I want to hug her, I want to pull her into my chest and thank her for spending some time with my friends, for opening up, for showing me the lighter side of her again. I want to ask more about her dad, about her job, about my fucking brother . . . sort of. But I don’t do any of those things, instead I nod at her house and say, “I’ll walk you back to your house.”
“It’s like two feet away. I think I can make it, Aaron.”
“Yeah, and it’s late on Halloween. You never know what kind of creep is lurking around. Just humor me, all right?”
She exhales loudly, putting on a bit of a disgruntled show as she says, “Fine.”
“Don’t sound too excited,” I joke.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m being cautious.”
The walk takes us no more than twenty seconds, but I’m desperate for any extra moments I can steal with her.
“See, told you I’d be fine.” She turns toward me and presses her back against her door as she folds her arms over her chest.
I stick my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “That’s because I was walking with you. I scared the creeps away with all my muscles.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure that was it,” she says sarcastically and then looks out to the street. A flash of a smile crosses her face. “I had fun tonight; thanks for taking my mind off everything.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” I ask with a little shrug. The word friend feels bitter coming off my tongue but friends first. I need to gain her trust, then I can make a move.
“Friends, huh?” She gives me a once-over.
“Yeah. You can never have too many friends.”
“Even if they’re ex-boyfriends?”
I chuckle. “Those are the best kind of friends.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” She laughs and lightly shakes her head. “Never thought I would be your friend, Aaron. I always thought there was more to us.”
It’s the first time she’s really brought up the past, and I do everything possible to refrain from hopping down memory lane. I want her to have good memories of me, not bad ones.
“I’ve always been your friend, Amelia. First and foremost, always a friend.” She doesn’t seem to be happy with that response as she looks away, so I force her to look me in the eye by taking her chin in my hand. I step forward, feeling the heat of us in close proximity. No matter how much time has passed, I think there will always be a spark when it comes to us. It’s undeniable. “I want you to know one thing, okay?” She nods and swallows as I step closer. With my hand still on her chin, I look her square in the eyes. “Despite everything that happened between us, I did and always will do anything for you, and I mean fucking anything. You matter to me, more than you’ll ever understand.”
I release her and take a step back. Even in the dark, I notice the heave of her chest and the bewilderment etched in her face. How could she not know that? Why does she doubt me?
Maybe because I broke her heart without any explanation.
I fucked everything up—understatement—but now I wonder if she’s come back here for a reason? Maybe the chapter of Aaron and Amelia hasn’t quite finished, and what the hell if I’m not going to take advantage of it. I have to be patient. I will earn her trust in time, but for now, I need to be her friend. Despite how hard that’s going to be for me.
Chapter Eleven
AARON
Five years ago . . .
“Are you sure I look okay? I really think I should tuck my shirt in.”
“You don’t ever tuck your shirt in, why would you now?”
“To show respect,” I answer nervously. Fuck, I’m nervous.
I’ve had girlfriends before, a few relationships here and there, but no one who mattered to me as much as Amelia does. It’s been a few months since we started going out, and today is just another step toward the future I can see us having together.
I’m meeting her dad for the first time, and even though I’ve packed on a shit ton of deodorant, I can feel myself starting to sweat through my undershirt.
I’ve never met a girlfriend’s parents before. I don’t know how to act, what to say . . . what not to say. I know the inevitable is going to happen, and he’s going to end up asking me questions I’m not comfortable answering like what do you do for a living? What is your family like? What do your parents do? What are your plans for the future?
The only answer I know is that I’m in love with his daughter and I want to make her happy every chance I get. I will do anything for her . . . literally anything.
Cautiously, I walk behind Amelia, following in her footsteps, trying to not look too jittery but failing miserably. When we reach the door I say, “Wait.” She turns to face me and her eyes go soft when she sees the panic in my eyes.
Gently, she reaches up and places her hands on my face. “You’re going to be fine. He’s a nice guy and as long as he knows you love me, that’s all that matters.”
Not true. Dads are more protective than that. Love isn’t just going to do it. I’m not an idiot. Fathers want to make sure their kids are taken care, at least that’s what I’m assuming fathers do. My father figure was in and out of my life, so I’m only gathering what I know from friends.
“I think I’m going to tuck my shirt in,” I answer, still worried about my attire. “Shit.” I chastise myself. “I’m not wearing a belt.”