“I know.”
“Okay, so you broke up with Trey because he was a douche, you dry-humped Aaron at a bar for sixty-year-olds, and he gave you his free pizza. What happened next?” I wanted him to take me to his bed and fuck me all night. Yeah, thinking I may not say that.
“I wanted him, Amanda, and he knew it. He still wants me back. But, he told me I need time to heal. He wants me to process what happened with Trey, and he would wait for me.” In his arms at the club felt like we were back where we started. The emotion, the connection . . . God, the sexual chemistry. It was all there. And I wanted it. I had just broken up with my boyfriend, yet within ten hours I was willingly in the arms of another man . . . and wanted him. Desperately. “I haven’t talked to him since we said goodnight.”
“Let me guess, you cleaned yesterday?”
“The house looks brand new.” I scoot down on the couch and rest my head against the cushion. “I don’t know what to do, Amanda. I just broke up with Trey. Why don’t I feel devastated about Trey? I loved him; shouldn’t I be stuffing my face with brownies and ice cream right now?”
“You loved Trey, Amelia, and until Friday, we’d both thought he was the man for you. Perhaps he was always a filler for the person who truly owns your heart, and you realized that long before Friday. The question now is, will you take Aaron back?”
I’m not sure Trey was a filler. I loved him . . . I still love him, but I also carry love for another man.
“I want to . . . but I’m scared.”
There’s a knock at my door, and I have a sinking feeling I know who it will be.
“That’s a justified feeling. I would be scared too if I was in your position, but don’t let fear dictate your future. You’re not living unless your take a leap. Let your heart beat, let it feel, let it soar, and let it love again.”
Tears brimming my eyes, I nod even though she can’t see me. “Thanks, Amanda.”
“Anytime, sweetie.”
I quickly say goodbye, cinch my robe tight, and open the front door. Aaron stands in front of me, wearing a green jacket, his Yankees hat, and a huge smile on his face.
“Morning, babe. I let you have yesterday to soak everything in, but today, we’re going to have fun.” He takes in my apparel and the towel on my head. “You’re going to have to get changed first, though.”
I stick my chin in the air, the towel on my head threatening to fall. “What if this is what I choose to wear?”
He eyes the partial opening where my leg is showing and lifts an eyebrow at me. “Then I’m looking forward to the show you’ll be giving me today.”
“Fine, I’ll change.”
“Hurry up.” When I turn, he slaps my ass and smiles. “We have a lot to tackle today, babe. Keep that face of yours free of makeup; you’re beautiful without it.” When he winks and takes a seat on my couch, every nerve in my body tingles.
Let your heart beat, let it feel, let it soar, and let it love again.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my life.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alive, either.
***
Aaron opens my passenger side door and I stretch out. The three-hour drive with Aaron next to me has me a little tense, especially since all I focused on was his toe-curling cologne and how his forearm flexed while he drove.
“You ready?” His brimming excitement is contagious.
I settle my winter hat on my head and look over at the entrance to Hershey Park. “I can’t believe you brought me here.”
“I remember you saying you’ve always wanted to go during the holiday season.”
“I did. They decorate the park with lights. Chocolate and Christmas lights, which is a deadly combination.”
He takes my hand and helps me out of his tall truck. “For a chocolate fiend like you, this might be your best day.”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
With his large hand encasing mine, he guides me to the entrance, pays for our tickets, and hands me a map with a huge smile on his face. His boyish charm. God, he’s gorgeous. Even when he’s been upbeat around me, seeing joy in his expression rather than pain is invigorating. He’s the man I once fell in love with.
“What do you want to do first?”
“Gift shop,” I say without even thinking about it. A laugh erupts from him as he shakes his head and guides me toward the gift shop. It’s time to get my chocolate fix.
“I don’t know why I asked.” He takes me straight to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and motions to the shelf. “Go ahead, pick what you want.”
“I eye the mega pack of Reese’s Cups but decide to start small. It’s going to be a long day, so I need to pace myself. When I choose a regular-size Peanut Butter Cup pack, both his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.
“You’re kidding me.”
“I have to pace myself. Believe me, this is just the beginning of this sugar high you’re taking me on.”
He takes the package from me and chuckles. “Oh hell, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to handle this.”
“Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to be able to either.”
***
One thing we learned about Hersey Park’s Christmas Candyland is not all the rides are open, and there are a lot of kids vying for Santa’s attention on the biggest sugar highs of their lives. Then again, I can’t say much about sugar highs since I’m riding one myself. We’ve spent most of our time eating, drinking special sugar-infused milkshakes that should never be offered to children, and visiting the “reindeer.”
“I don’t think we’re going to fit in one of those seats together,” I say as Aaron leans over me, his arms straddling me and holding on to the fence in front of us as we wait for our turn to ride the kiddie coaster. From the start of the day, he’s been touching me somehow, whether it’s holding my hand, his arm draped over my shoulder, or his body pressed up against me as we wait in line. There has always been contact, but nothing too intimate. It’s driving me crazy being this close but not close enough.
“We’ll fit, you’re really small.”
“And you’re huge.”
“The perfect match,” he whispers in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine as the ride ends.
The line moves forward, and when the ride attendant eyes us, Aaron pats him on the shoulder and directs me toward one of the carts. There is no way we’re fitting.
I get in first and press my leg against the farthest side, making room for Aaron. When he sits down next to me, his upper half of his body crowds me and his knees touch the wall of the cart in. Making the most of our room, he wraps his arm around my shoulder and then brings down the bar to the side. It’s flush against his thick quads, but doesn’t come close to reaching my legs. I eye him and he smiles. Leaning down he talks straight into my ear. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ve got you.” He kisses the side of my head and brings me closer to his side.