“Your dad? The asshole that left you?” The astonishment is clear in my voice.
“Yeah, Aiden and I are half-siblings. I don’t really want to get into that. Just please don’t bring it up.” She gives me a crooked grin as we step out of the car.
“Of course, I wouldn’t.” I smile reassuringly at her.
My thoughts go toward the little I know as Ashley doesn’t talk much about her childhood. Her dad left her at a young age and isn’t involved in her life. I just assumed they were full-blooded siblings.
Unlocking the door, I step inside. I whistle while walking to the kitchen, feeling ecstatic about my day. That’s when I see him, leaning against the counter with his elbows on the bar top.
I can’t help but stare, taking in the thin material of his T-shirt which showcases his inked and tan skin underneath. He looks up at me, his striking green eyes piercing mine. I feel my cheeks begin to heat but I can’t pull my eyes away.
A cough interrupts my thoughts and I look over to find Ash looking back and forth between us. I assume they would hug after Aiden being gone for so long, but she simply waves.
“Hey Aiden,” She greets with a smile.
“Hey Ash.” His deep baritone fills our tiny kitchen. He straightens and makes his way over to her in long strides, ducking his head to miss the ceiling fan overhead. He is tall, so tall.
Muscles flex underneath his shirt, and when my eyes pan back to his face, he’s already looking back at me. His full lips slightly curve upward, leaving the faintest trace of a smile.
I look away to keep from gawking. What is wrong with me? I shake my head to clear my mind.
Mine and Ashley’s eyes simultaneously land on a tool bag, its contents laid out on the counter.
“What’s this?”
A smirk creeps up on Aiden’s face.
Dimples.
Then, as if something ruined his day, the smile is gone and replaced with a flat line.
He shrugs as he places everything back into the bag. “I used the key you left me to get inside. I went to wash my hands, but the hot water didn’t work, so I fixed it.”
Ashley’s smile is evident, so is mine. The tap on our hot water has been broken since we moved in, but we’ve been too broke to fix it. Living off campus takes every dime we have, and while our house is cute… it needs some work.
We thank him numerous times until silence stretches through the small room. I can feel Aiden’s sharp gaze traveling up and down my body.
Ashley speaks up then, gesturing my way. “Anyway, this is Emma.”
“Hello.”
His voice is smooth like velvet, sending a chill through me. Maybe I’m worked up because I know what I’m doing tonight with Ian. That must be it. Hormones and all.
I awkwardly nod back at him, with a short smile. “Hey. I’ll let you two catch up.”
I turn on my heels to escape his piercing gaze and head for my bedroom. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. Back to the very important matter at hand; it’s four and I’m exhausted from the finals today. With the party starting at ten, I can get some sleep in before we go. Plopping down on my bed, it takes slim minutes of my head resting on the pillow before I slide into a dreamless sleep.
“Em!” Ashley’s slim hands wrap around my shoulders, gently shaking me from my slumber.
“I’m up, I’m up!” I mumble sleepily, sitting up to stretch my stiff body. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I see we’re not alone.
Leaning against the door frame is Aiden, who is looking at me with an unreadable expression. He glances at my body and I quickly cover up with the blanket, hiding that I’m in a tank top and boy shorts.
“Umm, let me get dressed.” I say, looking past Ashley.
“Aiden! Get out!” She turns around and yells playfully at him, her feet stomping to the door and slamming it in his face.
He laughs deeply as he walks down the hall.
“I’m going to jump in the shower, then we can get ready!” I throw on some shorts and make my way down the hall towards the bathroom with some pep in my step.
I turn on the shower and run my fingers through the cool water as it warms, something I haven’t felt in months. I can hear Ashley and Aiden talking in the living room, it’s muffled but I catch a few things.
“I’m not going to a frat party.” His tone is final.
I can imagine Ashley pouting right now.
“Fine! I just wanted to spend time with you.” She huffs before I hear her stomping down the hallway.
Steam fills the small bathroom and I climb in, luxuriating in the warm water. Normally if we have time, we will go down to the frat house and use theirs but using our own is much better. I try and relax myself from my nerves about tonight as water cascades down my tan skin. I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I know Ian wants to, and I don’t see why I should wait any longer.
I make sure to perfectly shave everywhere before I turn the water off. I reach towards the hook and swipe across an empty wall. Water drips on the floor as I step out to look under the sink. Great, no towels.
Opening the door slightly, I peek my head out, concealing my body behind the doorframe. “Ash!” I whisper-yell as I look down the hall for her.
“She’s in her bathroom.”
I jump back at the sound of Aiden’s boots against the hardwoods as he gets
