I laughed and took another sip. If he thinks this is a shit life, he should come see where I live.
My feelings must have shown on my face because he said, “Sorry for the bad attitude. She’s just . . . she’s not my mom. Nan’s sort of bitchy to me, but I don’t think it’s me. That’s all I can say. My stepmother is closer to our age than my dad’s, pushing out one kid after another, securing her future with him.”
“It’s fine. I get it must be difficult. But you know, calling her bitchy . . . it’s just not necessary.” I swiped my hand, wet from the condensation on my plastic cup, on my jean shorts, not sure where I came up with the courage to speak up to Aston.
“You know what? You’re right, but I’ll tell you this. She sucks.”
I nodded, not wanting to cause any more waves.
“Let me get you another drink.” He motioned toward my empty cup.
When did that happen?
“Actually, it’s cool. I’ll be the one to drive us home later, so I’m good.”
Recently turned eighteen, I didn’t need any trouble. My mom had sent me to school early, desperate for full-time childcare, and I’d been fine. But I didn’t think it was a good time to mention any of that.
It was quiet between the two of us for a moment, grunge music now filtering around us.
“Listen, Bexley, this is weird, I know. You’re not supposed to fraternize with the members, and I can tell you’re a rule follower. I’m . . . I’m probably all wrong for you, but I want to take you out for real. Please?”
My heart pounded so hard, I was sure he could see it.
Aston was right about not fraternizing with members, but not everybody followed the rules. Mike had been screwing Milly for weeks—in the family locker room, no less. Up until tonight, their relationship had been secret.
Sneaking around wasn’t really my style, but nothing made my pulse race like the possibility of dating Aston Prescott.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me close, cupping my cheek as he kissed me. Gently, not rough or demanding, but tender. His mouth ghosted over mine, grazing my lip gloss and softly touching my soul.
“Oh. I’m. Sure,” he murmured.
Three little words, and I was a goner.
Bexley
After the party on the golf course, Aston came to see me every day. He’d pop into the back entrance of the snack shack, always toward the end of the lunch rush, most of the time shirtless and wearing black Ray-Bans and swim trunks.
Every single time, he’d say, “Aston Prescott, pleased to meet you,” with a smirk on his mouth and a twinkle in his eye. Somehow, he knew how his confident demeanor appealed to me, an inexperienced girl smitten with a guy with the perceived power.
There was something else to Aston, though, underneath all the heavy armor. At least, I was young and hopeful and believed so.
Over the next few weeks, he took me on fast car rides and out to eat—neither of which were staples in my regular life. We’d sit, staring googly-eyed at each other over spicy Tex-Mex, washing down the heat and lust with Mexican beer. All the while, I dared to dream of this being my reality.
He told me about college, his fraternity, and wild parties. Reaching across the table, he’d caress my hand, his thumb rubbing over mine as he stared deeply into my eyes. The only times his mood seemed to get melancholy were when he mentioned his mom. He’d get angry again over her kicking him out, but his determination was fierce when it came to taking over his father’s company.
If we were in Washington, DC, I’d be the chambermaid and he’d be the president of the United States.
We parked outside one night in one of his dad’s convertibles, in the desert in the middle of nowhere, and he put the top down.
As we were looking up at the stars, Aston turned to me and said, “I’m falling for you, Bex. I didn’t plan on it, but I am. I don’t think I can ever let you go. In fact, I’m not going to. You’re the unexpected surprise I never counted on here, this summer. I didn’t think I deserved someone like you, but maybe I do. And I’m keeping you.”
A meteor shower could have rained down on us, and it would have been less shocking than his words.
Stunned, I said, “It’s just a summer thing, you and me. In a million years, no one would ever think there was a future for us.”
His lips hovered near my mouth and traced a path to my ear, along my cheekbone and coming to rest on my earlobe. “You need to allow yourself to believe it,” he whispered.
We kissed and touched some more, my head and heart muddled.
Desperately, I wished it to be true. Could I believe it? My heart raced at the possibility, but my head ached at the thought of reality.
The divide between our lives was too wide. I’d only met his parents once, and it wasn’t planned. Aston had taken me swimming at his house late one afternoon. We hadn’t gone inside, only taken the golf cart around back and jumped into the pool, cooling off before stretching out in the luxurious lounge chairs. His dad and stepmom strolled into the pool area, fresh off the tennis courts.
“Son.” His father stood looming over our lounge chairs, staring down at me.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Aren’t you going to say hello to Nan?”
“Hi, Nan,” he said to his stepmother, and she held her hand out to me.
“Hi, I’m Nan.”
I didn’t have a clue how to handle this situation. The handshake? Yes. Meeting the parents? No.
My fingers shook as I offered them to Nan. I wanted to run, knowing I should have excused myself like a good little employee. But for Aston, I didn’t.
“This is Bexley,”
