Page 41 of Crossing the Line

Chad better not play games with her. If he’s going to be her rebound and help her get over this breakup, he needs to be a fucking good one. The last thing she needs is for him to give her attention until he turns around and acts like a playboy to the rest of the girls here. “You like him?” I hear myself asking before I can shut my damn mouth.

Fidgeting with her straw again, she slowly shakes her head. “Oh, I don’t know.” After a moment, she adds, “He’s very flirty, though.”

Of course, he is.

Snapping her head up with a sense of urgency, she says, “Do you think I should let him kiss me?”

My first instinct is to tell her, fuck no, but I get myself under control and ask, “Do you want him to kiss you?”

“Maybe.” She bites her lip as she thinks about it, and I can’t stop staring at her mouth. “Maybe this is what I need, you know? Maybe I just need to stop overthinking and have some fun.”

My eyes jump back to hers, and I try to shake what just came over me. Chad is the one who will bite that lip later, not me. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want anything like that from me—so clear that she made a fucking rule about it.

Which I know is for the best.

But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

She needs to have fun. I just wish she wanted to do that with just about anyone but Chad. “Doesn’t hurt to let loose a little, Claire.”

Excited that I’m agreeing with her, she smiles. “Right?” Her shoulders relax a bit. “I feel like I’ve never done that.”

“Are you sure about Chad, though?” I scrunch up my face a little, and she laughs.

“Be nice! He’s been a perfect gentleman.” She lifts her chin like she has something to prove to the world.

“Oh, I’m sure he has been.” With a shrug, I add, “As much as I hate to admit it, he’s the perfect rebound for you. If you want to have meaningless fun, Chad’s your guy,” and I try to ignore the feeling that hits me in the gut as I say it.

40

Claire

I don’t like the word rebound. It makes my interaction with Chad feel cheap and dirty even though nothing has happened between us. However, if something does happen between us, I know that’ll be what it is. He’d be a rebound, and based on how quickly he hit on me, I don’t think he’s looking for anything serious either. Chad is fun and hot, but I don’t think we connect on much.

“What’s wrong?”

Aiden’s question catches me off guard, and I realize I’ve spaced out. “Oh, sorry. I just don’t like the idea of having a rebound.”

The corner of Aiden’s mouth twitches into a smile like he finds me funny. “There’s nothing wrong with the occasional hookup.” He shrugs before taking a sip of his drink and adding, “I know I’ve enjoyed them.”

Before I can question him on these occasional hookups, Lauren is at his side and slips her arm through his. “I was looking for you!” She stumbles a little, and Aiden dips to steady her. “I was going to introduce you to my bitchy roommate, but you disappeared!”

Aiden nods slowly before unapologetically saying, “I’m right here.”

Using her fingertips to crawl up his tattooed arm, my eyes lock on her touching him. The ink poking out from his shirt sleeve looks like the bottom of a forest, and it makes me want to see the rest of his tattoo. Lauren brings her face close to his and my attention snaps back to her. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she says, “Have I told you how cute you are? Because you are, and I was thinking we could...” She whispers the rest of that sentence in his ear.

But I think I have a good idea of what she’s suggesting.

My eyes widen, but Aiden doesn’t seem phased as he gently pushes the girl away from him so he can turn to face her. “Why don’t we go sit down?” he asks her as he guides her away from the bar. He briefly looks at me before stepping away, but, as usual, those blue eyes reveal nothing.

As they walk away, Lauren’s comment about Aiden being cute lingers in the back of my mind. I know Aiden is good looking—I’ve always known that. I haven’t wanted to let myself see him that way, though. In high school, I gave up thinking about Aiden Lewis in any sort of way that might get me hurt.

If someone had asked me to describe Aiden and his overall demeanor five minutes ago, I would have said he can be sort of intimidating, but, as Lauren so kindly pointed out, he’s definitely not unattractive.

Quite the opposite, actually.

What’s wrong with me?

First Chad, now Aiden? I stare at my drink suspiciously since it seems to make me attracted to everyone in the room. My thoughts are interrupted as a now-familiar arm lands around my shoulder.