Page 52 of Crossing the Line
Which is okay, I guess.
Well, not okay, but I know I’ll live through it.
My phone lights up while I’m brushing my teeth, and my heart skips a beat when I see Aiden’s name. I practically stab my phone with my finger to see what he has to say.
Aiden: Come outside.
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Aiden
I expect to see Claire open the door, but instead, my phone vibrates.
Claire: Seriously?
I’m not sure how to take her response.
Me: Yes?
The three dots appear right away.
Claire: I just woke up. Are you really standing outside my door right now?
Me: You just woke up?
Claire: The bed is still warm.
I try not to think about her bed.
Me: It’s after 10. You should be awake by now.
Claire: I should be no such thing.
Me: I thought you’d be an overly punctual ‘early bird gets the worm’ type of person.
Claire: You thought wrong.
Me: I’m done texting you through a door, Claire. Come outside.
It only takes a few seconds for her to get to the door and open it. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing a giant ass t-shirt with an alligator on it. It’s probably the most obnoxious piece of clothing I’ve ever seen, but the way it stops mid-thigh on her makes me extremely thankful for it.
I’m still on the bottom step, staring at her like an idiot, so I try to collect myself. “You woke up like that?”
Claire wrinkles her nose like she thinks my question might be insulting. “Yeah? Why?”
“Jesus Christ,” I say, walking past her and into the Airbnb. Maybe it is too early for this. I thought I’d be ready to see her, but I wasn’t expecting her to look this good in the morning—and considering the fact that her shirt is basically a neon sign for this garbage state, that’s saying something.
“Why don’t you come in?” she mutters sarcastically behind me before closing the door.
I’m barely inside when I turn around and run a hand through my hair. I’ve been antsy all fucking night, and I need answers. “Why did you kiss me?”
Her eyes go wide at my question. She didn’t think I’d bring it up so quickly. I might be bringing it up too quickly, but right now I’m too sleep-deprived to care. She crosses her arms over herself like she’s trying to hide. “I don’t know...I guess I wanted to see if it would be different.”
I don’t know what she was comparing me to. Chad? Her ex? I want to ask, but all that comes out of my mouth is, “And was it?”
Glancing down, she nods.
“So, what does that mean?” I notice my arms are crossed now, too.