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.

47

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.