Page 52 of Coerced
“Not only do I not mind, but I’m also looking forward to it,” I assured her.
Aria bit down on her bottom lip to contain her excitement. My eyes were drawn to her mouth, and they lingered there until she spoke. “I would just like to run back home so I can take care of Sasha. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll get the pizza ordered before I pull out everything that we’ll need for archery.”
Aria smiled and nodded. “Okay. Then I’ll be back shortly.”
Smiling back at her, I said, “Take your time.”
The first thing I did after Aria left was call for pizza. Then I got to work on pulling out the target, bow, and arrows we’d need for me to give Aria her first archery lesson.
And if I was honest, my heart was beating a little faster at the thought of my change in plans for the evening. Aria had been expressing her concern about the lack of time I had to relax, and with the way I felt now about being able to spend some time with her, I felt like I could have gone out to run a marathon.
I was energized. Excited.
When I’d walked over to her place after work, I hadn’t expected this was how my night was going to turn out, but there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about it.
Aria returned with near perfect timing. No sooner had she walked back over from her place, the pizza showed up.
I grabbed us some plates and drinks, and we sat outside eating while I explained all things archery to Aria. She listened intently, asking questions along the way.
Whether Aria was feeling the same excitement I did about us being able to spend this time together, or if she was truly just eager to get started, I didn’t know. But it wasn’t long after we’d sat down to eat, she set her plate down and declared, “The pizza was wonderful, Paxton. Thanks for treating me.”
I had just finished my second slice, but she’d only had one. “Are you sure you don’t want more?”
She shook her head. “I’m good. I think I’m too excited about being able to use a bow and arrow that I’ve got butterflies in my belly. I’m worried I might get sick if I continue eating. But if you’re still hungry, please don’t rush to finish.”
My lips twitched. I’d never seen someone excited to the point of butterflies over learning how to use a bow and arrow.
So, I set my plate down on top of hers, grabbed a sip of my drink, stood, and held my hand out to her. “Sounds like we should get started.”
Aria’s eyes went to my outstretched palm before returning to my face. She hesitated for just a moment, but it was enough for me to think the butterflies she was experiencing had less to do with archery and more to do with what she felt happening between us.
With Aria’s hand folded lightly in mine, I picked up the bow and quiver and led her to a spot that was a reasonable distance from the target to start learning.
“Alright, so I’ll demonstrate what you need to do, then you can give it a try,” I told her.
“Okay, good. I was hoping you weren’t going to just expect me to know. I’d make a complete fool of myself.”
“I promise I’ll help you every step of the way.”
She sent an appreciative smile in my direction before I began the lesson. I took my time explaining once more how to do each step in the process until I finally released the arrow and shot it directly into the center of the target.
“Wow. That was a perfect shot,” she marveled.
I offered a dismissive wave of my hand. “I’ve been doing it a long time. You’re just as capable. Trust me.”
Aria sent me a look that indicated she wasn’t entirely sure she trusted that was the case, but when I held out the bow to her, she didn’t hesitate to take it from me.
I grabbed an arrow, handed it over, and asked, “Do you remember how to get it set up?”
“I think so,” she answered.
Aria did exactly as I’d demonstrated only moments ago and got everything set. I watched and waited to see what she did next, and when she lifted the bow to take aim, a look of concern washed over her.
“What is it?”
She lowered the bow; her face twisted with embarrassment. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”