Page 14 of The Road to Finding Us

I’m sure my face is the color of a tomato right about now, and he’s still freaking laughing. The sound can be heard over the noise of the party—which is really saying something because this isn’t the tamest of college parties.

“Well, that was supposed to be said in my head, not out loud. Sometimes my filter doesn’t exactly work, especially when I’m nervous.” I try looking up from my feet to him, and I see tears running down his face. Why am I so awkward? Face, meet palm.

“Don’t be embarrassed, even though you’re cute when you are.” He winks at me and then wipes his face with his shirt.

I get a glimpse of the body underneath the shirt, and oh my god, those abs.

He scoots even closer to me, making a splashing sound as his feet travel through the water. He gets so close that our feet touch in the water.

Is pool footsie a thing? Because we’re totally playing pool footsie.

“So tell me, what are you doing sitting all alone over here?”

I’m still processing his words from a minute ago when finally, my brain catches up. “Wait, you thought I had a thing for Aspen?!” My gaze absentmindedly finds the object of our conversation across the party. He’s currently kissing the neck of some blonde, oblivious to the world around him.

I look back to Blaine once again, finding an adorable smile on his face.

He shrugs. “I think a lot of people thought it for a while. Y’all have that whole argumentative sexual tension thing going on.”

More like argumentative I-might-murder-him-and-end-up-on-a-murder-podcast tension.

His foot lazily slides against mine. “You look beautiful today by the way.” He takes a piece of my hair that has fallen forward and tucks it behind my ear.

I can feel the blush beginning on my chest. I’m sure he can see it.

When I look up, I realize he’s even closer to me, and looking right at my lips. My breathing picks up.

The party fades to black around us. All I can think of is the pair of lips in front of me. I’ve been pining for him for an entire year. I’ve envisioned our first kiss more times than I’d care to admit. I just didn’t expect it to ever occur.

What do I do with my head? I’ve suddenly forgotten how to kiss. I internally panic, hoping he doesn’t think I’m a bad kisser.

He starts leaning closer and I mimic his action. He lifts his arm, his hand brushing my hair away before it rests on my neck. I can smell his scent and it smells so good, like pine and lemongrass. His breath hits my lips, which are just about to brush his, when a throat clears.

I look up to see Aspen standing a few feet away from us.

Typical Aspen, being a cockblock. I swear his main mission in life is to make sure to annoy the hell out of me and piss me off simultaneously.

I widen my eyes at him, motioning to the opposite side of the party in a hint.

Much to my dismay, Aspen steps a little closer before firmly planting his feet.

8

Aspen

Past - Age Twenty

“Aspen, my man, it’s been awhile.” From the corner of my eye, Blaine pulls his feet from the pool and walks toward me.

I don’t even bother to look at the guy. I’m too busy watching Lily try to get rid of me with a simple facial expression. She doesn’t move from her perch in the pool, still dangling her feet in the water haphazardly.

I can tell she’s annoyed by me when she notices my firm stance. There’s no fucking way I’m leaving her alone with Blaine.

“Aspen,” she seethes, “Blaine and I are in the middle of a very important conversation if you could maybe see yourself inside.” She points to the party going on parallel to us. It’s obvious she’s hoping I’ll take the hint.

Blaine smiles down at her, oblivious to the war brewing between me and her. He briefly glances to the two of us, an unreadable look on his face. “I actually have to go make sure no one is going upstairs into any of the guys’ rooms. Find me inside, Lily?” He aims a quick smile her way that has my blood boiling.

I forgot when I accepted the invite tonight that this was his place. I make a mental note to make sure Lily doesn’t make it up into one of those bedrooms upstairs tonight. I’d freak the fuck out if I found out she was sleeping in his room. I don’t bother to dissect why that is.

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