Page 10 of The Story We Wrote

“On the count of three, we drink it. One gulp.” I held my glass to cheers and knocked hers against mine. Logan ran the count and, at three, we all threw it back. I looked at Aspen whose cheeks were puffed out, filled with what I assumed was thetequila. It took her a moment for her to swallow it all. Instantly looking at me, Aspen had a panicked expression on her face.

“Is it supposed to taste that bad?” She asked causing all of us to laugh.

* * *

Aspen was three shots deep and clearly feeling it. I was pretty tipsy too. Logan, Rhodes, and Mac all called it a night. After five shots of tequila and a couple of beers in the span of a few hours, they went into my cabin to sleep it off. They were on ranch duty tomorrow. I counted my blessings that I had off.

“This was fun. Your friends are actually nice,” she confessed, laying her head back on her chair. Glassy eyes meeting mine, “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Actually nice?” I repeated, teasing her.

“Well, I always thought you and your friends were intimidating. Penny and I made a pact to avoid you all.”

“A pact?” I put my hand over my heart, acting wounded by her words and Aspen giggled.Fuck, that giggle made my chest ache.

“Yes! The “bad boy” in high school, the womanizer. I wouldn’t dare go near you and risk being pulled into your whirlpool of sexy.” She waved her hand in a circle in front of me.

“All I took from that is you think I’m ‘sexy’.” I replied, using air quotes.

“I mean, you are ‘Hot Neighbor’ in my phone,” she quipped.

“Who on earth did that?” I asked in fake shock, “I don’t hear you denying it though.”

Aspen shook her head, looking up at the stars. “Your head is getting too big for your hat, Cowboy.”

I loved the sound of that nickname coming from her lips. The flirty tone she used made all my recent fantasies itch to cometrue. I followed her move, rolling my head so I could take in the sky, even though the prettiest view was sitting to my right.

“Let’s play 21 questions. I’ll go first,” she ordered, still looking up at the sky. “What does Boone Cassidy do for fun?”

“I like to tinker with things. I love anything with an engine, taking them apart to put them back together,” I replied.

“That sounds psychotic. Are you sure you aren’t a psychopath, should I feel this safe sitting out in the middle of nowhere with you?” I could tell she was joking, a smile tugged at her pink lips.

“I guess we will see,” I answered, firing off my question next. “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?” It was basic, but I think you can learn a lot about a person from where they’d choose to go.

Aspen was quick to reply, “Easy, Ireland.”

“Why Ireland?” I followed up.

“No no no, one question at a time. It’s my turn.” She paused for a moment, concentrating. “What’s the riskiest thing you did as a kid?”

Riskiest? That was hard. If she had asked me the most destructive or reckless, I’d know my answer right away. After contemplating, I didn’t answer, instead I asked, “Do you want me to show you instead?” My ego hoped she’d say yes.

Aspen looked at me like she was trying to pick me apart, understand my intentions.

“Sure,” she exhaled, not seeming to think it over long. I stood up, stumbling a bit and put my hand out for her to grab.

When she placed her hand in mine, I pulled her to her feet. She swayed and smiled when she giggled. “I’m feeling that last shot of tequila. I think I like it.”

“Tequila has that effect on people,” I teased, unable to hold back a smile.

I led her with me, hand in hand past the cabins and into the woods. I didn’t tell her where we were going and she didn’t ask anymore questions. After a little walking, we finally arrived at an open swimming hole. I spent most of my summers here, swimming with my friends after most of our parties.

“What are we doing here?” Aspen asked when I let her hand fall. I took a few steps closer to the water. Spinning around to her, the moonlight lighting up her face.

“Have you ever been skinny dipping?” I replied. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know, definitely a no. I felt a sense of pride knowing that I was about to be the first person Aspen would skinny dip with. Behaving myself wasn’t going to be easy.

ASPEN

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