Page 3 of Aiden

“I’m up, I’m up!” I mumble sleepily, sitting up to stretch my stiff body. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I see we’re not alone.

Leaning against the door frame is Aiden, who is looking at me with an unreadable expression. He glances at my body and I quickly cover up with the blanket, hiding that I’m in a tank top and boy shorts.

“Umm, let me get dressed.” I say, looking past Ashley.

“Aiden! Get out!” She turns around and yells playfully at him, her feet stomping to the door and slamming it in his face.

He laughs deeply as he walks down the hall.

“I’m going to jump in the shower, then we can get ready!” I throw on some shorts and make my way down the hall towards the bathroom with some pep in my step.

I turn on the shower and run my fingers through the cool water as it warms, something I haven’t felt in months. I can hear Ashley and Aiden talking in the living room, it’s muffled but I catch a few things.

“I’m not going to a frat party.” His tone is final.

I can imagine Ashley pouting right now.

“Fine! I just wanted to spend time with you.” She huffs before I hear her stomping down the hallway.

Steam fills the small bathroom and I climb in, luxuriating in the warm water. Normally if we have time, we will go down to the frat house and use theirs but using our own is much better. I try and relax myself from my nerves about tonight as water cascades down my tan skin. I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I know Ian wants to, and I don’t see why I should wait any longer.

I make sure to perfectly shave everywhere before I turn the water off. I reach towards the hook and swipe across an empty wall. Water drips on the floor as I step out to look under the sink.Great, no towels.

Opening the door slightly, I peek my head out, concealing my body behind the doorframe. “Ash!” I whisper-yell as I look down the hall for her.

“She’s in her bathroom.”

I jump back at the sound of Aiden’s boots against the hardwoods as he gets closer to me. His fingers wrap around the edge of the door before he comes into full view. I feel my cheeks heat. I know he can’t see me, but I am completely naked and dripping wet. His eyes burn into mine and I shyly look away.

“I need a towel,” I say in an almost whisper.

“Why?” He crosses his tattooed arms across his broad chest, looking amused with himself.

“Umm, I’m naked!” I state the obvious, unsure why he has such a boyish grin.Does he enjoy my embarrassment?

“I see that. Well, I don’t see much because of the doo...” His emerald eyes take in my red cheeks. In one smooth motion, he brushes a large hand through his thick black hair, pushing it up and out of his face. Of course, it sits perfectly where he wants it too.

I realize I’m staring, again.

“Aiden! What are you doing?!” Ashley’s small feet patter down the hallway at a fast pace.

I sigh in relief when she comes to the door, her hair wrapped in a towel.

“What’s wrong?” Her blue eyes take in my red cheeks.

“Towel.” Is all I manage to say.

She nods and turns towards Aiden. “You, go.” She demands.

He laughs, throwing his hands up innocently and walks away.

My savior returns moments later with a knock and I open the door slightly to grab the fluffy white towel. I meticulously go through my routine, moisturizer, lotion, brushing my unruly hair. Making sure the towel is wrapped tight, I swiftly make my way to my bedroom where Ashley is. Her hair dryer drowns out all sounds, her dirty blonde hair blowing with the hot heat.

“That was weird earlier, right?” Ashley rakes a brush through her hair, turning off the noisy dryer.

“What was weird?” I look at her innocently, not wanting to talk about the bathroom incident.

“You two gawking at each other in the kitchen. Then the bathroom thing,” She comments nonchalantly.

---