Page 41 of Building What's Meant to Be

“Taylor and Mae hid it in my rental car,” he goes on to say more about the prank, but I realize something catastrophic.

Embarrassed, I cover my face. “You were there?”

“Where? At the Fest?”

I nod slowly.

“Sure was.”

“That means you saw the whole thing.” I fight a massive cringe.

His lips quirk. “Sure did. Didn’t make the connection at first.”

If I were in my mother’s dressing room, I’d flop onto her antique tufted chaise longue. I’m barely recovered when I choke out, “You don’t seem to hate me like Mae and Bess. Taylor too.”

“They don’t hate you.”

“They don’tnothate me.”

“Give them a chance to get to know you.”

“Not if you kill me first,” I say not entirely sure if I’m joking. Although, the horror movie set aside, these last hours with Aiden make me feel giddy like the night before a big premier.

He steps closer, hands held where I can see them. “Promise. I’m not going to kill you. Although, I have a couple of steaks I’d like to toss on the grill if you’re hungry.”

“Just don’t say you like to eat yours bloody.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “I admit, I prefer it grilled rare.”

We both laugh—me nervously as he gestures that I take a seat. He goes inside the trailer and makes a few return trips. Questions about how we’ll both fit in there comfortably toss in my mind while I watch carefully to make sure he doesn’t charge at me with an axe or other sharp tool. Instead, he brings out another chair, a plate with a couple of steaks, and a can of bug spray.

I swallow with relief. While he lights the coals, I say, “So this is where you live? It’s kind of small, no?”

“This is where I live for now. What do you drink? I have sweet tea, lemonade, sparkling flavored water, and regular water.”

“You have plumbing?”

“Yes. Toby has all the bells and whistles.”

“Toby?”

“Yeah, Toby the trailer,” Aiden says in all seriousness.

The nervousness takes flight like the fireflies that appear in the field as the last of the silver threads of daylight disappear.

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”

Stepping inside, I kick off my high heels, leaving them on the welcome mat with a daisy on it. I brace myself for a miniature bachelor pad. I’m right about it being small—not even twenty feet from end to end. Barely enough for the kitchenette, the bathroom-ette, and the bed-ette. Barely enough room for Aiden and me.

But here we are, nearly pressed together so close I can’t escape his cool, woodsy cologne. The way his blue eyes spark in the dim light. The way his chest lifts and falls with each breath. I can practically feel his pulse.

Mine too, and it’s racing. Not because I’m afraid for my life. No, I’m afraid that my life as I knew it is changing...and I can’t say that I mind.

Chapter Ten

AIDEN

My breath turns slightly rough as I stand in the small trailer next to Tinsley Humber. Even without high heels, she’s tall, slim, and fit. A blonde bombshell Barbie doll with big hair and brown eyes. Her voice is like honey, but she’s not sweet. More like sweet adjacent. Like she was born smart and sweet but left it behind in the home library she described from her childhood.

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