Page 6 of Cupid's Shot

6

Iconsider for a moment quipping back at Sarah, but instead, I decide to let my actions speak louder than words. Effortlessly, I scoop her up into my arms, lifting her high above my head and to the side, like she’s my ballerina in a lift.

The camera flashes. But all too soon, it’s over. I set her down gently.

Her eyes rake over me, assessing, before she goes back to her resting sassy face. “That was perfect. Thank you.”

Turning away, she goes back to her friends. A little deflated, I reconsider my Valentine’s fantasy. Maybe I’ll always be Aaron Olson, the barely-one-hundred-pound wrestler she remembers from high school.

The thought pulls me back to senior year, replaying in my mind as I watch her rejoin her friends, laughing.

Just ask her to homecoming.She isn’t repulsed by you, you two talk all the time in calculus. You’ve always had a crush on her, and now it’s senior year and you’ve done nothing about it. Seeing her pull books from her locker, my eyes land on the exposed skin between her low-rise jeans and the hem of her shirt.She would never say yes.

“Aaron,” she says, and I’m surprised she’s talking to me in the halls. I walk toward her, my heart already racing because I want to ask her to homecoming.

“Hey.” I smile, seeing the paint stains on her shirt.

“Was it just me, or was the last pop quiz, like, total bullshit?”

“I think he wants us to teach ourselves,” I manage while my mind screams to just ask her out.

“Right?! He sucks.”

Will you go to homecoming with me?It’s a simple question. Just ask her. We hold a growing stare before, “See you in fifth period,” comes out of my mouth.

7

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Rachel squeals as I get closer to the table. “How is anyone going to top that photo?”

“I hope my secret admirer finds it as interesting,” I huff, taking another scan around the room.

“Screw your secret admirer!” Emily pounds the table. Rachel and I both look at her, stunned by her force. “Sarah! Do you not see that shirtless man that just went above and beyond for you and only you?”

“Aaron?” I sigh, looking back over at him doing a simple arm-around-the-shoulder pose with a growing line of women.

“Why not Aaron?” Emily presses, then continues, “He’s single. He’s classy. Each night at this bar, women are begging to spend one night with him, and he always says no.”

“He’s too small town.”

“And we aren’t?” Rachel points at herself and Emily. I bite my lip, considering that. She has a point there. All of the grievances I would have against never leaving your small town would apply to both of them, yet I love them so much. They’re my best friends.

“Fine. Do you want me to get his number? I’ll do that.”

“It’s not about what we want. What do you want?” Emily asks.

What a simple yet loaded question that is.I don’t want to be lonely.I want a guy to snuggle on the couch with. A guy who brings me coffee while I’m consumed by my latest art project. Someone to spend my evenings with. Someone who is passionate about something, who is sure of themself.

What do I really know about Aaron? Nothing that isn’t evident right now—that he’s a bartender at High Five and shockingly buff.

Fine, I decide internally.

“I’m going to be my own damn Cupid!” I get up from the table and make my way to his line of women. Standing in it, I start to reconsider, but watching him generically pose with woman after woman, I feel more special about the pose we did.He has to have a little crush on me, right?Why else would he do that?

“Coming back for seconds?” He raises an eyebrow, and I exhale loudly.

“I have a secret message for Cupid,” I whisper, putting my hand next to my lips for effect.

He leans down, and I whisper in his ear, “Roses are red, violets are blue—” His laugh catches me off guard. I almost give up this wild idea but press on. “Give me your number so I can flirt with you.”

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