Page 79 of Beautifully Complicated

“Leanbh, you shouldn’t be missing parties with your friends to hang out with me.”

“I don’t feel like I’m missing them.” He cuts into his meal. “And before you get the wrong idea, that has nothing to do with you. I was getting tired of cheap beer and loud music almost a full year before you showed up. Besides, I see a lot of the guys when I stop for dinner, so it’s not like I’ve gone into hiding.”

“What about your roommates? When do you hang out with them?”

“We all went to see Liam’s lacrosse game two days ago.” He pops a bite into his mouth andmms. “This is really good.”

I take my own bite—it really isn’t bad—but I can’t fully enjoy our accomplishment since I’m worried about what he’s missing by spending all his time with me.

“Remember what I said about me being here no matter what?” He eyes me curiously but at least nods his head, so I continue. “We have our whole lives to make dinner together and spend our nights on the couch. You only have a few more months to enjoy the life you’ve built at school. Don’t miss out on them to start the rest of your life early.”

“What did you do your senior year of college?” He chews another bite.

“Studied. Drank too much. Had more sex than I should’ve, and just tried to enjoy my last carefree months before I had to become an adult.”

“That’s exactly what I’m doing, minus the too much drinking part.” He sips his wine and adds, “And maybe the sex part because I don’t think we’re having too much of that.”

“Leanbh, you’re spending all your weekends inside this house.” I gesture to the walls surrounding us. “That’s no way to enjoy your senior year.”

“Actually, I was thinking I might spend all of next week here, since it’s spring break.”

God, he’s incorrigible.

“You should be taking a trip. I bet your roommates are all doing something.”

“They’re going snowboarding.” He takes another bite.

“Have you even done that at all this year?” When he shakes his head I say, “You should go with them?”

“Ilivewith them. You think I want to spend a week in a house with three horny couples that won’t have any classes or practice to give me any peace? Besides, I’d rather not be the lone single guy on vacation.”

“Wouldn’t you enjoy the chance to go snowboarding?”

Aiden’s eyes narrow somewhat playfully, though there’s a hint of unease in his gaze. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Of course not. I just don’t want you to look back on this time and think you missed out on things to be with me when I’m the one who will be there the rest of your life.”

I really do hate the idea of a week without him, but it’s selfish of me to monopolize this time in his life. I’m doing the right thing by trying to get him to enjoy these last few months with his friends.

“What if you came with me?”

I pound my chest to dislodge the bite that gets stuck there. “What?” Reaching for my wine to wash it down I rasp, “I can’t vacation with a bunch of students.”

“They aren’tyourstudents.” Aiden bites his lip.Little minx- he knows what that does to me.

“I don’t even know how to snowboard.” I shake my head.

“I’ll teach you.”

“What if someone we know recognizes me?”

“You’re so averse to the cold you’ll be unrecognizably bundled. And we won’t leave the house except to go to the mountain.”

There’s a spark in Aiden’s eyes I don’t want to be responsible for snuffing out, so even though it goes against all common sense I find myself asking, “When do we leave?”

***

My stomach pitches violently as I stand at the top of the hill looking down, but I don’t think it’s the slope of the hill that has me so worked up.

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