Page 18 of Trusting You

After quickly getting dressed, I stepped into my room just long enough to grab my bag and rush downstairs. Aaron didn’t ask about giving me a ride again, and I was thankful. He could never give me a ride. He could never meet my parents. He could never come to my house. My personal life was more than he could ever handle. The two could never mix, and I could already tell that it was a battle I’d constantly fight with him.

Chapter 8

Aaron

With the way she ran out of there this morning, the last thing I expected was a phone call this afternoon. Brock and I had gone to pick up Emma’s car, and just as we were heading to breakfast, my phone rang. I almost did a double take when Mel’s number appeared. First off, she never calls me, like ever. Second, this morning she rushed away without even a goodbye. It was like a bad one-nighter that hadn’t even happened.

“Hello?” I tried to hide the surprise in my voice, but it still came through.

“I wanted to tell you I was sorry,” she sounded worried.

“Sorry for what?” I was confused, but hey… she called. I’d take it.

“For rushing out this morning. I had things to do, and I just couldn’t stick around. I owe my mom…” her voice trailed off.

“It’s ok. It was nice having the bed to myself,” I chuckled. I could sense her blushing on the other end of the line. “You still there?”

She released a deep breath and I imagined those pretty eyes rolling back, “Yeah.”

“Wanna go out next weekend?” I hoped she’d agree.

“I can’t,” she huffed.

“Why?” I pushed. I wanted her to tell me what was so important at home that she couldn’t be a normal college girl. Didn’t they go out on Saturday?

“Doesn’t all this driving bother you? It’s six hours each way?” she stammered. It was as if she were grasping for ways to keep me away.

“You’re worth it,” I fired back. What the hell was wrong with me? I never begged girls like this. I never had to. Why was I trying so hard? Because I was telling the truth. She was worth it. “It’s supposed to be nice weather. Warm for a change. We could do something outside,” I suggested.

“Sounds nice,” she murmured before restating her previous argument. “I can’t.”

“Can I talk to your mom?” I teased. “I’ll convince her. Moms love me.” I snickered as she laughed on the other end.

“No,” she giggled.

“Why? I bet I could convince her to let you come see me for the weekend,” I was pushing too hard and I knew it, but hell…Spring Break was the week after. What college kid didn’t go to the beach for Spring Break. “Come home with Em. We’ll have fun.”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I doubt I can get away after last night.”

“Will you at least try?” I begged. “I’ll make it worth your while.” I silently wished I was having this conversation in person. It was hard to turn on the charm over the phone. If she were standing in front of me, I could give her the sad eyes and pouty lips. It always worked on my mom.

“Fine. I’ll try, and I’ll tell Em what she says. Happy?” she grumbled.

“Very. If you were standing here I’d show you how much,” my voice darkened and I hoped that it wasn’t too much to scare her away.

“Bye, Aaron,” she teased right before the line went dead.

“I guess by the look on your face I know who that was,” Emma laughed as we climbed out of the car. We’d just gotten back to Shakers and we were going to follow her to the local IHop for breakfast.

“Un huh,” I chewed the inside of my cheek. “So, I need a favor,” I leaned against Brock’s car and crossed my ankles.

“What’s that,” she peered up at me.

“I need you to convince Mel to come with you next weekend,” I tried to keep the optimism out of my tone. I didn’t want her to know how desperate I was for this. If I could get her there, I could show her the real me. I’d show her my apartment. We’d walk on the beach. I’d take her to a party, and prove I could do this. I could ignore the other women.

“Oh, that’s not much,” Emma rolled her eyes. “Do you know how hard I worked to get her to come see me last summer? I spent weeks talking about it.”

“That’s why I’m asking you. I know you can talk her into it,” I sighed.

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