Page 21 of One Timer With A Wingman

“I’m starved. Lead the way.”

We both stand and I grab the sheet off the sand and shake it out.

We head back toward the hotel. My head is spinning. Her asking to share a meal with me means she is beginning to trust me. She’s been so apprehensive around me that I take it as a win. I want to take her to bed, but I know she isn’t going to go for that. So I stay satisfied with having her company for breakfast. Because what I am learning is that sometimes you just need to accept the small wins in life. And for some reason spending more time with Briar feels like a win.

CHAPTERFIVE

Briar

After watching the sunrise this morning, the rest of the day went by in a blur. How could it not? Watching the sunrise over the stunning aqua blue waters, hearing the soft brush of waves along the shore; it was all so tranquil. But what really had me stumped was the way Aaron opened up to me. He was wearing his emotions on his sleeve. I was not expecting that kind of depth to him. And when he told me his mom was sick, my heart stopped beating for a minute. He is clearly close with her and loves her very much. His parents’ relationship sounds like it came directly out of a fairy-tale book. I was sure that those were make believe.

Beneath his cocky bravado was a boy who loves his mother and family. A man in pain. He needed this trip more than any of us. I feel bad now for thinking he didn’t belong.

After a day of suntanning, drinking, and taking walks down the beach, I am back in my room getting ready for dinner tonight.

“When I got up to go to the bathroom early this morning, you weren’t here,” Taylor notes as I am slathering lip gloss on my lips. I appreciate her not calling me out when everyone was around. Aaron and I showed up to breakfast separately. He didn’t like that I asked him to walk into the restaurant a moment after I did, but I didn’t want everyone reading anything into it because there was nothing to read into.

“I got up early to watch the sunrise,” I answer with nonchalance. I shake out my hair since I am letting it air-dry.

“Were you by yourself?” she inquires as she slips on a royal-blue bodycon dress.

I was hoping she wouldn’t ask that question. I don’t want to lie to her.

“I went with Aaron,” I say tightly.

“I knew it,” she cheers.

“Chill,” I laugh. “It was just a friendly outing.”

“Friendly my ass. I saw him checking you out all day. And you weren’t giving him your usual attitude,” she notes.

“I don’t give him attitude,” I counter.

“Oh, come on, Briar.”

“Look he’s a jock. I give them all attitude, so they know I’m not interested,” I confess.

“I know, but I have a feeling there’s more to what’s going on with you guys.”

I break down because she isn’t wrong. My head has been spinning all day. We’ve kept a distance from each other, but I was checking him out all day, and I caught him checking me out. We couldn’t keep our eyes off each other.

“Maybe there is,” I say. “It’s kind of hard not to be attracted to him.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying all along.”

I give her a knowing look. “I just have to stay strong and not act on it.”

“Why can’t you allow yourself to have a little fun?” she asks, her lips turned down.

“I have everything planned out. I’m a year out from graduation. I head to the Olympics then apply to law school. I work hard and stay focused. I can’t afford to get lost in some guy.”

“That’s not what a hookup is about,” Taylor explains.

“I get it. But I don’t think I’m built for sex with no feelings attached.”

“Then maybe you should throw caution to the wind and try it out. You’re only young once,” Taylor advises.

She isn’t wrong. Some days I want to just let loose and say screw my responsibilities, but then on other days I remember that I have me, myself, and I which keeps me on track.

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