Page 72 of One Timer With A Wingman

“You look gorgeous, Briar, and you know what they say, when one door closes another opens.”

“Aaron wants me to go home with him for Easter,” I state.

“That’s good. I think he wants you, Briar. It’s obvious,” she says.

“I want him too, but I’m terrified of allowing myself to feel anything,” I confess.

“You have to let your guard down. Aaron has stepped up. I watch him doting over you. That guy is smitten.”

“He’s kind and responsible. He’s being a good guy, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stick around when life gets complicated,” I say to her.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Annie says.

“How?” I ask.

“You take a chance.”

* * *

I’ve been mullingover Annie’s words since yesterday. I need to take a chance. I’ve also been hiding out in my room because I don’t want to bump into Luc. Aaron came knocking on my door last night. I pretended to be asleep because I was too embarrassed by the fact his best friend could think I would be so manipulative.

Now I am back at the hockey house relaxing on the couch because I know the guys won’t be around this evening with their home game tonight.

Charlie is upstairs doing homework and no one else is home. I know I should be doing homework, but the pregnancy is making me lazy.

I wasn’t expecting anyone when I hear the key in the door. I figure it is one of the girls. The door swings open and Aaron walks through with purpose on his face.

“Briar,” he says my name on an exhale. “Luc told me what happened, and I’ve been worried sick.”

“You’ve been worried?” I ask.

“Obviously, Luc said he saw you crying at school and what he said to you.” His gaze drops to the floor like he is ashamed.

“You must have thought the same thing,” I say, referring to the idea that I got pregnant on purpose.

Aaron looks like I’ve slapped him the way he blinks and takes a large intake of air. “How could you say that?”

“Because it’s what everyone thinks, Aaron.” My arms fly out to my side. “Those girls on campus asked me how I got you to sleep with me. They said they had been trying since the fall with no luck.”

Tears prick my eyes again. I’m such a mess.

Aaron closes his eyes and bows his head. When he opens his eyes, they are filled with so much hurt and sorrow it sucks the air from my lungs.

“Briar.” He reaches for my hand and guides me to the couch. He sits facing me. “All the guys on the hockey team get a lot of attention from a certain type of girl. Before Mom got sick, I was happy enough to spend the night with girls who didn’t mean anything to me. Then Mom got sick and she started talking about not seeing me get married, and I started thinking differently. I wasn’t interested in hooking up anymore.”

“Then how do you explain our fling in Punta Cana?” I ask.

Aaron watches me like I am a skittish cat. Maybe it is a behavior that truly describes me best. Certain things scare the crap out of me: feelings, emotions, Aaron Murray.

“You intrigued me from the moment I saw you the first time, but you were Charlie’s friend. I knew better than to try to get involved with you. Still, I had this feeling inside me that I never got when I saw other girls. There was nervous excitement,” he says slowly.

“Are you saying you liked me?” I ask.

He nods. “You have this fire inside you, Briar. I remember that night at Black Jack’s when that asshole smacked your ass, and you showed him who’s boss. I knew then I wanted to get to know you better. I asked Taylor to find out where you were sitting on the plane, and I had my seat moved next to you.”

As he says the words, they process. “You did?”

He nods again. “I don’t want you freaking out here but this thing between us, it was different from the start. I told you more about my family issues in Punta Cana than I shared with my best friends in this house,” he confesses.

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