Spark (12 page)

My feet glued to the ground. I gasp for air. I blink my eyes in disbelief.
What the fuck just happened?

Crystal returns with drinks. Her smile falters as she notices that the once happy, party atmosphere has taken a trip to Shitville.

“What’s happened?” she asks, frowning. What did just happen? No point rehashing it, whatever it was.

“Nothing … don’t worry about it,” I reply, unable to fake a reassuring smile. Crystal’s eyes shift between Aidan and Brad.

“Dean was out of line,” Aidan says seriously, his eyes not leaving mine. He barely knows me, yet he was willing to step in to defend me. And he almost took a hit for it.

Not that I needed him to. I was that close to throwing a punch. Dean wouldn’t have seen that coming.

“That fucker! Did he try something, Eevie?” Crystal asks, rubbing my arm.

“Next time, he’ll get a black eye for his troubles,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. Aidan’s mouth curls up on one side, like he’s trying to stifle a smile.

“Yeah, he doesn’t know who he’s messing with,” Crystal says, and pulls me into a hug. “Are you okay?” she whispers in my ear.

“Yeah.”

I sit with the girls and have a chat while we drink our vodkas. A short time later, Rob returns, and joins Brad and Aidan. I overhear that he put Dean in a cab, and that
he just can’t handle his grog
. I’m relieved I don’t have to see him again tonight—I don’t have the patience. I finish my drink, and place the empty glass on a nearby table. I’ve definitely had enough to drink.

“I’m calling it a night, Crystal. I’m wrecked.” I just want to face plant onto my bed, and sleep. I’ve had my share of alcohol, any more and I’ll be driving the porcelain bus home. My feet are throbbing like crazy, but I really shook my arse on the dance floor. I’m proud to still be standing after midnight.

“
Really?
” Crystal replies, pouting her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

I nod. She gives me a big hug, and kisses my ear. She’s pretty drunk. Hell, I guess I am too.

“Yeah. You spend some time with your sister. I’ll see you in the morning,” I say loudly above the music.

“Have you got keys?” Crystal asks, as she pads down her pockets.

“Yep. Rob’s got yours, remember?” I smile at her, and nod towards Rob.

Rob and Aidan come over to us.

“Off so soon, Eevie?” Rob teases.

“Yeah, Rob,” I admit. I’m definitely ready for bed.

“I dunno. You girls have no staying power,” he says, chuckling.

“I’ll make up for it next time. I’ll see you guys later,” I say, and Crystal gives me another hug.

I start to push through the crowd towards the exit.

“Wait,” Aidan says, lightly gripping my upper arm. I turn to face him. “How are ya gettin’ home?” he asks. He slowly takes his hand away, leaving a trace of his warmth. Standing so close, heat radiates from his body, like the sun drawing me in. I swallow the lump in my throat, and figure now is the time to go, before I start thinking about all the different ways he could warm me.
Too late
.

“I’m walking,” I answer. It’s not far, and the fresh air and solitude will do me the world of good.

“By yourself?” he asks, his brows bunching together.

I roll my eyes. “It’s
only
around the corner.” I take a couple of steps backwards through the crowd towards the entry doors. “See ya.” I give him a grateful smile. I want to thank him for what he did, but what could I say? I’m not usually shy, but I hope my smile communicates my appreciation.

Aidan says something to Rob, and strides towards me. “Don’t go alone. I’ll walk you.” It appears as though he’s made up his mind. I’ll be chaperoned on my stumble home. Who said chivalry was dead?

“I’ll be fine.” I wave my hand, but perhaps I shouldn’t protest so much. Cassie’s words, “be safe”, echo in my head.

Aidan shakes his head, and smiles. His fingers lace between mine, and his thumb gently smooths over my knuckles. It’s like an electric current running through his hand to mine. Aidan weaves a path through the crowd to the exit, his warm hand not letting me go.

The cool night air is welcome on my face. Aidan releases my hand, an unreadable expression on his face. Did he feel something, too? He gives me a heartening smile, and we walk down the street.

For a minute or two we walk in silence. We haven’t had the chance to talk alone before. It’s probably because Rob hangs on his every word. This makes me smile.

“What’s so funny?” Aidan asks.

“I was just thinking about Rob and the man-crush he has on you.” Then I laugh at my own joke, cackling probably a bit too much.

“
Man-crush?
” Aidan asks, raising one of his dark eyebrows. The one with the scar.

Gulp.

“He’s got a real bro-mance thing happening. Can’t you tell by the way he hangs on your every word?” I ask, and we both laugh.

“Hey, I can’t help it if he wants to be like me,” he says, and lets out a low chuckle.

And I don’t blame him. I’m tempted to say his girlfriend better watch out for Rob, and it reminds me of that very important fact. He has a girlfriend. He is taken. But more to the point, so am I. I’ve got to stop looking at him like I’m a starved supermodel, desperate for her next meal.

As we walk further, my feet start to ache. As sexy as these heels are, at this point in the night, they are no longer my friend. I slow down the pace, but they just ache more.

Enough already.

I lean down and take them off. Aidan stops, and waits.

“Oh my God, that feels good,” I groan after taking a few steps with bare feet.
So much better
.

Aidan gives me a strange look … perhaps I was a bit
too
loud. “That good, huh?” he asks with a wicked grin.

“Amazing,” I reply. “Hey, let’s walk across the oval.”

Aidan follows me through a small park, and we come to a football field. The damp lush grass is heavenly on the pads of my aching feet. Without thinking, I stop and groan again, looking over to find the same look on Aidan’s face.

We keep walking. The bottoms of my jeans drag through the wet grass, but I don’t care. How nice it is not having any worries at this very moment besides wet jeans.

“So, your
boyfriend,
Rob,” I tease, “told me you compete in motocross. Sounds like you’re doin’ really well.” I rub my hands up and down my bare arms to ward off the deep shiver that wants to take over my body.

“Yeah, it’s been a pretty intense circuit this year, but I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve managed to give a couple of my usual rivals a run for their money,” he says, not gloating, but genuinely proud of his efforts.

“When did you learn to ride?” I ask, wondering if he learnt the same way I did—by getting on, and hoping not to crash. My eyes follow my feet as they flatten the grass beneath my toes.

“I think I was about four. Anytime they couldn’t find me around the farm, I was always in the shed, pretending to ride one of the motorbikes. Eventually, my grandpa decided he might as well teach me.” I imagine a handsome little boy with messy brown hair, pretending to ride. How adorable. I can’t help but smile.

“That’s so cute. I imagine at four you would’ve been all helmet.” I giggle.

“Yeah.”

A velvety-soft warmth surrounds my shoulders as Aidan wraps his shirt around them. He quickly removes his hands, and puts them in his jeans pockets. A snug white T-shirt hugs his chest, drawing attention to his hardened nipples.
Crap.

“Thanks,” I say softly, putting his shirt on properly. I wrap it tight around my body, and fold my arms under my chest. I close my eyes, ever so briefly, as traces of his aftershave linger, together with the warmth from the fabric. It’s like pure sex. At least, what I’d imagine it would smell like.

“How long since you’ve ridden?” he asks, thankfully diverting my thoughts of what he looks like underneath all that.

“Um, not since I was about fifteen. I certainly couldn’t keep up with you, but I’m probably no worse than Rob,” I say.

“He’s not doing too badly. He just needs practice.”

“And a bit more co-ordination, from what Crystal tells me,” I joke and Aidan lets out a loud laugh. A snort escapes me as I laugh.
How embarrassing
. I cover my mouth in horror.

“Did you just snort?” Aidan says, and chuckles.

“Maybe,” I reply, trying to be serious, but I fail when I let out a giggle. “Well, consider yourself lucky. Not many people get the opportunity to hear me snort.”

We walk for a bit in silence, but I want to know more.

“How do you keep fit?” I ask, wondering what’s involved for his sport.

He shrugs. “You know, the usual stuff. Some weight training, running, but riding the bike is pretty physical.”

We discuss running, and he seems impressed with my times. Not that I’m trying to impress him. Running is a lonely business, and it’s nice to chat to someone who gets it.

This light-hearted conversation is refreshing. I can be myself around him. He acts differently with me than he does around the guys, but I guess all guys do that. You can never have too many friends, and I think we could be just that. Good friends. Especially if we are going to keep bumping into each other.

“Hey, I’m organising a few drinks for my birthday soon. No big deal. Rob and Crystal are coming. You’re … welcome to come, too,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

I’m not sure if that was technically an invitation.

“Sure. Let me know. I’m supposed to be away in a few weeks, but if I’m here I will,” I reply casually. Jon said he wants to take me down the coast one weekend soon. A shudder runs through me when I think of Jon, and how complicated things have become.
Why did I agree to date him in the first place?

“So, how old will you be?” I ask.

“Twenty-five.”

“Wow, a quarter of a century. Found any grey hairs yet?”

“You’re a cheeky thing, aren’t ya?” he says and smirks.

“That sounds like something an old man would say.” I giggle.

A smile spreads across his face, meeting his sparkling blue eyes. “I suppose it is.”

When we reach the front of my building, I stumble as I fish through my bag for my keys with one hand, while holding my shoes in the other. They’re buried in here somewhere, and I don’t want to have to empty it out on the footpath. No man needs to see the inside of a woman’s handbag. There’d be tampons, and a million tubes of lips gloss rolling around everywhere.

Aidan takes my shoes, making it that little bit easier.
Again, with the chivalry.

“Finally,” I say in triumph as I hold up the keys. He lets out a laugh. I scowl at him. Hey, I know I’m drunk, but don’t laugh at me. I fumble, trying to find the right key. “Aren’t you going back to the guys?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“Nah, I‘m gonna call it a night, too. I’m crashing on the couch.”

My stomach drops. Aidan is staying?

“Rob didn’t tell you?” Aidan’s voice is a little shaky. “We dropped our bags here on the way to dinner.”

“He forgot, but it’s okay with me,” I say as casually as I can. The tension between us starts to creep back into my consciousness, little butterflies taking me back to the first time we met. It’s going to be weird having another guy in the apartment. Jon has never stayed here.

Unlocking the door to the foyer, we walk on the same step in silence until we get to the apartment door. I open the door, and turn on the dimmed entry light. I drop my shoes on the floor and dump my bag and keys on the dining table, then make my way to the fridge.

“Water?” I ask, taking out a glass water bottle.

“Please,” he says, moving into the kitchen. I fill two tall glasses, and finish mine almost in one hit, not realising how thirsty I was.

“Mmm, that was good.” I wipe the spilt water from my chin. Aidan nearly chokes on his water, coughing and laughing at the same time. “Are you laughing at me?” I scowl, pursing my lips together.

His eyes move down to my lips, lingering a little too long.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says. I refill my glass, offering him more. We finish the bottle between us.

“Let me check that the bed’s set up,” I say as I accidentally brush past him to get out of the kitchen.

He grins, and follows me to the lounge room. The bed is already made—Rob must have set it up when they were here earlier.

“Looks like you’re good to go.” I point towards the sofa bed.

“Thanks.” Aidan picks up a black backpack from near the front door, and puts it on the bed. He sits on the edge, and starts to untie his shoes.

“Are you here for breakfast?” I ask, and then wonder if we have enough food.

“Thanks, but I’ll be leaving early. I’ve got stuff to sort out before next weekend.”
Oh
. It would have been fun to have breakfast together with Rob and Crystal, and rehash the night’s events. Well, except for the part where Dean was a dick.

“Sure. I’m gonna take a shower. Do you want to use the bathroom first?” I ask as I stare down at my wet jeans. I probably should have wiped my feet before I walked in.

“No, you go first. I can wait.”

“Thanks for walking me home. My girlfriend, Cassie, would be grateful.” I smile, thinking of my gorgeous friend—always looking out for me.

“Why’s that?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.

“For keeping me safe.”

Relief floods his face, and he smiles. “No worries. Tell Cassie it was my pleasure.”
Oh my; his pleasure
. I’m not going to let my thoughts go there. I’m not. Not one bit.

His eyes scan over my chest, setting the hairs on my neck to prickle. I’m tempted to scowl at him for so blatantly staring at my boobs, but I look down to see his shirt wrapped tight around me. It reminds me again of what he gave up so I could be comfortable. It was fucking freezing outside.

I slip his shirt off, all traces of warmth,
his
warmth, leaving my body.

“Good night, Aidan,” I say and hand him his shirt.

“Night, Eevie,” he says as his fingers graze mine. Once again, I feel that little tingle with his touch.