37. ARAN

CHAPTER 37

ARAN

I sigh as I yank at the knot in my tie. Soon, it's wide enough that I can toss it on top of my blazer, which is strewn in the back of my SUV. I don't have a lot of patience for the shirt's buttons, so I pull the whole thing over my head and toss it on the pile. I work through the rest of my clothes and shoes until I'm down to my underwear. A swim will clear my head.

Time. She needs time. That's not a no, even though it's not the yes I hoped for.

My sisters are blowing up my phone. I don't want to have to explain this to them. I'm actually annoyed as shit that they now know for sure I'm not a robot. Their teasing before this was so much more bearable.

I work out my muscles as if this is a swimming meet. This. is the sport my parents signed me up for back when I was a kid, hoping I preferred a less dangerous sport. But I'm starting to think I have the same issue as Luz—I like to live life on the edge of disaster. If I didn't, I wouldn't have lied to Coach or to myself or to Strawberry. I'd have figured everything out earlier.

But I'll give her all the time she wants. And in a way, Coach is going to get his end of the bargain too. I can't possibly date anyone else now. Maybe now he'll be freaking happy.

I emerge from the water with a great gasp once my lungs start to burn from the hard swim. I clear the water from my face with my hand, and I'm about to tumble onto my back to float for a bit when a voice stops me.

"Aran Rodriguez! Did you break the speed limit to get here so fast?"

My hand drops, and there she is. Madeline "Strawberry" Berkley in the flesh.

Her chest rises and falls with rapid breathing, which is really bad for my health because her dress shows off her cleavage nicely. And it hugs her curves perfectly. And her hair tumbles over her shoulder. And her cheeks are a shade lighter than her lips, and I want to kiss them.

But she asked for time, so I stay still, where the water is up to my stomach.

She kicks one foot in the air, and her sandal flies off. Then she does the same for the other one. I narrow my eyes, confused, even though it's clear what she's doing.

"Why the heck did you have to be so fast?" She pushes her hair forward and stretches her arms back to fiddle with the dress. "Wait, hold on. The zipper's tricky." Then she turns her back.

I clear my throat. "Do you need help?"

"No, I got it." Her voice is far firmer than necessary, so I stay put and watch her struggle until she grabs the zipper tab and pushes it down just enough.

I blink hard as more skin gets exposed. Tilt my head to get a better view. I don't need to make an effort, because she shimmies out of the dress until it pools around her feet on the sand. Then she pulls down some tight shorts, and for a second, I think she's naked. Until I do a double take and notice that her underwear is a similar shade to her skin.

Strawberry turns around—as if suddenly remembering that the way to the lake is over here—and stands there with her hands on her hips, legs wide, breathing hard. Which draws my eyes to her chest again. And I recognize the bra. It's the lacy one I saw hanging in her bathroom the night after I met her.

Have I died and gone to heaven?

She steps out of the circle of her dress and keeps walking. Forward. And the closer she gets, the harder my heartbeat thrums in my ears. When she makes contact with the water, she flinches, and her skin breaks into goose bumps all over. I can't believe I'm jealous that it's the water that put them there.

But she continues going with a determined little frown that wrinkles her nose. Her brown eyes are trained on mine, as if trying to make sure I don't go anywhere this time. But nothing in this world could make me move away. The hard part is not reaching for her when she stops an arm's length away.

The wet ends of her hair float around her in the water. Her bra is already growing darker as it absorbs the moisture. I've never seen anyone more beautiful than Strawberry as she glares up at me.

"I said I needed time, not for you to change zip codes."

"This is a temporary change. I plan on being your neighbor for at least a few more months."

She grunts just like I would. I press my lips tight to keep from laughing. "You also left before I could sign your book."

"You can sign it whenever you want. Along with the other two I forgot in my car."

Strawberry gasps. "You bought more than one?"

"My sisters want to read it too."

"Oh." The grumpiness starts melting from her face. "So you really mean it, then? What you said on the note?"

"Every word," I say slowly, softly, earnestly. I don't know what else to do. With a shaky breath, I add, "Maddie, I'm actually a chicken shit. I hate hospitals because I hate the thought of people I care about leaving me. So I try not to care. And I?—"

I interrupt myself to rub my neck, and she doesn't flinch at the sudden spray of cold water. Like she's turned into a statue.

"I cared about you so much and so fast, I panicked. But I knew I'd messed up when you kicked me to the curb. And when you hit your head…" I blow out all the air in my lungs. A shudder racks over my frame, and I swallow hard. "I was drowning."

I don't understand what's written on her face. It's almost blank except for the slight upward rise of her eyebrows. But she takes a tiny step forward, and I have to tilt my head down to meet her eyes.

Slowly, her hand rises from the water until it rests on my chest. Against my heart. Her skin is cold like ice against mine, and she splays her hand wide to really feel. If anything, my heart beats even faster.

"Oh."

"What does that oh mean?"

Her attention is on her hand as she says, "Well, I just wanted some proof that this was all real."

"It's very real." I close my left hand around hers, keeping it against my chest. But with my other one, I bring her closer until she's flush against me. Low and slow, I say, "It's very real."

She swallows hard, and for a long moment, just stays still.

Suddenly. she circles both arms around my neck, and now there's not a molecule of water or air between us. I run my hands down her back, past the dip of her waist, over the swell of her butt. Her lips part a little as I spread my hands and grasp her firmly. A full gasp comes out when I lift her until she's right where I want her to be. Her legs wrap around my waist, and yeah, I can die happy now.

Except I'm missing one thing.

"Strawberry?"

"What do you want, Chocolate?"

My lips twitch. "You. I want you. I want you to tell me that I can kiss you now and tomorrow and the day after that, for a very long time."

Her fingers knead at the muscles at my nape, like she's seen me do, but better. With more care. And that's almost enough to undo me. I start to turn into a noodle and have to hold her tighter so she doesn't sink.

Smiling as if she knows what she's doing to me, she whispers, "With one condition."

"Consider it done."

"Before you even hear it?"

"If I don't get to kiss you in the next ten seconds, I'll die here, woman."

"Hmm." She caresses the side of my face like this isn't the first time, as if already knowing every plane and dip. "Fine, I'll be quick. The condition is that you have to give yourself to me too."

"Oh, I'm so ready."

She presses her lips. "Not just like that . I mean all your fears and worries, and your hopes and your laughs and your tears. Because I'm sure you cry sometimes too."

"Never," I joke.

She ignores it. " Everything . That's what it means to be the hero of my romance. No hiding or lying or pretending to be okay when you're not. Are you ready for that task?"

"No," I admit with a soft voice, inhaling deep. "I'm not. I don't know how. But I want to figure it out with you. And, uh, disclaimer: I'll probably mess up a few times along the way, but you can't be a hockey goalie if you give up easily."

She nods solemnly. "I'll make a mental note of that for a future book."

"Don't worry, Strawberry. I have endless inspiration to give you."

"I have no doubt."

"Can we keep bantering later? My mouth misses yours."

She snorts, and I think she's going to say something, but instead, she presses her lips against mine in a soft kiss that lasts exactly one second. Strawberry herself is the one who pushes my mouth open and sucks at my tongue as if it's my lips instead.

The moan that comes out of my throat is very obvious. I am now fire itself. I press her hips tighter against me, and with my other hand, I push her head down a little more. This kiss might bruise. But we're both hungry for each other.

As I let her devour my mouth, I slide my hand up from her ass to her hip and squeeze. I break the kiss to speak against her lips. "Yes, I'll give you all of me. And when you're ready, you'll give me all of you too. Seems like a fair trade."

"So fair."

She presses that smile right against mine. Then she bites my lower lip, and I might just be a little late to tonight's semifinal, because there's no way I'm cutting this moment short. I'll savor every second of it, along with every inch of my Strawberry's lips, until we're both out of breath.