The Perfect Touchdown

Two

"So, how did your Mom take the move this morning?" Aiden asked into the silence of his truck.

"Just like Avery, she couldn't wait to get me out the door," I chuckled, but it came out a lot more forced than I wanted it to.

"She's just excited that you're following in her footsteps. My Mom used to always say that you were the daughter she always wanted."

Just another reminder that I was nothing more than a little sister in his eyes.

I forced another smile. "What time is the party tonight?"

"Just text me whenever you guys are ready, and I'll come and get you. Avery is going to be busy setting up for the party."

"Okay, thanks for the ride back, Aiden. I'll see you tonight," I said and hurried to get out of the truck.

My heart pounded the entire way to my dorm room. This was how it always was when I was around Aiden. I can never control my feelings and my emotions are all over the place.

This was supposed to be my year to start anew, but I wildly underestimated how much I thought I had grown this last year being away from Aiden. My feelings for him were just as strong as always.

Isabelle walked through the door with boxes in her hands.

"Hey roomie," she said and set the boxes down. "Are you okay? Your face is really red."

"Oh, yeah, just a little warm in here."

She cocked a brow. "Is it a little hot in here, or was it a little hot in that two-seater truck?"

I felt my face deepen several shades.

"I saw you run out of there like the thing was on fire. It's understandable when you're sitting next to a guy that gorgeous. You never mentioned you had a boyfriend," she said.

"He is the furthest thing from a boyfriend, he is my brother's best friend. We all grew up together."

She shrugged. "That doesn't explain why you're blushing so hard."

"Nothing gets past you, does it?" I muttered. "Moving on, please. My brother's frat house is throwing a party tonight, do you want to come?"

"I'm not sure those parties are really my scene," she frowned. "Isn't there a lot of hazing and weird frat ritual stuff?"

"I think that's only if you're joining as a member, this is just one of the many parties they are going to throw, it's what my brother does best."

"I can go for a couple of hours, but I need to be up early tomorrow so I can snag the first spot at the rental office tomorrow. I want to be the first to get the picking of musical instruments from what they have available."

Isabelle jumped in the shower while I used the only vanity mirror we had to throw my blonde hair into a tight, high ponytail and do up my makeup with my usual natural look. I picked a pair of comfy skinny jeans and a pullover-cropped sweater.

"Wow, I envy the body of a cheerleader."

I chuckled. "I bet you wouldn't envy the workout routine of a cheerleader."

"Right, you are. Is our ride almost here?"

I checked my phone and saw the message from Aiden that said he was waiting in the parking lot. "Yeah, let's get going."

It wasn't until we got there that I remembered the awkward seating situation that Aiden had with his truck, which forced me to sit smack dab in the middle of Isabelle and him with my shoulder pressed up against his.