My Aussie Guy - Liz Lovelock Page 0,41

than fix anything. I was there the day Parker told him to not even go there, that I was off-limits. I’d hate to be the cause of a fight between them.”

We arrive back at our position on the sand and pick up our beach towels, wrapping them around our wet bodies.

“I still think it’s better having it out there so it can be forgiven, and he can move on. That pair couldn’t hate each other; they’ve been friends for a long time,” Addison voices her opinion.

“I agree with Addison.” I wipe the wetness from my body and then lay my towel out to lie on. It’s time to get some of the sun’s rays on my white skin.

“If only it was that easy for me,” Paislee says as she lays out her towel beside mine, and Addison does the same on the opposite side of me.

We settle in and lie there, silent for a while. I listen to the waves, and in the distance, I can hear the boys carrying on like typical males.

“They’re so young with the way they act sometimes.” Addy takes the words right from my mouth.

“You totally said what I was just thinking,” I say, and we laugh.

We stay at the beach until late afternoon, and I know that, even though I put lotion on, I’m burned. Stupid lotion is not doing its job, so we decide to leave.

Once we pack up and take the drive, we all arrive back to the boys’ place, order some Chinese, and settle in for the rest of the evening.

“Today was great,” I say.

Everyone nods and murmurs their agreement as they shove food into their mouths with chopsticks. I need more days like this, where I’m not worried about schoolwork, tutoring, or basically anything education-related. Sometimes the brain needs a holiday.

“Do you know how long you plan to stay here, Aiden?” Paislee asks.

I almost drop my plate.

A brief silence fills the room as we wait for him to answer while I sit beside him on the floor against the couch. Once he finishes his mouthful of food, Aiden replies, and I hold my breath. “I’m not sure. I have a visa for a year, so I guess we’ll see how things go and where I’m going to head after this semester is over. I could possibly stay for another term… I think that’s what you guys call it. Sorry, I’m not up to date with the way you fellas run your schools and colleges.” He laughs, but I didn’t miss the hint of hesitation when he spoke. He’s worried he’ll say the wrong thing.

“So, you’ll hang around here for a while?” If Paislee keeps asking these questions, I’m going to have to butt in because I’m afraid that I’m going to hear something I don’t want to.

Aiden clears his throat, and I turn to him. He’s watching me with a heavy stare, and with that, a weight has fallen on my chest. “I’m not sure. I want to, but there’s also a lot I still want to explore…” His words trail off.

I shift my gaze and stare down at my food—funny, my appetite has now completely gone. Tears begin to well in my eyes. I blink profusely, not wanting them to fall, willing them to go away. Not with everyone around. Dammit, this is what I didn’t want to happen.

With a mouth full of food and a lump in my throat, which makes it hard to swallow, I’m sure I look like I’ve just stuffed food in my cheeks for the hell of it.

A long silence fills the room. I stand. “Sorry, just going to grab a drink. If that’s okay.”

I feel all their eyes on me, and I really hope they can’t see the water still sitting in my eyes.

Parker shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah, sure. Help yourself.”

I walk past those intense gazes and into the kitchen. A hush fills the room as I walk away, and I’m sure Paislee is on the receiving end of some comments for bringing up the conversation. After pulling open the fridge, I pull out a can of soda from the shelf, crack it open, and take a large gulp to wash away the plaster that seems to have coated my throat. I shut the fridge and almost drop the can in my hand.

“Addison, what the hell are you doing? You scared me.” I take a breath to steady my racing heart.

“Are you all right?” Her voice is barely a whisper. She