just how close we were sitting together in the truck. The irritating tingles I felt whenever we were close had intensified and were rushing across my skin. I found the feel of them unnervingly pleasant though, and I quickly glanced away.
“I should really get my things inside,” I said, all too eager to get as far away from Aiden as possible. I jumped from the truck, and Aiden grabbed my duffel bag from the back seat.
“I can take that,” I said as he came around the truck with my bag in his hand.
He slung it over his shoulder though and smiled at me. “It’s fine. I’ve got it.”
“Right, okay.” I turned and hurried into the house.
I wasn’t sure why Aiden’s presence was making me feel so out of sorts. He still irritated the crap out of me. That certainly hadn’t changed. But it felt like the lines between us had blurred recently. I was starting to like the way he flirted with me, and his silly jokes made me smile. The more time I spent with him, the more I could see the kindness in his heart. Yes, he was still an arrogant player, but there was more to him than that, and I hated that he made me so confused.
Aiden followed me to my room and placed my bag inside the doorway.
“So, I’ve decided on the second part of my favor,” he said.
I folded my arms over my chest as he lifted his gaze to me. “You said bringing the dress here was your favor.”
“No, I said it was part of my favor.”
My stomach tensed with concern. There was a sense of eagerness in his eyes that had me worried. “That sounds like two favors.”
“No, it’s definitely one. Just like taking you to your house and bringing you home was one favor even though it had two parts.” His smile was cheeky, and I got the feeling there was no arguing my way out of this. He was clearly up to something, and normally, I would have felt suspicious about his intentions for me. Instead, I felt intrigued.
My eyes narrowed on him as I replied. “Okay, your reasoning might be totally flawed, but I’ll bite. What is the rest of this supposed two-part favor?”
His eyes lit with triumph. “I’m going to need you to put your prom dress back on.”
“What? Why would I do that?”
“Because I asked and it’s the second part of the favor.”
I’d only just taken the dress off. Why did I need to put it on again? “This is ridiculous,” I muttered.
“Just put it on and meet me downstairs in the living room once you’re ready.”
He disappeared out the door before I could question him further. He was making no sense, and his two-part favor seemed like a total waste. He was getting me to do something I’d already done earlier.
I blew out a breath and closed my bedroom door before I went to put the dress back on. If this was all he wanted for a favor, I might as well go through with it. If anything, it felt like I was getting off lightly.
As I put my prom dress back on, I smiled at myself in the mirror. I’d been so uncertain about wearing red for prom, but my mom had insisted the color was amazing on me. Looking at it now, I had to agree. I wished she could see me wearing it, with all my makeup done. Even my current hairstyle seemed to match. It was up in a ponytail, which showed off the low-cut back of the dress.
I strapped my feet back into my heels before making my way downstairs. I was hesitant to show Aiden the dress again. His reaction at my house had left me unsettled. His eyes had widened when he saw me, and there had been heat in his gaze as he’d slowly looked over the dress. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, and his words made my heart race.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget the way he told me I was the most beautiful girl in the world. I wanted to deny it, but a part of me also wanted to believe him. I might have scrubbed up okay, but I knew what he’d said was far from the truth. My only explanation was that perhaps lockdown had addled his brain. He hadn’t seen any other girls in weeks, and maybe it was affecting his judgment.