Love, Life and Linguine - By Melissa Jacobs Page 0,55

make our own decisions.

“When I started working at SHRED, I learned things about the company that I wish I didn’t know. And that company is old. My great grandfather started it. I decided not to turn my back on my family’s company. That’s why I worked so hard to establish a residential division of SHRED. So I could do things my way. My dad understood that it was the best way to maintain our relationship. And it’s working. I’m making it sound easy, but it took me all of my twenties to realize this.”

“I wish I could get a do-over for my twenties,” I say. “I wasted them.”

With a big pop, Aaron uncorks the champagne bottle. A little stream of white smoke emerges. He raises the bottle. “Here’s to our thirties.”

“I’m not off to a great start,” I say. But I accept the champagne bottle, take a long swig, then give it back to him.

Happy Birthday, Part Two

When I open my eyes, I realize I’m lying on my back. I’ve been sleeping. I sit up, look down, and see that Aaron is asleep. What time is it? I can’t see my watch in the dark.

“Aaron,” I say, and shake his arm gently. He doesn’t move. “Aaron?” Bending over him, I look at Aaron’s face.

He has been so wonderful to me. Not just tonight, but especially tonight. Leaning down, I gently put my mouth on his, then pull away and look at Aaron’s face. His eyes are still closed. I close my eyes and kiss him again, more firmly. When I open my eyes, Aaron’s eyes are open. I gasp in surprise. Looking back down at Aaron, I see that he is smiling. I kiss him again. And again.

We kiss and roll around on the beach. We get covered in sand. From head to toe, in our hair, ears, and clothes. Laughing, Aaron says, “This looks so hot in the movies.”

“But it’s kind of gross,” I say.

Rolling off me, Aaron gets to his feet and pulls me to mine. Hand in hand, we walk back to his house.

We stand near Aaron’s pool, under the lights of the porch, and laugh at ourselves. Our clothes and faces are smeared with sand. “Ssshhh.” Aaron gestures to the darkened house. “Everyone is asleep.”

“We can’t track this sand through your house. Do you have an outdoor shower?”

The Scheins’ outdoor shower is against the side of the house and enclosed on three sides. Despite the fact that this outdoor shower is like all others, Aaron and I stand staring at it, unsure what to do. Finally Aaron says, “I’ll go first.”

“Okay,” I say.

“I’m going to take my clothes off,” Aaron says.

“Okay.” I turn and look elsewhere, but I hear Aaron take off his shorts and shirt. I hear the shower door open, and thinking he is inside, I face forward and catch a glimpse of Aaron’s bare back and butt.

We’ve got to hit that, the diva says.

Slowly. I want to go…

Get me some of that, the diva says.

I think the diva is drunk. I listen to her anyway.

Leaving my dress in a pile on the ground, but still wearing my bra and panties, I open the shower door. Aaron turns and looks at me with surprise. I step inside what is essentially a closet, and shut the door.

“Is the water warm?” I ask.

Aaron nods and steps aside, out of the shower stream. I step into the water, and feel the grimy sand wash down my body. I look at Aaron. He is looking at my body, but standing with his back flat against the wall, as far away from me as possible.

Make the first move, the diva says.

Why should I have to?

You’ve pushed him away too many times, the diva says.

But I’m standing here half naked, under the water, in the dark. Hello?

The diva says, Reach out to him.

I do. I reach out my hand, put it on Aaron’s shoulder, and draw him to me. Skin to skin, we stand under the shower kissing and moving our hands over our bodies. Within seconds, Aaron is hard against my belly.

Keep going, the diva says.

There is a narrow bench along the shower wall, which I find accidentally by kicking my leg against it. I sit on the bench and pull Aaron toward me.

But I get cold fast. When a breeze blows against the side of the house and into the shower, I shiver. Which Aaron can’t help but notice, given the position we’re in. “Do you want to

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