Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Aurelia's POV

"Sure will," He leaned on his elbows. “You know, this kitchen feels cozy even though the house is big.”

“It does,” I said. “I spend most of my time here.”

“I can see why,” he said. He stood and walked to the window. “The view is nice. Lights on the water. Feels calm.”

I joined him, looking outside. The air through the small vent smelled faintly of chlorine and night air. “It’s my favorite part.”

He turned to me. “You should swim more.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Just need a reason.”

“I could be the reason,” he said with a grin. “Not like that. I mean we could hang out. Swim.”

"I know it's not like that, you're gay," I smiled. “Maybe when it’s warmer.”

“Deal,” he said.

He came back to the counter and grabbed another taco. “So what’s your internship?”

“Not sure, maybe I'll do oil and gas,” I said. “Starts next month.”

“Sounds serious,” he said. “You nervous?”

“A little,” I said. “It’s new.”

“You’ll be fine,” he said. “You seem like you can handle people.”

“I hope so,” I said.

He chewed for a moment. “You ever think about leaving this town?”

“Sometimes,” I said. “I like it but I want to see more.”

“Same,” he said. “I want to travel after college. Maybe New York or Seattle.”

“That’d be nice,” I said. “I’ve never been out west.”

“You should go,” he said. “Road trip maybe.”

“Maybe someday,” I said.

He finished his taco and wiped his hands on a napkin. “Thanks for letting me in. I like this.”

“Me too,” I said. “It’s nice having someone to talk to.”

He smiled. “You’re easy to talk to.”

“So are you,” I said.

He looked around the kitchen again. “Do you cook?”

“Sometimes,” I said. “Mostly simple stuff.”

“I burn toast,” he said with a grin. “So I’m impressed.”

I laughed. “That’s not hard.”

“It is for me,” he said. “The smoke alarm hates me.”

We both laughed. The sound filled the kitchen in a way that felt right.

"Okay, I'm out of questions to ask you," he grinned. "Been tryna... Fill in?"

“I know. Want to see the pool?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said.

I slid the door open and stepped outside. The night air was cool on my skin. The pool lights shimmered on the water.

He walked to the edge and looked down. “This is amazing.”

I stood beside him. “It’s peaceful at night.”

He crouched and touched the water. “Not too cold.”

“You swim?” I asked.

“A bit,” he said. “Better at floating.”

I sat on a lounge chair and watched him trail his hand in the water.

“This is the best part of your house,” he said.

“I think so too,” I said.

He sat next to me. “You ever just sit here and listen?”

“Sometimes,” I said remembering the one night I had had sex with Killian, right after he did with my mom. I felt sick. “It’s quiet.”

“I like it,” he said

We sat in silence for a while, the soft hum of insects the only sound.

“You okay?” he asked after a moment.

“Yeah,” I said. “Better than earlier.”

“Good,” he said. “Glad I came with you.”

“Me too,” I said.

He leaned back on his hands. “The stars look nice tonight.”

I looked up. “Yeah.”

He smiled without looking at me. “Thanks for sharing this.”

I glanced at him and smiled. “Thanks for being here.”

Leo and I stayed there for a while and the night breeze was starting to feel cool against my skin so I shivered a little and pulled my knees up and leaned closer to Leo.

“We should get back in,” Leo said, brushing his hand over the water like he was testing it again

Just then, I heard the sound of tyres crunching over the gravel in the driveway and I knew right away it wasn’t my stepmom so it had to be Killian and my stomach flipped and I wanted to curse out loud but I only pressed my lips together.

Why the fuck was he here of all times why couldn’t he stay wherever he was?

I looked at Leo and the words came out before I could stop them. “Do you mind if I use you”

He tilted his head a little “Use me how?"

“Like before at the club, just go with it,” I said and I was already pulling my shirt off and dropping it on the chair and then the leggings I wore.

Leo gave a small shrug like he had decided to just follow along and he pulled his shirt over his head and left it on the chair and kicked off his shoes and stepped closer to the edge

I climbed down the ladder into the pool and the water wrapped around me. Luckily, it wasn’t as cold as I thought but it made me shiver anyway. I tilted my head back and let my hair float for a second.

Leo came in after me and the water rippled around us. I moved toward him till our shoulders touched and I put my hands on his neck and he rested his hands on my neck. It was warm and strange and we both tried not to laugh because it felt like we were playing some dumb game

“This is a weird idea,” he whispered.

“I know,” I said, keeping my voice low.

He looked at me for a long moment. “Why does he have so much access to you?”

I felt the question settle right in my chest and I hated how true it sounded “it’s complicated,” I said because I didn’t want to explain

“Hm..."

The sound of the car door shutting came through the night air and I felt my whole body go still as I could hear footsteps on the gravel path coming closer and closer.