Summer Nights by Shawna Whalen (uplifting book club books .TXT) 📕

situation; her basement was as cold as outside.

“Ashley! It’s fucking freezing.” I yelled in a hush whisper. Everyone murmured in agreement. I held my arms close, but Aaron wrapped around me and hugged me from behind. His chin rested on my shoulder.

This is the best night beyond belief.

Ashley finally took in agreement that it was in fact “fucking freezing”, so she got more

blankets for us. Tracy and Truman beat Aaron and I to the couch this time, I cursed at her.

Aaron and I sat against the wall, huddled together to keep warm. I was sitting in front of him, laying back. I suddenly realized that I mirrored Jenna and Greg from earlier. Ew

, I thought. But Aaron was way more comfortable.

His arms stayed wrapped around me as we settled in for a movie, Ashley picked out of random, it happened to be Dark Knight

. I turned to Aaron, “I love this movie.” He laughed, “Me too.” Ashley turned the lights off when she started the movie and went up the stairs.

Aaron’s chin rested once more on my shoulder, after the opening credits started rolling, his tilted his head to the side and gently kissed my neck. I shivered but turned my head and kissed him.

Ashley came bopping down the stairs with 3 bowls of popcorn then. She spotted our gentle kisses and chucked popcorn at us, “Stop it!” and laughed. Aaron and I laughed with her but stopped kissing and just sat there.

The tastes of Aaron’s lips were still on mine, I couldn’t even watch the movie because all my thoughts came back to the specific taste.

I closed my eyes and thought back a couple hours. I was so afraid to meet Aaron, everything just seemed silly now. I laughed and everyone looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently something bad had been happening in the movie.

Aaron chuckled quietly in my ear, “What?” he asked in a whisper. I shook my head. He let it go.

The movie dragged on and I hadn’t realized, for once in my life I’d fallen asleep during the movie. But this was the best part of it, in Aaron’s arms. When the lights were turned back on for a break, I woke up.

I turned in Aaron’s arms to laugh that I’d fallen asleep while everyone refilled popcorn bowls, pops and went pee-Tracy-I noticed Aaron was asleep himself.

I tried to stifle my giggle but it turned into a full on laugh. I covered my mouth but it didn’t help. Before I knew it, I was shaking with laughter again and Aaron woke up.

“What? Huh?” I laughed again. He smiled at me, the most perfect smile. “You’re adorable when you sleep,” I said still giggling.

He looked at me funny and then said, “So are you.” I gave him a sly look, “Touché.”

Tracy came out of the bathroom 5 minutes later, I laughed because you could see the relief on her face. She snuggled back into Truman’s arms on the couch.

“Tracy,” I called her in a whisper, she looked at me. “I think Cass and Chris fell asleep completely.”

Her eyes traced the room over and over again as if they weren’t there. She looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and signed, "Where?" I pointed on the other side of the coffee table.

Tracy laughed and fell back into Truman’s arms who grunted. “Sorry,” I heard Tracy say and laugh. I heard something wet and smooch. “Stop it!” I hissed toward the couch. Tracy giggled again and I heard Truman’s deep laugh.

But I turned around to find it wasn’t Truman’s it was Aaron’s laugh. I’m not sure how I missed it with his arms still holding me in place.

I looked around for Ashley, she was nowhere I be found. I signed to Tracy, after I got her attention away from Truman’s mouth, and asked where she was.

Tracy didn’t know either, Cassandra and Chris were snoring away in each other’s arms. I giggled.

Tracy and I got up from our warmth and walked to Ashley’s room. I grabbed the handle before Tracy could and stuck my tongue out at her, she laughed. I slowly opened the door.

What happened inside her room, I cannot speak of, but I can say that Tracy and myself closed that door faster than a speed racer. Then we sprinted back to our spots giggling uncontrollably and loud enough to almost wake up Cassandra, and that took a lot.

After our giggling stopped, we tried to finish the movie but ended up talking. Cassandra and Chris woke up eventually and were talking, that’s why. I looked at Tracy once and signed to her ‘Ashley and Mark are still in her room’ and she laughed but said ‘I know’.

A few minutes later I got a text from my mom ‘It’s starting to storm. Do you have clothes so that you can just stay at Ashley’s?’ I was actually excited now to stay. ‘Yeah. Good night.'

I turned in Aaron’s arms and whispered, “Guess what?” “What?” he asked, smiling. “I’m staying because of a storm.” He smiled even bigger and gave me kiss.

He was going to pull away, but I refused to let him. Eventually we fell over and I was on my back.

Midway through our kissing session, I refused to call it a make-out session because then I felt like I was at one of those parties, I heard giggling and of course it was from the couch area.

I looked up from the ground and toward Tracy and glared. But Aaron refused to let me glare for too long. He brought my face back to him, Mmmm control

.

His kisses were like soft bunches of clouds and cotton.I could see myself lost in him for years, but could he?

I was afraid this would happen. I’d be so wrapped up, but he’s just in it for something else. I gently pushed Aaron away and sat up.

“What?” he asked. I shrugged, not looking at him. He tugged on my shoulder, trying to turn me around, I brushed him off.

We sat in silence while Ashley remained locked in her room, Cassandra and Chris canoodled and Tracy giggled with Truman.

My friends are so perfect.

I shook my head trying to shake the thought. My eyes filled with tears, threatening them to spill over and expose me.

I tightly closed my eyes until I felt a hand on my lower back. “Shawna?” he whispered in my ear too low for the others. “What’s wrong? Did I do something, because if I did then I truly am sorry. Really.”

I shook my head but he took it the wrong way. “I am sorry-” I turned to face him, breaking his sentence off. “No, it’s not you.” My head hung in shame.

The tears spilled over the rims and fell silently to my tangles hands lying in my lap. I started to wipe them away but Aaron’s rough but soft and gentle hands found my cheeks before mine did.

His scent drove me wild and over the edge, but I was in no state to even consider anything in that region right now.

Aaron’s gentle touch burned into my skin. The flames in my veins were scorching now and it was unbearable when he released my cheeks.

My eyes slowly raised and met his. They were sad and I wondered why. What could possibly make him

sad?

My brow furrowed deeply in confusion.

Shortly after looking into his now sad eyes, I dropped mine to the floor. I couldn’t bear to see him sad too. His hand found my chin instantly and fire was back.

What is it about this man that can make my heart race but also break?

Aaron looked me in the eyes and sighed. His were still melancholy and it killed me to my soul. “Then what is it?” he finally spoke, breaking our sweet silence.

I shook my head but it was useless in his hold. I gently turned my head around the room, still in his grip, to see everyone ignoring our little conversation.

Taking my chance, I stood up drastically and almost tumbled over. Aaron caught me as he stood too, following my motions.

I fell right onto his chest, gripping his shirt to brace my fall. His hands wrapped around my waist and we were inches away from each other’s face. I inhaled sharply as I fell in his arms and tasted his sweet musk honey scent.

I closed my eyes trying to shake off the scent of him, but he took it as an opportunity to kiss me, I didn’t oblige.

The kiss started slow and gentle but escalated fast. It didn’t take long before I opened my mouth and granted him entrance. Shawna, what are you doing?

I had no idea how to answer myself. I was lost in my sweet satanic haven.

Reluctantly and regretting each moment, I pulled myself away from Aaron. Eyes still closed, I took some breaths to steady myself. I gripped his shirt gently, then found myself releasing it.

When I opened my eyes they were locked on my hands. I had crumpled his shirt, damn

. Slowly the met Aaron’s awaiting eyes. He looked at me with concern but desire.

Did I really just say desire? No, he couldn’t possibly…

“Follow me.” I mouthed eventually and walked up the stairs to Ashley’s kitchen/dining room. He followed silently.

I reached the kitchen first and went to Ashley’s fridge for a water bottle. I barely heard Aaron’s feet touch the granite. “You want one?” I asked in a whisper. “Sure.” He replied just as low.

I grabbed two Fiji water bottles from the back of Ashley’s fridge and closed the door with my foot. Damn, where I put my socks?

From a distance I could hear Tracy giggling and Truman saying “Stop, stop!” quietly under their breaths.

Aaron sat down on one of the bar stools at the counter and I sat next to him. I slid a bottle to him and opened my own. He watched me with careful eyes. I only knew this because I could feel them boring into me. I kept mine on the counter.

We sat in silence for a while until Aaron spoke gently. “So, will you tell me what’s wrong, please?” he begged.

I risked a glance to his eyes and they were filled with concern and care. His deep brown eyes held me captive and I opened up.

“I just…I...” words confounded me. How could I tell him that he was too good for me? He played with his bottle cap and then took a swig. He eyed me to continue, edging me on.

“I don’t deserve you.” I said matter of fact. I heard Aaron choke on his water for a moment and my eyes shot to his. I was lost instantly.

“What do you mean?” he said roughly, still trying to clear his throat.

“I mean, you’re too good for me and I don’t deserve this happiness that you’ve brought me.” My head hung. Tears started to fill my eyes but I held them back.

He inhaled slowly then exhaled in a huff. “Are you kidding me?” I looked up at him to see what he was questioning. He looked me straight in the eye and spoke intently, “Shawna. You are the one who is too good for me. If it is anyone that doesn’t deserve someone it’s me.”

I felt a lump