The Mating Game

A First for Everything

After my restful (yeah right) night of dreaming of the guy I am crushing on sleeping with my various roommates I decide to have a heart-to-heart conversation with my new found best friend before the sun even has risen. I find Almond asleep in the hay because no one in their right mind is up including the animals unless you’re me and you have dreams about s*x that you’re not included in. Carefully I open the stall and creep in. Ana picks up her head to glance at me, but I guess I’m no longer on her s**t list because she goes back to minding her own business quickly. I find a spot in the hay next to Almond and rub his back. As I do this I find myself quietly spilling all of my thoughts and emotions to a cow. Really…. This is what my life has come to. I’m talking to a cow, which I must say is a fantastic listener. In fact, he hasn’t interrupted me once, except that one time when he stood up to nurse from Ana but other than that he has been totally attentive. Get a grip, Addison. Sometime between talking to Almond and petting him, I must have fallen asleep. Startled awake by a warm hand gently shaking my shoulder, my hands stretch above my head as I yawn, blinking my eyes open to see who has interrupted my sleep.

“So we’re sleeping with the cows now. Is your bed really that uncomfortable?” Aaron is kneeling in front of me laughing as I am still trying to wake up.

“Well if you slept in the same room as Katie and Laura you wouldn’t be able to sleep through all of their snoring either.” Slowly standing up I give another stretch.

“I just came out here to see how my guy was doing.”

“He looks good. You missed breakfast. Katie is going to help Laura around the house today because she’s still not feeling one hundred percent yet.”

“Who’s going to take care of the animals today?” I ask concerned about my new bestie.

“Katie will be out in about an hour to do some of the chores, but I’ll finish them up tonight after dinner.”

“Sounds good to me so what’s on our agenda for today?” “Well I thought we could head to the alcove and search for some clams for dinner and then we can check the traps.”

The alcove is a place Aaron showed me that’s on the east side of the beach where we set our traps. The isolated beach is surrounded on both sides by rocks that jet out from the shore and it’s in its own little world. No one can see it unless they climb around all the rocks, which is no easy task because they are slippery and sharp. The only other way to reach the alcove is to swim out around the rocks. After you pass the rocks that shoot out from the main shore, there is another small white sandy beach between the rock cliffs. It is there that we have discovered an abundance of clams.

“I’ll race you to the alcove,” he says with a grin spreading across his face.

“I just woke up.”

“It’s not my fault someone came out to sleep with their friends in the barn. But if you are too tired.” This is a challenge that I am not backing down from.

“Alright first one to the beach between the cliffs wins.” I say ready to sprint.

“Ready, set, go,” he says giving me a playful push back as he takes the lead in front of me.

He is definitely a faster runner than I am, but I’m hoping that I can pass him in the water. He is at a slight disadvantage because he is carrying the blanket we always bring with us and the sack that we store the clams and crabs in after we catch them. When my feet hit the main beach, I begin stripping my shirt off to reveal the black camisole that is under my shirt. I need to get rid of as much weight as possible to be quick in the water. For a moment I think of removing my shorts but I will have to stop running to do that and Aaron is already at least ten paces in front of me. Making my way to the water, I notice that Aaron has decided to take his chances with the rocks.

“You’re only taking the rocks because you know you can’t beat me in the water,” I scream behind me diving into the waves.

I am unable to hear his response because water fills my ears and I am focused on my breathing and the strokes of my arms and legs. Reaching the beach first I stand with my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath as Aaron comes around the cliff façade.

“Damn it!” he says as he jokingly throws the sack and blanket in the sand. Beads of sweat glistened from his forehead.

“I knew I couldn’t take you in the water” he barely gets out between breaths.

“But I thought I had enough distance between you and me to make it over the rocks before you swam around them.”

Still catching his breath, he lays the blanket out on the sand and then walks to the edge of the beach to splash water on his head. When he falls back onto the blanket, I am still hunched over trying to catch my breath and waiting for my heart rate to return to normal.

“Alright so what do you want since you won?” he says lying flat on his back with his arms behind his head. The first thing that pops into my mind is a kiss, but I swiftly remember his no kissing rule.

“It’s okay you can’t give me what I want anyway,” I state as I straighten up and push the wet hair from my face.

This statement perks his interest, and he sits up.

“Oh really and what’s that?” his brown eyebrow c***s up on the right side.

“No we are having a good time, and I’m not going to spoil it because of some stupid thought that popped into my head.”

“Okay, now you really have me curious. What is it?” I say nothing.

“Addison just spit it out already.”

“A kiss” the words slip out my mouth before I have a chance to stop them.

“A kiss?” Aaron’s face has gone pale, and his hand rubs his sprouting beard on the side of his face and then moves to his neck.

“Aaron it was just a silly thought that popped into my head. I don’t really want a kiss. I know how you feel about them.” Aaron’s face is emotionless as he stares out at the horizon. Trying to alleviate the situation I continue talking. “The only reason a kiss even came to mind is that I have never been kissed before and I have been wondering a lot lately about what one would be like but I completely understand that it’s not your thing. Even though we are mates, but I’m just going to shut up now.” I’m rambling and putting my foot further into my mouth. Stop talking! Stop talking now! Aaron stands up moving towards me.

“I think I can handle a little kiss Addison” Gently he places his palm on my cheek as his thumb slowly caresses my cheekbone.

I’m frozen, except for the fact that I’m about to hyperventilate and my heart may just burst through my chest. Looking into each other’s eyes his lips slowly move towards mine. Unable to think I blurt out “Just remember this is my first kiss ever and I will always remember my first kiss, so it needs to be spectacular. No pressure though.” I add quickly and swallow. God, did I just say that? Mental head slap.

A tiny smirk forms at the corners of his lips as he whispers “No pressure.”

Slowly his lips are moving towards mine again, but this time I keep my mouth from talking and close my eyes. Slightly parting my lips, I wait in anticipation as his hand continues caressing my cheek and earlobe. For what seems like an eternity of waiting I finally feel his soft, warm lips on mine. Our lips are tentative and unsure at first but soon mold to each other’s and begin moving in motion with one another. It is a slow gentle kiss that is over much too soon. Aaron pulls back leaving just inches between our faces.