Because of My Best Friend

15. Becoming Official

The whole of dinner, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Aidan.  Even as Tanner was telling his tales and making all of us laugh, my eyes would always linger back to him.  The moments where he would catch me, he just smiled back and squeezed my thigh or hand, whichever he was holding at the moment.  Kelsey seemed to be in her own damn world, caressing Tanner’s neck while he talked and looking at him with complete adoration.

This felt too real, too wonderful, and still, I didn’t understand why they were here.  Was I ecstatic??  Hell yes.  But, still, confused.  As we were paying the bill, I had to have the answer.

I cast my eyes downward while grabbing his hand and running my thumb across his knuckle.  The veins in his hands from his arms made an appearance and I just had to touch them.  “Why are y’all here?”  After a few seconds, I look up and he was nodding off to Tanner, who happily took Kelsey out of the restaurant.  When his eyes met mine again, I held my breath.

“If it’s one sided, let me know Justine.  I haven’t been able to keep you out of my head.  Surely you can feel this connection we have, right?”

We walk out of the restaurant, and I let out the breath as my heart started thumping wildly.  He’s been thinking of me too?  So where does this go?  “It’s definitely not one-sided Aidan…”  I look up to him and he’s smiling so big, causing a youthful twinkle in his eyes.  I can’t help myself as I reach over and steal a kiss from him.  A real kiss- not that pecking B.S. he gave me earlier.  He doesn’t hesitate in returning the kiss, and when my tongue graces him mouth, he lets out a groan as if that’s what he’s been waiting for all night.  I pull my head back slightly, and he holds my body tighter to him. 

“That is why I’m here.  I want to get to know you more.  I want to properly date you Justine.”  His eyes show how sincere he is, and it feels as if he’s staring down to my soul.

All I can do is smile.  That is the best way I’ve ever been asked out.  “But we live 6 hours away… how can this work?” I whisper out.

He smashes his lips to mine again, twirling and dipping me in the process.  I actually whimper on the smoothness of his moves.  He kisses me long and hard, then suddenly brings me up…. almost too fast because I seriously get light-headed.  He laughs as he straightens me out until I can get my own balance back. 

“I’m willing to work on the distance if you are baby girl…”   Ah hell…. The bedroom talk.  I swear I swoon, and by the damn smirk on his face, he sees that as well. 

All I can do at this point is nod my head, smiling like a goof.  He surprises me further by picking me up and twirling me around, hugging me to his body.  We both laugh as he sets me down, knowing how cheesy he just was.  He laces our fingers together, and kisses my cheek.

“So… does this mean you’re my boyfriend?” I ask cheekily.

“Yes ma’am.  You good with that?”  I nod enthusiastically, biting my bottom lip, and his smile just grows.

“Come on guys!! We need to go to the store before heading home!”

*

*

“Soooo… did you say yes?” Kesley whispers out.  Why is she whispering?  I don’t know.  The guys are on the other side of the store buying condoms, while we are getting some food for the weekend.  How sexist is that?  But nothing can deter the smile off my face!

“Yup!  We are officially dating, you b***h.  How could you not tell me?”

“And not be able to see you freeze at the restaurant?? Priceless.  Also, you did the same thing with me back on vacation.  At least this time, you’ll have a man on your hands!” she says proudly.

“Don’t you mean the both of us?  Tanner came as well…”

“That’s not the same.  Aidan came here with an objective- to ask you out, and he completed it.”

“Kels…. You and Tanner ar—"

“Nope!  We’re not going to talk about us!  This is about you and Aidan.”  She’s holding in something, and I hate that she doesn’t want talk about it.  She’s doing the whole side-eye gesture while feigning interested in a box of Little Debbie’s, so I guess I can drop it.  For Now.  

We put a couple of frozen meals in the basket, grab some chips and dip, and head to the produce section.  When we get to the end of the aisle, all we can hear is John from 1 talking loudly, and we chuckle to each other, praying for the poor bastard that stepped in his line.

“Didn’t I see you come in here with Kelsey Briggins?  She’s having s*x already?!”

Kelsey pales as I use every muscle I have from busting out laughing.  We turn to see Tanner’s face turn bright red and Aidan just looks so uncomfortable.

“We have a sale on this brand of condoms!  Do you want me to call Trisha to get you another box?!” 

“Nothankyousir!!”  Tanner rushes out.  Aidan takes a small step back with his box in his hands, and my giggling doesn’t go unnoticed.  John pops in head in our direction and I swear I hear Kelsey mumble an ‘oh no’.

“Hey Kelsey!!!  Go back and grab another box of,” he looks down to read, “Durex pleasure pack!  They’re buy one get one half off!” 

I burst out, not being able to help it anymore and Kelsey puts her head in her hands as everyone around us is looking between her and Tanner.  I wave to Tanner and Aidan as I turn our cart around. “I’ll make sure she goes back and get’s it!! Thanks John!”

“That just did not happen…”  Her body is squeezed so tight next to mine as we feel the judgmental stares from the customers.  I wrap my arm around her as we head to the condom aisle.

“Oh, it most definitely did.  I can’t wait to tell mom this one,” I laugh out.

She groans as we quickly get the condoms and head towards the boys in line.  Tanner looks like he’s ready to haul ass and I just saddle up next to Aidan.  Kelsey quickly gives John the box and I sneakily back me and Aidan to a different register. 

They wait for us at the door- Kelsey still looking embarrassed and Tanner sending glares my way.

“Guess we should’ve told you about the check-out process, huh?”  I say innocently.  Honestly, it’s their fault for doing that on their own.

“You think?!” he snaps.

I walk pass him, patting him on the shoulder as I do so, and link my arm with Kelsey’s.  “Welcome to Fairview!”

*

*

I wake up with a smile on my face.  Aidan’s arms feel just right wrapped around me.  His soft snores are blowing air on my forehead and I just snuggle closer to his chest. 

When we got back to our place last night, all of us indulged in a movie.  It only took Tanner and Kelsey 20 minutes to rush back to her room to enjoy ‘alone time’.  Aidan and I began making out like horny teenagers as well, but before I could even lift up his shirt, he stopped me, saying he wanted to make sure that it was more than s*x that he was looking for.  If I didn’t feel so needy, I would have found it very sweet, but I wanted him.  It didn’t take much convincing either.

After the first round of s*x, I told him that I was in this relationship too, but he should never turn down s*x from me.  This got him riled up and we began ‘playing’ again, which I enjoyed immensely.

I giggle to myself, thinking about how now I have a boyfriend.  I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!  And he was right.  The connection we share will be totally worth the distance.

“Morning beautiful,” he says sleepily.  I look up and his eyes are still closed.  Guess I woke him up.

“Morning.  Would you like some breakfast?”  I start playing with his chest hair, causing him to smile.

He pulls me up and turns me on my back and nestles his face between my girls.  “In a few minutes…. Let me enjoy this.”  I begin to stroke his hair and I hear his breath leveling out again, letting me know he went back to sleep.  I could get used to this- the snuggles. 

An hour later we both come out of my room to the smell of bacon.  I see a shirtless Tanner dancing to music while cooking on our stove and Kelsey humming to the songs while smearing butter on some toast.  They honestly look so homey together- I don’t know why they won’t make it official.

“Morning love birds.  Y’all want some of this bacon?”

We both say yes and Aidan has a seat at the table, pulling me onto his lap, while Kelsey shoves toast in our direction.  Everyone is settled into a comfortable silence and we all begin eating.  Tanner feeds Kelsey as she feeds him, while Aidan and I look at each other, laughing while agreeing that that is not our thing.

And just like our time when we first met, it was as if we’ve all known each other- comfortable enough to be ourselves.  I turn to kiss Aidan out of no where, and when he raises an eyebrow, I shake my head slightly and go back to eating.  He circles both arms around my waist and kisses my shoulder, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a morning this perfect.