The Perfect Touchdown

“Well, with Leah here, the teams are uneven now,” Carter said, but Noah shook his head after counting everyone.

“If we split into groups of 5, the teams will be even again.”

We then split into two groups of 5 and I had no say over who went where. Noah seemed adamant about keeping me on his team, which meant Ryan joined their group with Leah and Carter, and I got the twins, Isabelle and Noah.

“Oh yay, we’re on the same team,” Leah said and threw herself at Aiden.

He smiled down at her and it tore at my heart. I don’t know what compelled me to speak after that. “I hope you can keep up.” I had meant for it to come off as a joke, but my tone was too serious.

Aiden frowned but thankfully Leah brushed it off like it was nothing and turned her attention back to Aiden. We reset our boards and started our games, but I couldn’t help noticing how much of a distraction and poor player Leah was.

I could tell it was taking everything in my brother not to freak out or scold her every time she rolled an obvious gutter ball. It was clear to everyone that she was pretending to throw the ball like an idiot to get Aiden’s help and attention, and failed to realize how serious they were both taking the game.

When you pair Aiden and Avery up for anything, it usually ends with them becoming quite competitive. Drunk bowling was no different.

But Aiden was humouring her the entire time and I couldn’t deny that it was starting to get to me. I felt irritated for no reason and turned to more alcohol to try and drown it out. Thankfully, Noah and Carter had snuck in more drinks in water bottles.

This was going to be a rough night.

~*~

Aiden

“Dude, she is killing me,” Avery whined about Leah for the 10th time. I didn’t blame him, the girl not only sucked at bowling, but she also sucked at pretending too. I was waiting for the first round of games to be done so I could take her to the side and remind her that I called off whatever it was we had.

“The game is almost over, then we can get Rylee back,” I said.

Carter nudged me. “It looks like she is enjoying herself over there.”

I looked over to see Rylee throw her head back as she laughed out loud with Noah, her entire face lit up. Something gnawed at my stomach and made me feel sick, I had to look away.

I tried to ignore their laughter, but it made it harder to focus on the game and I ended up playing like shit. Avery looked seconds away from tearing that smile right off Noah’s face. Instead, I continued to pound back the drinks and Avery slammed bowling balls down the aisle.

The presence of Leah now irritated me, and her constant fake stupidity was getting on my nerves. Why did girls think that was attractive? I wouldn’t want to date any dude you attracted with that behaviour. Rylee never once acted like she was dumb or ignorant just to get a guy's attention, she was always above that.

‘Why does my mind keep wandering to her? I’m going to do something stupid at this rate.’

I had a valid reason to warn her away from Jake, but there was no reason for her to stay away from Noah.

‘Ugh, what is wrong with me?’

“Jesus, man. You’re really putting them back. Are you doing okay?” Avery asked.

I tossed another can into the trash. “I’m just fine.”

“Bullshit, you didn’t even want to party with us in the first place. The only reason you’re here is because of my sister.”

My heart stopped. What the hell does he know?

“I just didn’t want to sit inside the house all alone if everyone else was going out,” I muttered.

Avery rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. Just don’t be getting any bright ideas just because you played the hero recently.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I scoffed.

“It means I’m not letting that happen again. My sister has plenty of time to date and she can find a good man after she graduates. I don’t care if she ends up hating me, I won’t ever get over the guilt of what happened to her.”

My own guilt hit me in the chest like a ton of bricks. If only he had known the real reason for my anger. Yeah, it might have to do with his sister, but does he truly know my feelings toward her? The ones I’ve been harbouring secretly for years?

He would rip my dick off and feed it to the alligators if he ever found out.

“Screw this,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to sit here and watch this any longer, I just wanted to retreat to my room. I grabbed my jacket and went to exchange my shoes, but Leah followed me.

“Where are you going? I just got here,” she whined.

“So? You’re more than welcome to stay.”

She pouted. “I only came here for you. Why are you acting like this?”

“Like what?” I sighed. “I didn’t ask you to come here, you showed up on your own so go hang out with the others, I want to go home.”

“You’ve been drinking too much, Aiden. You shouldn’t drive anywhere.”

She was right, but I didn’t care. I’d walk home before I sat here another second and listened to the sound of Rylee laughing.

I exchanged my shoes and shook Leah off. I made it as far as the parking lot before the voice of both my nightmares and dreams called me back.

“Where in the hell do you think you’re going? You’re wasted, Aiden!” Rylee yelled and ran after me. “Why are you leaving all of a sudden? I thought we were having a good time.”

“You were having a great time, clearly. So, go back inside and continue having a great time, don’t worry about me.” I turned away.

She grabbed my arm and spun me back. “I am going to worry about it, I’m not letting you get behind that wheel.”

“I’ll walk home then! What do you care?”

“Do you really have to ask me that? Of course, I care. I’ve always cared, and sometimes I’ve cared way too much. You’re the one who has done nothing but sabotage every relationship I try to get into.”

I laughed loudly. “Sabotage? Is that what you would call it after what I did for you? That asshole was going to rape you without a second thought! If I wasn’t already on my way there, what do you think would’ve happened, Rylee?” I cried; my anger blinded me.

Her eyes widened as if she had been suppressing what happened and hadn’t come to terms with any of it until now. In a split second, she exploded and started screaming incoherent things while she tried to swing at me. I caught her hands and tried to get her to calm down, but she wouldn’t listen.

I did the only thing that had been clouding my mind for weeks – I kissed her.

It was the sweetest thing I had ever experienced, and I never wanted it to stop. Her lips were smooth and slippery, I fought the urge to slide my tongue over them. I was so lost in the moment I didn’t realize how much I clung to her until I felt her back hit the side of my truck and the cool handle hit my knuckles.

I moved her forward and opened the door, then hoisted her up onto the seat so we were almost at eye level. She had wasted no time responding and getting lost in the heated make-out session either, her hands clung to my shirt and hair.

The alcohol coursed through me, and the liquid courage pushed me further into the truck until I found myself on top of her, thankful that I had put the middle seat up before I got there. It was Rylee who made the first move by putting her hand up my shirt and nearly shocked me.

I could feel the lust emanating from her, but this wasn’t the place nor the time when I wanted this to happen. Nothing was stopping her brother or anyone else from walking out and seeing us in there, and that was the last thing I wanted right now.

“Ry, hold on,” I said and pushed her back.

“W-what? Do you…do you not want –”

I cut her off with another deep kiss. “I couldn’t want anything more, and as hot as it would be to fuck you in my truck, this isn’t how I wanted the first time with you to go.”

Her eyes widened and I realized too late that I indirectly admitted my years-long feelings to her.

“So, what should we do? Neither of us can drive,” she asked.

“We’ll just have to wait until we all head home.”

She gave me a confused look. “Why?”

I kissed her again and bit her bottom lip.

“Because you’ll be spending the night in my bed.”