Sydney knew he couldn’t kiss her. She was sure they both wanted it, and it physically hurt to pull away, but it would cost too much. It would mean a mess for both of them. She couldn’t have him. She had to accept that.
After Aaron stepped back, Sydney took a breath, desperate to change the subject, and when a memory flitted through her mind, she grabbed hold of it and laughed.
He lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t know I was funny.”
“No. I know. I just remembered something from when we were kids.”
“Yeah?”
“You remember that time I was trying to change the faceplate on my bike? I must have been only eight or nine.”
“No, I don’t remember.”
“At first, I was determined to do it myself, but that was not going to happen. I couldn’t get the screws undone. You were shooting hoops in your driveway, so I walked my bike as close as I could without being obvious and made sure you could see how badly I was struggling.”
“That’s very manipulative of you.” Half his mouth lifted in a smile.
“I know, but I couldn’t ask my dad.”
“Did I help you?”
“You moped your way over, took the screwdriver out of my hand, and gave it a half-hearted turn.”
“So I did help.”
“It didn’t come loose. I was sorely disappointed in you because I always admired your muscles when I was a girl.”
“My fifteen-year-old muscles? Really?”
“You looked strong to me.”
“Don’t tell me you had a crush on me.”
“Of course I did. I couldn’t help it. You didn’t know?”
“I don’t think I paid much attention. So what happened then?”
“You slapped the screwdriver back in my hand and told me I was out of luck. Told me to give up. I said I wouldneverstop trying. Not in a million years. Not ever.”
“Ah yes, I do recall your tendency to hyperbolize.”
“You said I was wasting my time.”
“So I didn’t help you.”
“No, but thinking back to it, you probably had a fight with your dad or something. You were grumpy before I got to you.”
“That sounds like me. Did you ever get the plate changed?”
She smiled. “You really don’t remember.”
“Not even a little.”
“As you were walking back across the road, I yelled out to you that just because you thought it was too hard, didn’t mean I couldn’t do it.”
“Did you really?”
“Yeah. And you want to know what you did?”
