Dig

by L.A. Ferro

Great. I've wasted five minutes of lunchtime daydreaming about my craptastic life goals.

"I get that. If he's not the one, he's not the one. That's all there is to it. Life's too short to spend it wasting your time with someone who doesn't light you up inside."

"You know I don't give a shit, but you might regret that decision by the end of the night."

"I'll tell you what he looks like. He looks like sex on a fucking stick."

Holden: Took you long enough. Aria: You seem so sure I would message you back. Holden: Well, I know you've seen my pictures.

me, I now feel like it's because I’m destined to meet this girl. As lame as that may sound, I can’t shake it, and after I saw one picture, I fucking felt her in my bones.

She’s petite, which I find extremely attractive.

There will be no one-night stand with Aria Montgomery.

Fuck, I wish I could just feel something, because I’m tired of roaming. I wish I could figure out who I am, but I lost that privilege, and now I live for others.

I considered asking Coach to pull me out, but I also wanted to keep it together for Luke. He is my purpose, after all.

I drive a lifted red Ford F150. It’s a total country boy cliché truck, but I don’t give a shit. I love this truck.

I lost my best friend, myself, and maybe even more. Not sure if I need to bring anyone else into my orbit.

"Hey pretty girl," in a deep, smooth timbre, I swear my heart almost beats out of my chest.

hands that any woman would love wrapped around her throat. I’m not even into being choked but fuck if I wouldn’t let him try.

He could have his pick of anyone in this bar—man or woman—so there is no reason for me to play this game.

I was right. He thought I was going to be an easy hookup.

When I turn my head to see what’s so amusing, I find Holden propped up in the doorway with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"You know, when I asked if you’d take a walk with me earlier, I saw it playing out a lot differently in my head."

Holden’s energy flows off him in waves, and when I don’t let my mind twist the narrative, I can’t help but feel like it matches my own.

"Pretty girl, you’re going to have to stop looking at me like that."

"And don’t even start with any girly crap about being too heavy. I’m twice your size; I think I can handle it."

"Man, my ego is really starting to take a hit tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever had a girl try as hard to sidestep me as you have in the last hour. Tell me, Aria, what does a guy have to do to get your undivided attention?"

lifted red Ford truck

engine, I immediately hop out. I’m not running; really, I’m not. I just need air.

And tonight, I'm taking something for me.

she's four years younger than me, putting her right at twenty-one.

But at what point have I served my penance?

Maybe she's the pain meant to change me, because not seeing this through feels like a regret I couldn't live with.

I want her tears when she's sad, her smiles when she's happy, and that pretty mouth when she's feeling feisty.

"Holden, I'm sorry—" I bring my finger to her mouth before pulling back. "Whatever you're about to say, just don't. I don't want your excuses about how you're not looking for a relationship, or how we could never fit, and I sure as hell don't want you to apologize for what just happened because, no, you didn't read this wrong."

"You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you. I want to do a lot of things to you right now."

"Then why didn't you?"

"Just so we're crystal clear, I fucking want you."

Resting my forehead against hers, I say, "I don't think you're ready for your last first kiss, pretty girl."

I start walking backward, effectively cutting off her response. I'm either going to see her tomorrow, or I won't. She either feels me running through her veins the same way I feel her, or she doesn't. It's as simple as that. I put my cards on the table, and I'm playing for keeps.

Aria Montgomery will be my everything, or she will be nothing.

"That’s cool you don’t want to talk about it, but whoever put that smile on your face is probably a keeper, because I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen you smile like that."

Aria: You talk a big game for someone who couldn’t even kiss me earlier.

Holden: Pretty girl, you’re playing with fire. I'll crawl through that window right now and show you just how many things I can do to that sexy body that don't require my lips on yours.

The way his white pants stretch across his strong thighs should be a sin.

He’s got that typical boy-next-door vibe going on. The one where he’s going to be your best friend, the one you sneak out your window at night to hang out with and literally do nothing else. Then before you know it, he sneaks up on you and steals your heart.

Turning to Connor, I say, "Wait a minute. Your last name is Callahan. Do you happen to be related to Garrett and Colton Callahan?"

"Well, I work for a law firm Callahan Brothers & Associates based out of Chesterfield."

"No shit, small world. Yeah, Colton and Garrett are my uncles."

"Yeah, that’s kind of the point. Apparently, everyone needed a reminder about what’s mine."

"You want to take me somewhere, but you still won’t kiss me."

"Pretty girl, I want nothing more than to spread those delicious thighs and take a trip to heaven, but I had something else in mind."

I knew then that this was more, she was more, and I wanted it all.

"You’re so damn beautiful, Aria."

"This is all because of you, pretty girl so don’t do that. Don't for a second think that you are not what I want. I want you so bad it hurts."