Unveiling Destiny

Chapter 9: Griffin

I pull up in front of Aria's house, marveling at how I've somehow missed that she's practically my neighbor. That would have been helpful information 4 weeks ago when I was doing everything I could to find her.

I turn to her, raising my eyebrows. "You live less than a half a mile from me."

"What? No way!"

I nod. "Yep. I'm right around the block, just three streets away."

Aria shakes her head, her hair dancing around her face like a golden curtain. "Wow. What a coincidence! You better not ding dong ditch us now that you know how close we live to you," she teases.

I smirk. "I wouldn't dream of it. You wouldn't be able to handle a prank war with me anyway. I always win."

Narrowing her eyes, she tosses her hair over her shoulder. "Is that a challenge?"

Leaning in closer, I whisper, "Do you want it to be?"

It's intoxicating the way her breath hitches when I invade her space, but I remind myself to take a chill pill. I can't have her running away again.

Instead of pulling away, though, her piercing blue eyes drop to my lips, and she leans in even closer. "Oh, you're so on."

I swear the space between us crackles with electricity, a cataclysmic energy swirling between us. Only a few inches separate our lips, and it's all I can do to not crash my mouth to hers. Smirking, as if she knows exactly what she's doing to me, she pulls away and pops the door handle, creating some much needed space between us.

She shimmies out of the seat, and I watch as her dress rides up, showing off more of her beautifully long and tanned legs. She hops to the asphalt below and looks back at me.

I mentally chastise myself. Get a grip, dude. You don't need her catching you shamelessly checking her out.

"Are you going to sit there all night?" she asks, quirking an eyebrow at me, her smirk on full display.

Yeah, she definitely caught me.

I roll my eyes at her, unable to come up with an intelligent response. Opening my door, I make my way around the truck to meet her. Turning, she leads me up the walkway to the front door, her perfume trailing behind her and enticing me to follow.

After a quick tour of the house, we decide to escape the sounds already coming from Katie's room and head out back. Grabbing a few beers each, we make our way outside, where Aria leads me over to a small gas fire pit, which she quickly turns on.

Turning to me, she asks "Do you mind if I run inside and change out of my dress quickly?"

I nod. "Of course, Princess. It's your house. Go change. Get comfortable."

She makes her way to another door I didn't notice before, sliding it open.

"I'll be right back," she says, slipping inside.

"I'll be here." I take a seat next to the fire, taking in the backyard.

It's a beautiful home with a beautiful yard, complete with fire pit, pool, and outdoor bar.

Before I know it, Aria re-emerges, gliding back over and perching in the chair next to me.

I take her in, somehow even more beautiful than before in a simple pair of cotton shorts and a tank top.

"You have a beautiful house, Aria," I say, honestly. "You and Katie have done a great job with it."

She snorts, grabbing a beer and curling her now bare feet underneath her.