I remembered his brother's ability to fake us out during our epic battles of practical jokes. "That doesn't surprise me a bit. Gives a new meaning to the last name, Player."

"I guess you’re right," he laughed.

"I heard Travis went into the Army some time back. How's he doing?"

"I think pretty good,” Aiden said.

"That is fantastic,” I said.

We talked for a while longer and when I hung up the phone I realized that I had relaxed my tone with him without realizing it. Every time I talked to him I felt as if we were those same kids, so easy and comfortable with each other. Taking away the imminent pressure of the case, made me feel a bit confused as to whether or not I should be so stringent on my resolve to avoid going out with Aiden.

Chapter Four

By the time Friday rolled around I felt quite ready for a girl’s night out. We had just received confirmation on the new court date being in a week and a half since a few days had already passed by since our previous court session, and the senior partners had all been scrambling to find work for us.

Kelsey had decided to forgo inviting her actor friends, since she and I hadn’t had much time to hang out since starting at the firm.

I didn’t think much about what to wear and just threw on a cream colored sun dress and a pair of sandals. Kelsey looked spectacular as always in her forest green sleeveless blouse, and trendy cutoff jeans.

We thought about going to see the romantic comedy, but ended up discovering that we both really wanted to see the sci-fi blockbuster. We had both suggested the other movie out of politeness for the other, and we laughed about it as we pulled up to the movie theater.

Much to my surprise I saw just beyond the large group of people entering the lobby, a group of familiar faces. I recognized Aiden of course, and though I hadn’t seen his brothers in years I knew their faces instantly. A couple of girls that I didn’t immediately recognize hung on the arm of each brother.

"Are you kidding me?" I exclaimed as we exited the car narrowing my eyes towards them.

"What's wrong?" Kelsey asked.

"That's Aiden,” I said while gesturing to the group through the glass. "I mentioned that you and I were going to the movies. I wonder if he's stalking me."

"Oh my god,” Kelsey said. "Just relax. Now, which one is Aiden? I don’t remember what he even looked like back in the day.”

"The one at the back of the line, in the blue shirt."

For the first time since we had reconnected I saw that he wore a short sleeved casual shirt, fully exposing his tribal tattoos on his forearm.

Kelsey turned towards me and raised her eyebrow.

"And you’re turning him down?" she asked, with an incredulous tone. "Um... why?"

"You know why,” I said without further comment.

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m still going to the movie,” she informed me, hopping out of the car.

I guess I was too. At least Kelsey would be there for moral support. I jumped out of the car and quickly caught up to her.

We stepped inside and waited in line to gather our tickets. We had pre-ordered so we didn’t have to wait long, and once we had them in hand we headed over to the counter for refreshments.

"Well, it looks like you’re stocking me,” Aiden said as Kelsey and I neared his group.

He smiled at me and I tried to ignore the tingle along my spine.

"Shocking,” I mumbled.

I turned to greet his brothers. The girl with Travis I then recognized as the same that he had dated in high school. They had both been a few grades ahead of us. We greeted each other, and I was introduced to Logan’s date also, someone I had never met before.

"Why don't we all sit together?" Aiden suggested after we all loaded our arms with huge buckets of popcorn and soda's.

I had always been partial the chocolate malt candies and had a box stashed in my purse.

"Actually Kelsey and I were—” I began, only to be interrupted.

"That would be great!" Kelsey said. "Almost like a group date."

I glared at her and she flashed me a mischievous grin as we followed the group into the darkened theater. In all the shuffling for seats somehow the brothers each managed to get next to their dates, but since Aiden was the fifth wheel, he landed on the end. Of course Kelsey insisted on positioning me next to him. I glared at her once more as we all got settled.

"What?" she said while raising her eyebrow innocently as she nibbled on her popcorn. "I have to sit on the end in case I have to pee. You know how sensitive my bladder is."

I rolled my eyes and faced the screen.

"You look beautiful tonight," Aiden whispered in my ear as the previews began.

"You aren't supposed to talk during the movie,” I whispered back.

"The movie hasn't started yet,” he said.

"Shh," I replied.

We all settled in as the opening credits rolled and the movie started in earnest. I couldn’t help but find myself incredibly aware of his presence next to me even as I tried to stay engulfed in the plot.

His knee hovered about an inch away from mine, and his elbow grazed against my forearms as we had settled on the armrest. He offered me some of his popcorn, which I accepted laughing to myself about the irony of our situation.

Despite my protest we had still wound up together in a date like scenario, watching a movie and sharing popcorn in a darkened room. Out of my periphery I noticed that he sometimes glanced in my direction if something significant had happened on the screen, as if quietly assessing my reaction.

The sight of his tattooed arm so close to mine distracted me on some level. I had never seen him dressed casually since we had reconnected and I decided that I much preferred him in a suit, mainly because more of his skin was covered and therefore less distracting.

WAY less distracting.

His presence did nothing to calm my confusion. I had spent the last weeks building my resolve to bury the attraction that I felt for him and now it was all rushing back in.

I needed to bury it again.

I wondered if my body language betrayed my inner turmoil, because about two thirds of the way through the movie, having endured the achingly close presence of Aiden next to me and resolved not to do anything about it, he reached over and grazed the side of my bare knee with the back of his fingers.

I froze, mesmerized by his touch which had sent shivers through my entire being.

I took a sharp intake of breath that I hoped he didn’t notice. If he did he made no indication.

Luckily he didn’t but throughout the movie his fingers would continue to softly graze my knee.

Thankfully the movie finally ended a little while later, and Kelsey and I exited the row. Once out in the lobby, Aiden caught up with me, touching his hand on my elbow to get my attention.

I needed him to stop touching me.

It only made me more tempted.

"I wanted to let you know, I was able to reschedule the reservations since you couldn’t go out with me tonight like I had asked you to the other night,” he said speaking as matter of fact.

So now we were back to reservations.

"Okay," I answered.

I actually thought I had gotten out of this when I couldn’t reschedule the first time and hadn’t thought much about it since, but the butterflies in my stomach betrayed my feelings of hesitation.

"If you’re still up for it," he said.

"Are you trying to give me an out?" I asked.

"Of course not," he said. "If you wanted out, you'd find a way."

He vanished back with his brothers and their girlfriends.