Leo

The next couple of weeks consist of work, spending time with my family, and helping Aria finish the final touches on her aunt and uncle's surprise anniversary party. Working with Aria and her family has been a blast and I really enjoy talking to her parents; any nervousness I once had around them has now faded. It's funny to watch them interact. Sometimes, from the stories Mom has told me about her and Dad, Luke and Rosa make me wonder what my parents would have been like at this age. I wonder if they would have had as many inside jokes and relentlessly teased each other. I wonder if they would have joined Luke and Rosa in being the very definition of love and kindness and caring.

Because I, in a parallel universe, one where Dad never died, believe that could have been the case exactly.

Right now, Aria, Benn, Colson, and I are hanging the gold, black, and white streamers from the high-vaulted ceilings of Aunty Tenille's upgraded farmhouse. Before it became a popular venue for parties and weddings, it was a carrier house, one that had your typical barn-red siding and white trim. Now, after all the remodelling, the place looks even more fantastic than before. With the kitchen and multiple bedrooms gone, as well as the living room, it's spacious and painted with an off-white colour. The floors are oak and the grand hallway at the back leads to where the expansion was built, containing a medium-sized commercial kitchen for any caterers that come here. The opposing side of the hallway is where the bathrooms are. It's stunning, perfect for any type of event, but my favourite part out of everything is the golden sunlight seeping in from the floor-to-ceiling windows that give us an intense view of the green pasture, the mountains, and the forest.

When we're finished with the streamers, Aria and I head over to one of the long tables that have been set up for the display section. Atop the black tablecloth are piles of old photo books, a book to sign messages in, and a bare space that's being left open for any presents. Gold-coloured confetti has been sprinkled across the black surface as well.

"What are we doing next?" I ask Aria as she pulls two fabric bags from underneath the table. She sets them out on the table and begins extracting the contents: a glass jar, a roll of sparkly gold ribbon, and several bags of Hershey Kisses.

"We," Aria explains, adjusting the low dip in her black dress. I keep my eyes locked with hers, using my thoroughly tuned self-control to not look at her chest. Just because I want to, doesn't mean I have the right to. Even if she is my girlfriend. "Are going to count out however many Hershey Kisses are in these bags and put them in the jar. We're then going to write the number down and make a guessing game out of it for the guests." She pauses, nodding in affirmation when she's pleased with her dress, and then turns her attention back to the bags. From the final one, she pulls out a bottle of wine and a couple gift cards to some local companies. "These," she continues. "Will be the prizes for whoever guesses correctly or the closest."

I reach out to take the prizes from her so I can get a better look at them. Aria gives me the two gift cards, but holds the wine back. "You're underage," she teases, reaching up to ruffle my hair.

I roll my eyes. She's just as relentless as her parents with this teasing, and I'm about to make a comment when something behind us goes crashing to the floor. Aria and I both jump, turning around.

Benn and Colson are frantically trying to pick up one of the folded chairs, as well as several little plastic, gold-coloured gems that belong in the glass Mason jars in the middle of each table.

"Klutzes," Aria mutters.

"Hey," Benn frowns, pointing at his cousin. "It was an accident. Besides" — he gestures at the ladder we had been using to hang the streamers — "I can't move this thing on my own. My muscles are in agony from training this morning."

Aria leans close to me, so close I can feel her hot breath on my ear. Immediately, my arm finds its place around her waist, supporting her as she leans up on her tiptoes. "That's a lie. He was out drinking last night and he's hungover," she whispers.

"Whatever my cousin is telling you, Leo," Benn says. "Do not believe her. She likes to manipulate people."

I snort. Aria, manipulating people? As if. She pushes her body closer to mine. "You really don't believe that, do you?" she whispers.

"Of course not," I reply, my eyes still on the disaster before me. As I watch Benn and Colson clean up the mess they made, I sense something to be not necessarily off, but different. There's a different composition to the atmosphere between the two of them; almost like a comfortable tension. I'm just about to turn to Aria and tell her that we should get back to dealing with the chocolates when I see something that invokes a potential answer to my curiosity. When Benn reaches over to pick up one of the plastic gems, his hand collides with Colson's, who was reaching for the same one. Both of their hands stay there, skin-on-skin, for a few seconds too long to be accidental. Colson's face, when he retracts his hand and looks away, also turns a light shade of pink.

"Come on, Leo," Aria finally says, clearing her throat. "Let's get back to dealing with the chocolate." She shifts her attention to Benn. "Why don't you two go bring in the rest of the pop for the punch, yeah? Perhaps tending to your masculinity by hauling that stuff in, your bruised ego will be repaired, Benn, you klutz."

Benn flips Aria the bird. 

Colson gets to his feet and puts the little gems on the table. "Will do, Madden," he replies. He then jerks his head over his shoulder, in the direction of the entrance. "Come on Muscle Boy, let's go."

Benn gets to his feet and follows Colson out into the sunny summer weather, mumbling words of profanity at the world. I have to bite back a laugh, though I do admit, it has been difficult to get used to this teasing. My family teases quite a bit, but definitely not as much as the Madden-Stone family does. And, sometimes, it's hard to figure out if they're teasing or not. 

When they're gone, I turn to face Aria, the burning question I have replaying again and again through my head resting on my tongue. I find it wrong to ask about someone's sexuality. It's part of who they are and what they stand for and it's no one's right but their own to share that information with society. Besides, I'm not sure Aria would even be able to answer my question. I know she and Benn are close, almost as close as siblings, but if there really is something going on between Benn and Colson, I'm positive they'd want to keep it hush-hush. Society is getting better at accepting people for who they are, but there would still be an uproar in the hockey world. 

"I know that look on your face," Aria says as she grabs a bag of Hersey Kisses and rips the bag open. "You want to ask me a question, but you're afraid to."

A crease forms between my brows. "I'm not afraid to," I elaborate. "Just...conscious of the question I want to ask. It's personal and I don't think it's polite of me to ask."

Aria glances up at me from the chocolate she now has in her hand, the silver foil wrappings are forgotten on the table and in the midst of the disaster of chocolates, pens, and pieces of paper. She pops the chocolate in her mouth and chews thoughtfully before reaching for another one. As she's unwrapping it, she asks, "Does it have something to do with Benn and Colson?"

A chill goes down my spine. It's scary how observant and intuitive Aria can be. "Maybe."

She pops the chocolate in her mouth. "Sometimes," she says, "you're scarily good at making observations."

"Funny," I smile, grabbing chocolate for myself. "I was just thinking the same thing about you."

She chuckles, and then shakes her head, picking up the wrappers and tossing them into a nearby plastic bag. "If I'm guessing your question correctly, then the answer is definite yes."

I raise my eyebrows, shocked that I was right. Honestly, I was expecting Aria to backhand me for judging her cousin. "Benn and Colson are a couple?"

"Yes," Aria replies, a proud smile on her face. "I just found out the other night. Apparently, they've been seeing each other for a while now. They did a damn good job of keeping it secret."

Judging by her tone, I can sense that there's more to this story, so I stay silent.

After she's unwrapped another chocolate and popped it in her mouth, she continues to explain the details. "The other night, I went out with the team for some food and drinks. I really had to pee at one point, so, naturally, I went to the bathroom. That's when I saw Benn and Colson making out. They were literally sticking their tongues down each other's throats near the plants that decorated the hallway. Benn and I kind of got into a fight after that, but things are fine now. Really, it was just the shock that, after so many years of acting like siblings and best friends, he would keep a secret like that from me. Apparently, they've been seeing each other since the draft."

"Wow," I say, rubbing my chin. "I never would have thought there was chemistry between the two of them until today."

"That's probably because they've been a little more open about it now that Uncle Hainsey and Aunty Emyln know; Benn told them the same night he explained it to me and my mom. They're still secretive about it in public, but once the hockey season starts up again they're probably going to have to keep their relationship private." She pauses and smiles at me, a smudge of chocolate at the corner of her mouth. My fingers itch to wipe it away, but I hold back, waiting until she's done speaking. "They obviously trust you if they're getting all touchy-feely around you."

The corner of my mouth quirks up. "I like that," I say softly. "Being trusted."

"Well," she smiles, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You're a very trustworthy person, Leo."

Unable to resist being close to her, I close the space between us and reach up to cup her face. My thumb instantly rubs at the chocolate at the corner of her mouth. "You certainly love chocolate, don't you?"

Aria, whose cheeks have turned slightly pink, shrugs. "Yet another trait I inherited from my parents. My mom loves chocolate, too." Subtly, she shifts herself closer to me, pressing her chest against mine. I tip my head down, my eyes immediately finding hers. I love her eyes. They're a mixture of blue and green, each colour fighting for dominance. At this moment, I desperately want to kiss her, to take her on this table right here, right now. But I know we need to get the preparations for the party done as soon as possible. Guests are going to start arriving at five and then Emyln and Hainsey are going to be here half an hour later. We need to finish setting this table up, make the punch, and put out the snacks. 

So, rather than succumbing to my sexual and emotional desires, I press a quick kiss to her lips and tell her we should get a move on. Aria, who looks a little hot and bothered based on the way she's gnawing on her bottom lip, sighs and agrees with me. That being said, she doesn't fail to mention her plans for later. Plans that involve the two of us, a bed, and nothing but sheets covering our naked bodies. 

I roll my eyes as she turns to the chocolates, not failing to unwrap one more and pop it in her mouth before she gets to work on counting out the chocolates and putting them in the glass jar. While she's doing that, I begin to organize the pencils and guessing cards. At some point, Colson and Benn return, carrying the large packs of ginger ale and orange juice. 

And, as much as I want to congratulate them and tell them their secret is safe with me, I can't tear myself away from Aria. I want to be beside her for as long as I can because, just as I suspected from the beginning, each second that passes by means we're closer to the end of the summer. Deep within my gut, I can feel a pinch of fear. Aria and I still haven't discussed what's going to happen with our relationship when the time comes; when I have to leave for Dalhousie. I know we'll have to discuss this issue sooner than later, but I decide to let it go for now. Tonight is about unwinding and having some fun with this family that I'm going to have a hard time letting go of when I have to leave. 

*  *  *

To say that Emyln and Hainsey are surprised when they arrive is an understatement. I don't know how Rosa and a woman whose name is Valerie were able to trick them into thinking this get together was anything but an anniversary party, but they did. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that Emyln, Rosa, Hainsey, and Valerie all grew up together in Whistler. Past connections aside, Emyln and Hainsey's reactions were priceless. First came the looks of shock and then the tears. The second was the praise they gave Aria and Benn, as well as Colson and I. Though, we shook our heads and gave all the credit to the other two. We may have helped with the final touches, but they were the masterminds behind this perfect evening. 

Hours have now passed, resulting in half-empty bowls of chips, platters of veggies and fruits, and several different types of dips. Dinner was takeout Thai food; everyone chipped in twenty bucks and then, when it was delievered, we set it up like a buffet. That was polished off almost as fast as the cake that followed. Now, people have begun to part ways with the party and the music has gone from an upbeat country vibe to much slower country songs. 

"So," Aria says, leaning her head against my shoulder. She's kicked her heels off and has her feet resting on a chair across from her. "Do you think my aunt and uncle are enjoying this?"

I glance at the dancefloor, where Emyln and Hainsey are swaying back and forth to the slow beat. Both of them look content, lost in their own worlds. "Yeah," I smile, "I think they are. They weren't exaggerating when they said this was perfect, Aria. It really is."

"Well," she smiles. "I wouldn't have been able to do this without you."

"Please," I scoff. "I only helped with the finishing touches."

Aria shakes her head, her brown curls bracketing her face like two sets of quotation marks as she looks up at me. "Leo," she says softly. "I've always been competitive and strived to do my best, with my achievements and as a person. That being said, there were always moments where I would slack and sometimes give up. But ever since you came into my life, that's become nonexistent. When I'm with you, I want to be my best all the time. And it's not because I want to impress you or anything like that. It's because you are always at your best, respecting women and believing the concept of equality. Don't think I didn't notice you averting your eyes from the low dip in my dress earlier." She pauses, tracing the back of my hand with her sparkly nails. "What I'm trying to say, is that I want to put in just as much effort as you do. In our relationship, in my own personal goals. I love you, Leo."

I'm too shocked to say anything to Aria. Hearing this from her, from a woman who is the very definition of independence and headstrong and defiant...it's something I take to the heart. This world has been turned backwards in so many ways, from the exploitation of our environment to the labels women have to deal with, that her comment makes me happy. It's good to know that I'm doing something right. 

"I treat people how I want to be treated," I reply softly, running my fingers through her hair. "If everyone were to adapt to that, this world wouldn't be so bad."

She snuggles closer to me, adjusting her posture so her face is buried in the crook of my neck. When I feel her lips press against my warm skin, a shiver cascades down my spine. "I don't think they'd notice if we snuck out," she whispers. "Your bedroom is on the main floor, right? The rest are upstairs?"

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. There's no way we can do what we want to do when my mom, Aunty Tenille, and Kit are upstairs. 

Suddenly, an idea pops into my head. "Aunty Tenille and Kit have a trailer," I murmur. "It's all hooked up and stuff. If you, uh, you know, want to go there."

Aria quickly gets to her feet, a devilish grin on her face. "Why didn't you tell me about this trailer sooner?" she teases, leaning down to grab her heels. She then grabs my hand and tugs me to my feet. "Let's get a move on."

"You never asked," I shrug.

Her grin broadens. "Smartassery will get you nowhere, Leo Sangster."

I squint at her, a small smile on my lips, as she tugs me toward the back doors. "Are you sure? It seems to be getting me to the door just fine."

Aria ignores me, continuing to guide us down the hallway. We go past the bathrooms and the kitchen, and when we're at the end of the hallway, near the back door, she shoves me against the wall and kisses me hard on the lips. I push back, knowing damn well that I'm no match for her toned muscles. I push back because I know she likes it when I try; I know it fuels her. 

Just like I thought it would, my retaliation works; Aria hardens the kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck and tangling her fingers in my hair. It's nothing but fiery passion between the two of us. 

By the time we break apart from the kiss, we're both breathless and gasping for air. Aria's lips are swollen and pink, tempting. There's an uncomfortable situation in my pants. And the longer we stare at each other, the stronger the sexual tension becomes. 

So, for the first time in my life, I grab Aria's hand and lead her out the door to the trailer, taking the lead.