Aaron and I sank in the shallow end of a temperature-controlled swimming pool connected to a lazy river and jacuzzi in the back of his stepfather's mega-sized mansion. We sipped big glasses of root beer and vanilla ice cream while we waited for our entire course of nachos his father ordered for us to share.

"So, what rides are you interested in at Carnaval de Los Muertos," He asked, his eyes squinting from the sun as he sucked down his float. The only thing that excited me was a good scare in the middle of a dark cornfield maze—the thrill I get out of watching thirteen-year-olds shit their pants when they find themselves face-to-face with a seven-foot demonic scarecrow brought me absolute joy.

"The corn maze," I muttered, stroking my feet against the bottom of the five-foot-four-inch pool as my face barely bobbed above the surface.

"Really?" He asked bluntly, scooping Ice cream into his mouth with his straw. Watching him tongue a straw clean made me wonder what Aaron was like in bed. He seemed fun.

"Really," I answered, mocking his tone.

"My father and some of his acting buddies are going to be in the maze," He spoke enthusiastically.

"Hmm, that's where big daddy Chanson gets his riches," I muttered. Who would have figured?

He scoffed. "You've never heard of my dad?" Aaron asked, digging the straw around the cup and finishing the last bit of vanilla cream at the bottom. Nope. A simple Google search would not refresh my memory of his father's major acting career. However, I watched little television since my mom couldn't afford all the fancy subscriptions the industry was pumping out.

"Wow," his mouth dropped in astonishment. "Not a big television fan?" He questioned.

"Nope, just can't afford to Netflix and chill or Hulu and do you, or whatever they call it..."

"I have to get your mom and you a tv with EVERYTHING," He said, throwing his big bucks in my face like I was a charity.

"I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not about to accept a charity payment like some poor, helpless..."

"I'm sorry," He sulked. "I didn't mean it that way. I can add you to my subscriptions for now?" I swished my arm through the water, flinging water his way.

He laughed, flinging water back at me, soaking my hair with a single splash.

"You ass," I muttered irritably. I started resenting Aaron now that I knew how privileged this boy was. It was annoying.

Boy Toy splashed his hand through the thick water and hit me with a torpedo splash again. I rolled my eyes, meeting his bulky arms, yanking his muscular torso from the poolside onto the wet concrete as he pulled out of the water effortlessly.

"I'm going to check on those nachos?" he said.

"Hey, Aarbud," Aaron's young brother called outside the house. My eyebrow rose, amused by the creativity of the nickname.

Aarbud?

Woof.

A dark-skinned curly-haired boy emerged from the house, his green-eyed fixed on me as I barely poked my head from above the surface.

"Lucas, get in the house," Aaron demanded. Lucas pouted, his eyes landing on the cracked pavement before drawing in my direction, wiggling his fingers in my direction like Aaron described his flirty little brothers. He was probably around twelve years old.

"Is she your girlfriend," the other boy chimed in, puckering his lips at his brother as Aaron pushed him into the house.

"Knock it off, Chandler," Aaron snapped at the boy. He was ambushed by his six brothers now. Two boys with water guns hosed Aaron off while the other boys raced to grab their weapons from the other room. I snorted at the sight, briefly catching Aaron's attention as his brothers sprayed him.

"You think this is funny?" He grimaced, water squirting directly at his face. With a hidden grin, I grabbed my root beer cup and sucked down the last root-beer-laced vanilla cream.

The boys emerged from the house, armed with water guns aimed at Aaron's chest. Aaron turned to the pool, wheels turning, and before I could scream at him for even thinking about splashing me, water sprung from the pool, knocking me in. Aaron landed in the middle of the five-foot deep end, and his brothers hopped in after him, each splashing with enough water. I felt like I hit the hundred-foot drop-off on the Jurassic World ride.

"AARON!" I screeched, spitting water from my mouth like a spout. The boys laughed, and Chandler finished the job, hosing me down with his water gun straight in the chest.

I struggled with pulling myself up from the side of the pool and sitting on the edge, catching my breath. "Since you boys so rudely interrupted Nacho's time, I'll go get them myself," I huffed, pushing to my feet.

Lucas looked at Aaron, bewildered, as his eyes landed on me again. "Is she on her lady thing?" He asked, watching the splotches of red run down my thigh.

Aaron's eyes widened in realization as he almost choked on a spit. "Hey, are you supposed to be in the pool on your... Uh..."

"I'm wearing a tampon, genius," I snapped. "Yes, I can be in a pool."

"Does that mean she's pregnant?" Aaron's five-year-old brother chimed in.

Aaron laughed, shaking his head at the ridiculous question. "No, buddy. She's not pregnant. She's just going through a girl thing..."

"What girl thing?" Another boy asked.

"Hey," Chandler chimed in. "Why don't we ask Dad when he comes home?" Chandler saved these boys from temporary scars as Aaron pulled them from the pool behind me. I raced into the house, and Aaron raced in with a towel to cover up the blood leaking down my leg as I dried off.

"You're a bleeder," Aaron said, gently wrapping the towel around my waist. I jumped in surprise but relaxed momentarily after feeling his warm, strong arms around my torso.

"Thanks," I said.

"Have a seat on the couch," He ordered. "I'll grab the nachos, and then we can watch whatever show you want to watch..." He said.

"I rolled my eyes, reluctantly not arguing with him, and sat down on the couch.

Minutes later, Aaron brought out two plates piled high with fried chicken wings and nachos. "What are we watching?" He asked, setting the plates on the mini table before the couch.

"Jaws!" I screeched enthusiastically. He shook his head, clearly disagreeing with me.

"I have six younger brothers in a pool. Do you think that's safe?"

"Fine," I sulked. "Saw?"

"How about something nice our future kids can watch?"

I snorted. "You think I'm getting pregnant with your kids after that poolside disaster?" He nodded.

"Anything is possible." He shrugged with a pout. "Besides, most of my brothers are adopted."

"Just a reminder," I said, popping a nacho in my mouth. "This isn't a date. This was an informal agreement to hang out." His eyebrow rose to testify.

"I beg to differ, Ms. Hart," He said, getting comfy by my side, but I hurried away.

"Fine, put on anything you want, but it better not be one of those sappy movies that make you cry..." I said.

Silently, he scrolled through the channels and put on... Drum roll, please... Sky High. A way to this man's heart was lots of strength because he seemed to have considerable amounts of it. He nearly crushed me while patting my shoulder before I pulled away in pain.

"How about that? A bunch of nobodies becoming somebodies?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me. "You like this one?" Honestly had no clue what this was, but...

"Sure," I said, popping another nacho in my mouth. The movie started, and as the title crossed the screen, we both reached for a chip loaded with cheese and meat chunks.

"You take it," He said.

"You touched it first," I replied. "It's yours." He picked up the chip and plopped it in his mouth, and I grabbed a wing, cleaning the bones with my teeth in seconds. He gawked at me in amusement, and I chewed and swallowed.

"Wow," he said. "Do you do that with all your meat?"

"Are you referring just to food, or..." Aaron and I both bit our tongues as the six boys raced into the room and jumped on the couch beside us.

"Cool! Sky High!" One shouted.

"And... I guess... The moment is over," I said.

"What moment," Aaron's lips widened into a cocky smirk. Jerkwarf.

"Were you two going to kiss?" Aaron's six-year-old brother asked.

"Watch the movie," Aaron instructed, pointing to the big screen.

"Lucas says you two are going to have lots of babies," Another one of Aaron's brothers said.

Aaron gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated. "I will talk to Lucas after our guest..." Aaron glanced my way, "Leaves." Grimy pool hands scooped into our nacho chip bowl, and suddenly, my appetite disappeared.

"You know what, Aaron?" I said, standing up from my semi-soaked seat. "I'll see you at the fair."

"I'll drive you home," he offered, standing beside me.

"I think that's a good idea," I replied. Aaron glared at Lucas.

"Me too," He said.

We hurried away from the couch, and he looked at me tiredly. "I'm sorry," He muttered.

"It's okay," I said. "It's not your fault."

"It is," He argued. "My dad put me in charge, and I should have warned you before inviting your over. Your clothes are in my room." He added. "I'll be right back." Aaron raced up the steps as I studied the pictures on the wall while I waited downstairs with six pairs of eyes on me in my two-piece and Aaron's towel still wrapped around my waist.

Aaron raced down the steps with my crop top, jean shorts, backpack, and a tampon.

"Why do you have tampons lying around?" I asked Aaron with a scrunched nose.

"My father keeps them for his lady friends," He air quoted and nervously looked away.

I dropped the towel and quickly slipped my jeans over my hips, forgetting I had a young audience in front of me. Aaron cleared his throat, and the boys turned their eyes back to the movie. Then, I slipped my shirt over my shoulders, my eyes trained on Aaron, who fidgeted with his car keys before he looked back at me.

"You ready to go?" He asked.

"Yep," I replied with a smile. Aaron tossed his keys in the air, smiling back at me before catching them. "Let's go," he ordered, pointing to the doorway and leading me out.