Thunder growls in the distance, and lightning flashes through the swaying branches of the bigleaf maples just beyond the Ghost Office windows. The rain is still pouring down on the roof.

Totally fine with me. More than fine. I’d be happy if the storm kept us here forever. Curled up naked with Aiden is a very good place to be. I don’t even know how long we’ve been in the loft, at this point. It’s hard to tell whether the dark outside is still from the storm or if night has actually fallen, and I have no desire whatsoever to leave the bed and check my phone to find out.

“That feels nice,” Aiden says, closing his eyes. I’m dragging my fingernails in lazy circles through his stubble. I can’t seem to keep my hands off of him, now that I don’t have to. I’ve been busy appreciating the full geography of his body, touching my fingertips gently to the fine bones of his face, then trailing them down his stomach, swirling them over his thigh.

He seems content to sit back and let me explore. We’re both feeling silly and playful right now, and we keep lapsing into laughter over nothing.

I don’t particularly believe in making judgments or comparisons between the people I’ve been in bed with, but this, being with Aiden - this defies comparison, anyways. It’s not miles away, it’s lightyears. I can’t remember the last time I felt so deliciously relaxed and comfortable.

Maybe it’s a companion plant thing.

I never imagined, when I first showed Aiden the Ghost Office, that we would end up like this in the loft.

“Oh, no,” I mumble, and Aiden opens his eyes.

“Something wrong?”

“No, just - when I was talking to Noah about fixing the power, he called the Ghost Office our bang cabin, and now I’m realizing - we just made that true.”

Aiden laughs. I feel it rumble through his body in all the places I’m pressed against him, and suddenly I want to be even closer. I fold my thigh over him, wrap an arm around his chest, and press my nose to his throat. He trails his fingers up my back, sending a warm ripple of pleasure up my spine.

A few minutes pass in cozy quiet, and Aiden laughs again.

I raise my head. “What?”

“Just...” He hesitates, and fades off.

I nuzzle my nose into the curve of his neck. “Come on, you can tell me.”

Another silence, but this time shorter.

“You know that I was - I was hoping, even before I came back, that we could be together.” He speaks slowly, like he’s carefully considering each word.

It always makes my heart pound, to hear him talk about this. “Yeah?”

“Well - it’s gonna sound weird, but... I felt so sure that if by some fucking miracle it ever happened, we would be so good together.” Aiden gives me a gentle squeeze. “But the only thing I couldn’t know for certain was - whether we would have any sexual chemistry.” He shakes his head, grinning. “Guess I shouldn’t have worried about that.”

We both laugh again, and the smile stays on my face long after we stop. I like hearing him describe this as a miracle. Even if he's exaggerating, that is what it feels like, to me.

I want to ask him a question. We’re naked, cuddled up in the dark - this is the perfect kind of moment for sharing secrets. I decide to see if he’ll share a few more with me.

“So - you weren’t worried about the rest of our compatibility?” I ask. “Like, at all? What it would be like to talk to me, or…?”

“No. I already liked talking to you. A lot. And I got the feeling that you liked talking to me, too.”

“What?” I prop myself up on my elbow and stare at him. “But we never talked. Like, aside from…” Aside from when you were being super mean to me. I decide to leave that part off. It doesn’t need to be said. “We never really had a normal conversation.”

Aiden hesitates for a very long moment before he answers.

“We actually did, once.” He twists his fingers into my hair, takes a strand, gives it a gentle tug. “You probably don’t remember.”

“When?”

His blue eyes turn a little nervous, like he’s feeling shy, somehow, even though I’m currently curled up around his bare body. But he smiles, tracing his thumb along my jaw.

“You - you told me about how you got in trouble for eating a cookie in the library.”

Oh, my god. I actually think I know what he’s talking about.

“Wait. You mean that day at the beach?”

Aiden’s smile drops away; he blinks, clearly taken aback. “You remember?”

“Why is that so crazy? You remember it, too.”

“Yeah, but that’s because I-” He breaks off sharply, then swallows. “I just didn’t think that you would.”

I do, even though I haven’t thought about it for a long time.

“You were so different, that day," I tell him. "Like, I didn’t expect to find you sitting alone on a beach, and then when we talked, it was the only time you ever seemed… I don’t know. Genuine? It was so easy to talk to you. I think… Didn't you actually make me laugh?”

Aiden practically glows.

“You remember that?" he asks quietly, his whole face brightened by his smile. “That I made you laugh?"

I tap his nose. "I do."

Aiden lifts my fingers to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. My heart flutters, but I don't want to let us get too far off track.

“Wait - so, based on that conversation, you knew you liked talking to me? But - at the end-”

“I know." He cringes. "I’m sorry. And I know I’m stunningly late on that apology, but-”

I bend to kiss him, cutting him off.

“I accept your stunningly late apology,” I say, my lips still against his, and he smiles. “But will you tell me why? Why were you so different, that time?”

Aiden looks at me like there’s a lot he wants to say, but what he comes out with is:

“Because you… caught me with my guard down.”

I wait for him to elaborate. He doesn’t.

“Well, I’m so glad that I did.” I press my forehead to his. “If it played some kind of role in bringing you back to me.”

For some reason, this makes Aiden laugh. “Trust me, it did.”

Now that I’m thinking about it… did I really not hear Aiden’s real, huffing laugh until he moved back to Ketterbridge? Or, that day on the beach - didn't I make him laugh, too?

Suddenly I need to hear that laugh again.

“I still remember that cookie incident, by the way,” I tell Aiden.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The principal made me apologize to the librarian! It was mortifying. And Kasey was standing there laughing, taking pictures of me mid-apology at the library check out desk, which she then texted to me at random for like two weeks after.”

Another huffing laugh from Aiden. Sweet victory. My toes curl. Unable to resist, I bend over him, catch his lips with mine, catch the end of that perfect laugh in my mouth.

We were cozy and warm before, but now heat starts gathering between us. Aiden takes the back of my head with both hands, sinking his fingers into my hair, extending the kiss, sweeping his tongue over my bottom lip.

When I open my eyes, it’s to find Aiden looking up at me with obvious desire in his blue gaze. I smile, dragging the tip of my nose down the bridge of his.

“What we did earlier,” I murmur. “That wasn’t enough for you, was it?”

“I’m not sure I could ever get enough of that.” He strokes his knuckles down my cheek. “Not with you, anyways.”

My heart trips over a few beats, and I feel that scarlet blush crawling back into my cheeks. Aiden’s eyes flit right to it.

“Hmm,” he says, smirking. “Looks like it wasn’t enough for either of us. Feels like we should do it again, don’t you think?”

Aiden doesn’t need me to say anything; the answer is wildly obvious. He tugs on my wrist, pulling me to him, the look in his ocean eyes positively sinful.

I’m finding it harder and harder to recall how I ever didn’t want this man.

~~~~

I blink awake, then immediately squeeze my eyes shut again. Yesterday feels like a sweet, sexy dream, and I’m scared it’s going to turn out to be exactly that. A dream.

But I become aware of a brawny arm draped over my waist. A quiet, warm breath against the back of my neck. A knee, pressed into the crook of mine.

I smile to myself, and open my eyes. The rafters of the Ghost Office ceiling are above me, painted with shafts of pale, early morning sunlight.

I turn my head and look at Aiden. He’s still asleep. No nightmares, it looks like. His face is peaceful and relaxed. I can feel his pulse through the arm he has wrapped around me: calm and steady.

I never want to move - and I mean ever - but it occurs to me that Aiden has work today, and I need to check the time. I feel like it’s early, but how early?

My phone is downstairs, in my bag. I carefully work myself free from Aiden’s embrace and step over to the pile of our rain-soaked clothes. We probably should have hung these up last night.

It's all good. I wouldn't change a thing about yesterday.

My boxers are okay, just a little damp, so I pull them on. But Aiden’s shirt landed on top of mine, and both of them are still soggy. I leave them behind and pad down the stairs.

Last night, after Aiden realized that he was unwittingly making a floating glass sculpture, he used temperature currents to guide the shards back over the workbenches, where he let them all drop again. We'll have to clean it up later, but at least it's off the ground, and I can walk barefoot across the Ghost Office to find my phone.

Aiden’s crewneck is on the floor next to my bag. I touch my fingers to it; it’s warmer and drier than my t-shirt would have been. I pick it up and pull it on. It’s way too big on me, but it’s comfy, and it smells like Aiden. I press the fabric to my nose, breathing in that vetiver scent.

My phone informs me that Aiden has two hours before he needs to be at work. Since when do I get up so damn early? I don’t even feel drowsy, not at all. Maybe because it’s bright in here? The rainclouds have definitely moved on.

I slide up the Ghost Office door as quietly as I can, then step barefoot onto the pebbled beach.

My breath fogs in the morning chill. I walk slowly down to the riverbank and stand looking out over the water, hugging myself for warmth. The air is pure and crystalline, after the storm. I take long, deep breaths of it, turning everything from yesterday over in my mind.

I hear a movement behind me and look over my shoulder. Aiden is standing in the doorway of the Ghost Office. He’s wearing his jeans and his unlaced Timbs; his t-shirt is balled up in his hand, his glossy hair all messy. His eyes find me, and relief takes over his expression.

He pulls the shirt over his head as he strides towards me, and I notice that it’s dry, now.

Magic man, I think, as he comes to a stop at my side.

“Hi.” Aiden ruffles my hair.

I blush a little, despite my best effort to prevent it. “Hi.”

“Stole my sweater, huh?”

“Sorry, my t-shirt was all wet.”

“S’okay. I can dry off your stuff, though. When you want it back.”

“Cool. Thanks.”

It was so easy last night, when we were curled together in the golden glow of the fireflies, all barriers dropped away, the crowns of our heads tipped together while we talked. This morning... I don’t know. I’ve never done this with a best friend before, and I feel weirdly shy, anxious to see how he’s feeling after everything that happened.

After the things I said to him. I’ve never felt like this before.

“Aren’t you cold?” Aiden asks.

“I’m actually okay.”

“Okay.” He rubs his arm, and I think maybe he’s feeling awkward, too. He nibbles his lip, then shakes his head, a helpless look on his face. “God, what’s happening, right now?”

“I don’t know!” I admit, all in a rush. “I’m stressed out!”

“Yeah, I can tell.” Aiden smooths a thumb over my face. “Your cheeks are so red. You look like you got sunburned yesterday.”

Heliocentrism, I think, and let out a laugh that quickly turns to a groan. I drop my head forward, pressing my nose into his chest.

“I guess I’m - worried that maybe you feel weird about yesterday, or it’s weird between us now - or-”

Aiden puts a hand on my shoulder and pushes me back. He stares at me, wide-eyed, then lets out an incredulous laugh.

“You honestly think I regret anything about yesterday?”

“I don’t know! Maybe!”

“Oh. Shit.” Aiden presses a hand to his own face, looking sincerely, profoundly distressed.

My heart drops. “What?”

“Nothing. I just realized that I picked literally the dumbest person in the whole world to be my boyfriend.”

“Excuse me!” A startled laugh escapes me, and I smack my hand into his chest. “Don’t be an asshole!”

“No, seriously.” Aiden knocks his knuckles on my head. “I think we need to get you a surgeon. Figure out what’s going on in there. Sweep out some of the dust, at least.”

“Alright, okay!” My cheeks are even redder, now, but Aiden is grinning, and he drops his forehead to mine.

“Stupid.” The kiss he treats me to is gentle, sweet, affectionate. “Dumbass.”

“Just want you to know that I take back every nice thing I’ve ever said about you,” I tell him.

“As to whether it’s weird now,” Aiden continues, brushing right past that: “No.”

“Oh.” I blink at him, fighting back a smile. I didn’t expect him to just say it like it’s a straight-up fact, inarguable. For whatever reason, this helps me out a lot. “That’s a relief.”

“Good. Let’s get you some pants.”

I let Aiden lead me back into the Ghost Office, where I sit on the mattress and watch him get our clothes dry enough to wear again.

“We should get some more pillows,” I tell him. “And another blanket. For the bed up here.”

He looks up from what he’s doing, his blue eyes swirling with magic. “Really leaning into the bang cabin thing, huh?”

“Aiden!” I laugh. “Well - can we do this again without causing another massive explosion? If not, we kind of have to do it here. What would you propose, otherwise? Detonating Kent’s attic? That strikes you as a good idea, does it?”

He’s drifting his hand over my jeans, and water is steaming out of them, rising up around his fingers.

“You know…” he says, “I actually think we’re good.”

I freeze, staring at him.

“We’re good,” I repeat.

“Yeah.” Aiden’s light-filled eyes flick up to me, then quickly go back to what he’s doing. “Think I pretty much got it down yesterday. At least - for going as far as we did.”

“Oh.” I fall silent for a moment, then lean forward. “So, hey, are you gonna take a shower, before you go to work?”

He looks up, quirking an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“Cool. Do you have a towel I can borrow? Or did you only bring one back with you to Ketterbridge? You know, to save space in your-”

“My one backpack, yeah, yeah." Aiden laughs, and then seems to realize where I’m going with this. He stops, looking up at me again. “Oh. Yeah, I’ve got an extra towel. And a surprisingly roomy shower. You - wanna come over and use it?”

I nod at him, biting my lip. “Mhm.”

He breaks into a bright smile, then straightens up, tossing my jeans at me.

“Dry enough, I think,” he says. “Come on, let’s go.”

Aiden races down the stairs at a preposterous speed before I can so much as get my zipper up, and I burst out laughing, staggering after him, bending to grab my shirt.

Somehow, just like he said, it turns out I don’t feel weird at all.