Can't Say No Read online

  “On a few pieces?” She twirled a piece of chocolate around in her fingers. “I’d say around three to four hours before you crash.”

  Creed glanced at the clock on his cell phone screen. That wasn’t too bad. They still had four hours until midnight when they met the rest of the group at her restaurant. She’d be sobered up by then.

  “Thanks, Ruby.”

  “No, thank you. Give me your phone and I’ll give you my number to send you the pictures.”

  Creed handed her his phone as the beaded curtains concealing the dressing room rattled together.

  Aspen walked over and leaned her elbow on the counter eyeing up his cell phone in Ruby’s hand.

  “Are you two exchanging numbers? After what we just did in the change room?” He’d never seen a jealous side of Aspen before.

  Ruby’s fingers paused and her eyes rolled up over the screen to look at them. “What exactly did you do in my change room?”

  “Well, we didn’t leave on the outfits you gave.” Aspen cocked a daring eyebrow at Ruby and Ruby smiled at her.

  “Good for you two. Public sex is great for a relationship.” She handed Creed his phone. “I’ll send you the pics and you can both enjoy your photo shoot.”

  Aspen ran her fingers awkwardly through Creed’s hair. “Exactly. That’s all you’ll be sharing. He’s off limits to you.” She playfully slapped his cheek, leaving a little sting. “I’m gonna take a few more of these.”

  Creed caught a piece of bark before it landed in her mouth. “We’ll save these for later.” He tucked them away. “Thanks again for letting us use your window display.” He directed Aspen toward the door and gave her a little push.

  “The picture would’ve looked better without the black robes, but your choice,” Ruby called after them.

  Outside, Creed buttoned up Aspen’s jacket and pulled her scarf out of her bag.

  “What’s next?” she asked.

  “Coffee.”

  “Coffee? What kind of mission is that?”

  “It’s a get Aspen sober mission.”

  She laughed. “You’re so cute.” She grabbed his chin and moved it around before slapping his cheek again. “What’s the next mission?” Her hands dug into each of Creed’s pockets and he let her fish one out.

  Creed glanced at the clock on his cell phone. It was already after nine. That mission had taken them longer than he’d planned.

  Aspen dramatically cleared her throat. “Mission number three is: sing happy birthday to a stranger.” She lowered the paper. “Does it have to be the stranger’s birthday?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so.” At least this mission would be over and done quickly.

  “That’s easy.” She slammed the paper against his chest and walked by calling at—someone.

  Creed pulled out his phone and hit record as she belted out happy birthday to a man who’d stopped at a crosswalk and was old enough to be her father.

  He chuckled when the man seemed startled and looked at the woman hanging on his arm as if to say, “what the hell is going on.” Their awkward smiles and steps of retreat did not deter Aspen from her song. Passersby stopped to watch and soon Creed wasn’t the only one recording, but all went unnoticed to Aspen. He was pretty sure she’d regret her behavior in the morning.

  “Happy birthday, dear”—she paused and leaned forward—“What’s your name?”

  “Slate.”

  She straightened and resumed. “Slaaaaaaaate. Happy birthday to you. Yay!” She jumped and cheered. “How old are you?”

  The man reached out and touched Aspen’s hand. “Doll, are you drunk? Or high? Are you high, doll, because it ain’t my birthday.”

  The woman elbowed him in the side. “That was beautiful,” she said to Aspen. “Thank you.”

  The light changed and the couple started across the street and Creed heard him say, “She was out of tune. I think she’s high on drugs.”

  Aspen turned to Creed, oblivious to their continued conversation. “I knew it wasn’t his birthday,” she whispered. “What’s next?” She rubbed her hands together with anticipation.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper. “Try at least three different coffees at”—he glanced at the name of the coffee shop across the road—“Mrs. Calvert’s Bakery.”

  “You’re lying, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “At least you’re honest about it.” She looped her arm in his and let him take the lead. They had to wait for the light again and once it changed they rushed across the snow-covered road and into the warm bakery. A bell rang above their head again. The towns businesses all seemed to have an old fashioned bell mounted at the tops of doors that chimed like a secret town welcome. It wasn’t like that in the city. But lots of things were different in the city. When he’d been younger all the new fancy things in the city had excited him. But one thing had always been missing: his family and Aspen. Sure, he’d made new friends, but they’d been as materialistic as his ex-wife.

  Creed and Aspen waited now in line behind the couple who Aspen had sung to outside. When they stepped aside to wait for their order, Creed ordered two black coffees.

  “And can I get a carrot cake too.” Aspen tapped on the glass dessert display. “And a scone.”

  “Anything else?” the cashier asked.

  Creed shook his head as Aspen said, “Add on a couple of your oatmeal cookies.” She smiled and joined Creed at his side.

  He heard the man say, “See, she has the munchies.” His chuckle followed, so Creed wasn’t too worried.

  “And that’s everything?” the cashier asked again, eyeing Aspen up.

  “Yes.” Creed pulled out a couple bills and paid for their coffee and snacks. They waited by the side for their order before finding a small booth seat.

  Before hanging their lingerie purchases on the hook beside the booth, he set their drinks and snacks on the table. He slipped out of his coat and slid in the seat across from Aspen. She tossed her scarf and gloves on the seat beside her and unzipped her jacket.

  He watched her lift the steaming mug to her lips and lightly blow before taking a sip. Her caution made him wonder how much of the chocolate bark she’d actually eaten.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  Her quick, wide smile and the lazy way she nodded her head told him she’d eaten enough to get a good buzz going. “I’m good. How are you?”

  He chuckled. “Good.”

  She took a bite of her scone and wiped away the crumbs with a napkin. “What have you been doing since your injury?”

  He felt his smile falter. Talking about his injury felt raw even a year later. He would’ve played for another three years if his knee had let him.

  She covered her mouth. “Oops. Are you still not talking about it? Are we not allowed to talk about it? I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  His fingers toyed with the handle of his coffee mug, unable to keep them still. “I haven’t done much since my injury.”

  “What are your plans? Career wise? Anything?” She definitely talked more on chocolate bark.

  He had enough money that he didn’t have to work another day in his life, but he didn’t want to spend his days doing nothing.

  “Nothing solid. I didn’t ever want to do anything except soccer.”

  “Maybe a soccer coach,” she suggested.

  “Maybe I’ll try my hand at waiting tables. My sister has this friend. I’m sure she’d give me a job.”

  “She’d have to see your credentials first.”

  “Really?”

  Aspen nodded. “Yeah, it’s quite the fancy place.”

  “I did once serve the owner breakfast in bed.”

  Aspen’s cheeks flushed and she laughed. “That was such a long time ago. And it was a jar of peanut butter and a bag of bread with no knife.”

  Creed shrugged. “I was, like, nineteen, what did you expect?” It had been t
he night of Tess and Aspen’s prom. He’d flown home solo the night before to attend his sister’s graduation. The two girls had spent the day getting ready, but at the last minute Aspen had come down with a bug and couldn’t go. Her parents had been out of town—they’d never been around much—and Creed’s mother and father had plans to chaperone the prom. They’d left Creed at home to keep an eye on Aspen, but he’d already hooked up with a girl and had plans to go to prom. The bread and peanut butter had been his contribution to Aspen before he’d taken off with his date and spent the night dodging his parents spotting him.

  “I skipped the bread and ate the peanut butter straight out of the jar.”

  “That’s disgusting.”

  “Are you telling me that you’ve never tried it? Sticking your finger in and scooping out a mouthful to lick it off?” She dug one finger in an imaginary jar and pretended to lick peanut butter off her finger.

  “Never.”

  “You don’t know what you’re missing. But then again, if you’d stayed with me instead of bailing that night you would’ve been able to try it.”

  “Or I would’ve got a knife.”

  She shrugged. “Then maybe it’s best for me because that peanut butter scoop is my go-to when I’m feeling sick.”

  “I’ll take your word on it.”

  “It got me through missing my prom.” She pouted her lips. “That night sucked.”

  He remembered how bummed she’d been over missing prom. If he’d been a better guy back then, he would’ve hung out with her that night and helped her forget about prom. Instead, he went and enjoyed her prom.

  “I could use some peanut butter right now. The corner store should sell it.”

  Creed was sipping his coffee when she stood and, without another word, left the booth.

  “Shit.”

  He grabbed his coat and bags and stuffed the pockets with all the desserts she hadn’t even touched. He bent over to fetch her scarf and gloves before he chased her out of the bakery and into the street. She was heading north. He shrugged on his coat and picked up his pace.

  “I have a pocketful of treats you haven’t eaten yet,” he called to her.

  “Nothing compares to peanut butter.”

  He was sure that was the marijuana talking and it talked them all the way to the corner store where she purchased a small jar of peanut butter.

  Back outside, she hugged the peanut butter against her chest.

  “Back to the game. What’s next?”

  He dug between the paper-wrapped treats in his pocket for a paper.

  “Mission number four: playing on every piece of equipment at the local park.”

  “That’s perfect. We’ll eat the peanut butter there while reliving our childhood.”

  Chapter Nine

  THERE WERE A few parks in Willow Valley and Aspen decided one off the Main Street would be the least busy and visible. Private even, although the only reason she’d want private would be because she planned on lip locking with her sexy soccer player. She inwardly laughed at her own uncontrollable thoughts.

  The small park was a ten-minute walk away from the heart of town. In the summer there were beautiful garden paths that led to the pavilion behind the playground structure. But today, the lights glistened against the freshly fallen snow. The scene felt magical. She glanced up at Creed. All her mumblings aside, never in her wildest thoughts had she thought tonight she would be spending it alone with him.

  She reached out and touched his arm. “You’re it!” She took off running through the fresh snow.

  She heard the bags hit the ground and turned to see Creed chasing her. She laughed as she bee-lined it up the stairs of the playground and climbed up, but his hand touched her leg.

  “You’re it!” he shouted. They chased each other around for a few minutes before they started taking pictures for their mission. They took turns taking pictures of each other on the pieces of equipment, as they moved from the stairs, to the slide, down the fire pole, and to hang off the monkey bars.

  When they finished, she felt the haze of the chocolate bark had faded. They sat at the top of the equipment with their feet dangling over the edge. Aspen opened the peanut butter and held the jar out to him. “You first.”

  He shook his head. “After you.”

  She shrugged and dipped her fingers into the jar, scooping out a large fingerful. She held the jar out to him again. “Dig in. We’ll eat at the same time.”

  He looked reluctant but scooped a fingerful. They raised their hands and cheered their fingers together before they stuck the peanut butter in their mouths.

  “Yummy,” she purred.

  “Very yummy,” he murmured, barely comprehensible through the mouthful of peanut buttery deliciousness.

  Aspen waited until she’d swallowed the peanut butter. “What do you think?”

  His finger was still coated in gooey food. “I like it on toast.”

  “No!” She laughed. “Can’t say I didn’t try.”

  She looked back over the playground, her feet dangling off the ledge. Every time she indulged in her love for a fingerful of peanut butter, she recalled the first time she’d tried it and the prom she’d missed that night. Tess had come home after prom ecstatic with stories of the night. Aspen had been drowsy and trying not to vomit and listen quiet and sad she’d missed it.

  Creed nudged her side. “Where’d you go there?”

  “Prom night.” She tilted her head to look at him. “Or lack thereof.”

  He shrugged. “Prom night is no big deal. Dancing, trying to sneak in boos.”

  “You went to two.” He’d gone to his own and then he’d snuck into hers.

  He shrugged again. “It wasn’t any better the second time.”

  She shook her head. “Shut up. When you get that peanut butter cleaned off your finger, what’s the next mission of the night?”

  He handed her a paper with his clean hand while he licked the peanut butter off his finger. Her mouth watered to do it for him, but she wouldn’t.

  “Mission number five is...” She unfolded the second to last mission. “Go to the theater, buy tickets to one movie, but sit in on all shows playing for ten minutes each. That’s going to take us forever.”

  Creed grinned, looking proud of the mission. “It’s a good mission.”

  “That’s a lot of work,” Aspen said.

  “I wrote this mission.” Creed laughed. “My missions were not simple.”

  “And this one is time consuming. It’s ten now, and with seven shows playing, that’s their usual number, we’ll be there for over an hour.”

  He clapped his hands together. “I guess we better go then.”

  THE THEATER WAS PLAYING seven shows tonight and Aspen and Creed purchased tickets for the next show. Since their movie didn’t begin for thirty minutes, they shared a slice of pizza before buying a popcorn and drink combo and heading to their theater.

  “Where do we sit?” Creed asked.

  “Back row so we can sneak out easily.”

  They found two empty seats and when the movie started, Creed put on a timer for ten minutes.

  Aspen had just been getting into the comedy when Creed informed her it was time to move on.

  The next movie had already started and was packed full of couples. They had to search for two empty seats and landed smack-dab in the middle of the theater. Ten minutes later, they excused themselves on their way out. They jumped to six movies, ten minutes each and Aspen found herself adding the movies to her need to watch list. She hadn’t given them all her attention. It was hard walking in mid-way or three-quarter through the movie.

  They opened the door into the seventh theater when a theater attendant stopped them. “Can I see your ticket stub?” the worker asked.

  Creed pulled them out and handed them to the teenager. “Your movie is theater two and this is theater six.”

  Creed and Aspen played dumb. “Oh ...” They moved away from the doorway and glanced at the overhang to
find the number.

  “He’s right,” Aspen pointed at the red number. “Thank you”—she read his name tag—“Joshua.”

  She pulled Creed away and laughed all the way to their initial theater. They sat down in their original seats and she’d just gotten comfortable when the movie ended. The strips of lights above them turned as the credits rolled. The rustling sound of people putting on their jackets and collecting their garbage echoed in the theater.

  Aspen stayed in her seat, feeling a little worn out after theater hopping for an hour.

  Creed stayed seated too. “I guess we lost, huh?”

  “We were so close.” She fisted her hands and pumped the air.

  “One theater away.”

  She pointed her fists at him. “And then some crazy person made an impossible mission.”

  “It’s possible.”

  She let her hands drop to her lap and laughed. “That was fun. There are at least four of these movies I want to watch.”

  “Maybe one day I could take you out on a real date. Dinner and a movie.”

  “Do you want sober Aspen or chocolate bark Aspen’s answer?”

  “Sober Aspen.”

  She turned to look at the names still streaming on the screen. “She’s undecided.”

  “I can wait.”

  She’d bet his feet were already getting antsy to get back to the city.

  They sat in quiet as the screen went blank and the workers came in and started cleaning the theater.

  “Excuse me.” Aspen looked up and found Joshua hovering above them with his no-nonsense look.

  “We need you to leave so we can clean for the next show.”

  Aspen and Creed stood, giving each other snickering grins at the work they’d made this poor guy do. When they stepped into the hallway, they both stopped and glanced back in the theater finding Joshua too busy cleaning to pay attention to them.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Creed asked.

  “Absolutely.” As if reading each other’s minds, they both ran in the opposite direction of the exit and slipped into theater seven. Creed stole a picture of the screen completing their mission.