AllFreeNovel
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Is she feeling the same thing I am? I hope so. At least, I think I hope so. Even though it makes another part of my life ridiculously complicated.
For the first time ever, I find myself wishing everyone would leave my house. After what feels like forever, the only people left are my family, Jocelyn, Abby, and Payton. Since Jocelyn and Abby are most likely staying over, I know this is as empty as the house is going to get tonight.
“Do you guys want to watch a shitty Lifetime movie with us?” Morgan asks as she throws herself down on a recliner just a few feet from where Jocelyn is laying on the floor.
I want to say no, but I’m honestly not sure what else to do with Payton. I look over toward her. “What do you think? You’re not going to get too scared, are you?”
“Of Lifetime?” Payton scoffs. “I love to watch actual scary movies. Lifetime is a joke.”
“We can watch something else if you want.” I’m weirdly afraid that Payton will decide to leave if we don’t do what she wants.
Payton shakes her head. “I didn’t say I don’t like Lifetime. I just said it’s a joke. But who doesn’t love a C-grade Lifetime movie? Sounds like the perfect Friday night to me.”
The perfect Friday night to me is any Friday night with you. Shit. Don’t say that out loud, Marjorie.
I don’t get a chance anyway because Jocelyn starts to speak before I can. “You like scary movies? Which ones are your favorites? I love scary stuff, but there’s only a few people I can get to watch it with me.”
Jocelyn and Payton launch into a conversation about movies I haven’t even heard of as Morgan and I pick out a Lifetime movie.
Morgan looks toward Payton who is still standing and gestures toward the couch. “You two can have the couch.”
I hope Payton doesn’t realize the way Morgan smirks at me after she says it. If she does, she doesn’t show it, and instead sits down on one edge of the couch. I contemplate whether to sit on the other edge or closer to her then decide on the middle. Jocelyn looks from me to Payton to Morgan with furrowed eyebrows. What’s that all about?
When the movie starts, I try to keep my eyes on the screen but keep sneaking peeks at Payton instead. She’s wearing the sweatshirt I let her borrow before Christmas, and I think, not for the first time, how perfect it is on her. I notice her shiver and immediately jump up from the couch and go to the closet where we keep extra blankets.
I toss it at her as I sit back down. When she gives me a questioning look, I shrug. “You looked cold.”
Goosebumps pop onto my arms in response to the way she’s looking at me, and Payton must notice because she stares right at them. “Are you cold too?”
I don’t want to admit that the goosebumps have nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with her, so I nod.
She puts the blanket over herself but holds up the end of it. “We… umm… we can share… if… if you want.” When I don’t immediately reply, she shakes her head. “Or you can just have it. I’ll be okay. I promise.”
“No,” I say much louder than I mean to, grabbing the attention of both Jocelyn and Morgan. “Sharing sounds great.”
Morgan looks back at the TV screen, but Jocelyn continues to stare at us. That same look from before is on her face, but when I try to give her a questioning look right back, she moves her eyes to the TV. Weird.
When I sit under the blanket with Payton, we’re so close that our legs touch. We’re both wearing sweatpants, but the contact still sends a chill through my whole body. I refuse to look over at Payton because I’m afraid how much stronger these feelings will get, but I also can’t pay any attention to the movie.
I sit there in a complete stupor until the credits start to run. When I finally sneak a peek at Payton, I notice that her eyes are closed and mouth is hanging open, with the slightest bit of drool coming out. I must really be losing it because I think it’s the cutest damn thing in the entire world. The last thing I want to do is wake her up, but I know I don’t have a choice, so I gently shake her.
Payton startles awake and quickly wipes the drool from her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”
“Do you want to stay over? You probably shouldn’t drive if you’re this tired.” As soon as my words are out, I panic. I have sleepovers with friends all the time and that’s all Payton is. She’s just a friend. A friend that I have feelings for but who is most likely straight. Even if I swear there’s a connection between us. The same connection I feel with my mystery girl who is very much gay, but who I very much do not know. I’m so screwed.
“I don’t want to intrude. I have to work tomorrow.” The way Payton yawns at the end of her sentence confirms that she shouldn’t be driving.
“It’s fine. Abby is in the guest room, but you can sleep in my room, and I’ll take the couch.”
“I can take the couch. I’m already here.”
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. You’ll take my bed. No arguing. Plus, I work at the same time as you tomorrow. We can get breakfast before we go. We’re closer to the ice cream shop here anyway. If you need to borrow a visor or polo, mine should fit you.” It takes everything in me not to check her out while I talk about our clothing size. I have no question my polo will fit her. I don’t actually need to look.
“That’s really sweet of you, but I have extra stuff in my work locker. Are you sure about your room? Because I’m seriously okay on the couch.”
“What did I say?” I point a finger at her in mock lecture. “No arguing.”
Payton laughs and grabs my hand to push it away but freezes when I stare at our hands that are now connected. My heart is pounding in my chest so hard I can feel it in my ears. I hope Payton doesn’t hear it. We both stand like this, completely frozen in time, until I finally clear my throat and she pulls her hand away. I miss her touch almost immediately. I need a cold shower.
