“It really is getting late,” I said. “I’ve got to work in a few short hours.” He gazed at me intently as though he could figure me out and unravel me with his eyes. I averted my gaze, afraid that if he looked at me like that long enough, he probably could.
“Alright.” He nodded. “Let’s get you home. To the Batmobile!”
We walked back to the car in comfortable silence, close enough that our arms touched every few steps. I caught Jax gazing over at me a few times, his hand at his side and his fingers so close to my own that I could have easily taken his hand in mine. I dug my own hands deep in my pockets to keep from doing exactly that. When we reached the car, he hit the fob and opened the door, tucking me safely inside before jogging around to the driver’s side.
Our conversation on the short drive to my house was light, though the way he kept looking over at me was anything but. I helped him navigate the backroads leading from Berry Hill to 12 South. A few moments later, he pulled the Batmobile to a stop in front of my house.
“Thank you for coming out with me tonight,” he said softly. “I had a good time.”
“Me too.” I smiled over at him. “Thanks for the donuts.”
“Donut mention it.” He laughed and waggled his eyebrows, clearly proud of himself.
I shook my head and giggled, reaching for the door.
“Wait.” Before I could protest, he hopped out and met me on the other side, helping me out of the car. “Let me walk you to your door.”
“Absolutely not,” I said adamantly.
“And why not?”
“Because that’s too date-y.”
“Is that a real word?”
“It is now,” I answered.
“Because, to be clear, this wasn’t a date?” His tone was joking, but his face told me he believed this was a date.
“Correct,” I replied.
“Right. I guess I’m going to have to watch you walk to your door like a creeper.”
“Oryou could get back in your car and drive away.”
“I can’t do that. What if an actual creeper comes along and you need me to save you?”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes and chuckled. “Good night, Jax.”
His eyes settled on me. All traces of laughter left his face, and in their place was a look that could only be described as tender. “Good night, Liv.”
I fished for my keys and phone as I started up the stone walkway. By the time I reached the door and had my key in the lock, my phone was ringing in my hand. Worry flashed through my mind for a split second until I saw the number that flickered across. “Hello, Jax,” I said, laughing to myself.
“Turn around.” I turned to see him leaned against the Batmobile like a modern-day James Dean, his phone to his ear. He looked like he belonged in a Lamborghini ad and not standing outside my house.
“Yeah?”
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?”
“Jax, I don’t—”
“Please.”
“Alright,” I conceded. I turned back to fiddle with the door, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder.
“It’s a non-date-y date.” I could hear his smile through the phone. “And Liv?”
“Yeah?” I asked. I opened the door, looking back at him over my shoulder.
