When did he get this hot?
How did I not notice?
Or did I notice and just… refuse to look?
Now it’s like standing too close to a bonfire. Heat everywhere.
My brain short-circuits.
He leans one arm past me, reaching into the cabinet above my head. His chest almost brushes my shoulder.
“Easy,” he says softly. “Didn’t mean to ambush you.”
My heart is pounding so loud I’m sure he can hear it.
“You know,” he adds, voice low and almost amused, “Sage thinks you have a crush on me.”
My stomach drops straight through the floor.
“She thinks you’re into me.”
He reaches past me for a glass.
“For her,” he adds, nodding toward the counter. “Vodka tonic.”
Right.
Of course.
My cheeks burn anyway.
I focus very hard on the cutting board. On the lime. On literally anything else.
I’m losing it. I’m actually losing it.
This is just because Sean and I haven’t seen each other much. That’s all. Hormones. Loneliness. Stupidity. That’s it.
“I told her you’re like a big brother,” I blurt. “That I look up to you. That I’d never— I mean— obviously?—”
I sound insane.
He watches me for a second.
Then he smiles. Soft. Familiar.
“I know, Beth,” he says quietly. “That’s what I told her.”
Before I can react, he leans in and presses the lightest kiss to my cheek. Nothing. Friendly. Innocent.
His fingers brush a strand of hair behind my ear.
That’s it.
That’s all.
And my entire body lights up like someone flipped a switch.
Goosebumps ripple down my arms.
