I returned and sat next to her on the couch, passing her a fountain soda in a glass from the bar downstairs.
“Oh,” she said, accepting it. “Thank you.”
Her gaze found the bowl of popcorn, glistening with butter, on the coffee table in front of her. Then the packages of Cookie Dough Bites stacked neatly beside it.
Wide brown eyes met mine as her face did something complicated. Confusion wrinkled her brow, and her pink lips parted while a wondering smile fought to break free. I could see it in her expression. She was pleased but trying not to get her hopes up. Like maybe it was a coincidence that I’d arranged her favorite snacks for an impromptu movie night, and she didn’t want to be wrong in case that wasn’t the case.
“I got us some snacks,” I said simply.
Bonnie watched me for another moment before her tentative smile finally wiggled out from beneath her uncertainty. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Well, you do have to share with me.”
Her grin widened. “I’ll think about it.”
I laughed, placing my own soda down on the table.
I could feel Bonnie’s gaze on the side of my face before she eventually turned forward, her small hand depositing her glass beside mine.
I’d never seen this television series before. Bonnie explained a few of the running jokes, and I found myself enjoying it. Mostly, I found myself watching her as she smiled and laughed at whatever was happening on screen.
After two episodes, I felt Bonnie relax into me as she tilted the popcorn bowl in my direction. I leaned in, too, content to have her warm weight against me, the skin of her arm soft and smooth next to mine.
I watched her eyes dance. And the next time a joke landed and her lips formed a bright smile, I snagged her hand in mine before she could cover her mouth.
Two more episodes went by, Bonnie’s quiet laughter easing the tension from her body.
I didn’t want her stuck in her own head or worried about what came next. I couldn’t do anything about her own expectations, but I could damn well make sure she wasn’t anxious over mine. She was in charge here. Whatever happened tonight would be because she wanted it to.
My worries hadn’t gone anywhere. Those red flags were still waving. But Bonnie was here. She’d shown up, and sometimes that first step was the most important one to take.
Eventually, she put her snacks back on the table and curled into my side. With her fingers wrapped around mine, her head dipped to rest on my shoulder.
It was another half an episode before I realized her laughter had trailed off. When I looked down, I caught the dark fan of her eyelashes against the tops of her cheeks and the steady rise and fall of her chest. And I smiled at the sight of Bonnie fast asleep, comfortable and relaxed in my arms.
Bonnie
“Clyde,” a voice whispered somewhere near my ear.
I shivered at the sound, like something out of a dream.
A touch traced from my inner wrist to the center of my palm before circling slowly and then repeating itself.
I blinked my bleary eyes into a dimly lit room. The only light was coming from the kitchen behind us. Glasses and the remnants of our popcorn and candy were still visible on the coffee table from my tilted view.
Realization dawned and mortification gripped me.
I sucked in a sharp breath as I straightened away from the man at my side. A man who looked quietly amused.
Jack pivoted to face me, his arm bent, elbow balanced on the back of the couch as he watched me. “Sorry, it was getting pretty late, and I wasn’t sure what time you needed to be up for school tomorrow.”
I prayed silently that it was dark enough that Jack wouldn’t be able to make out the fierce blush I felt on my cheeks. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen asleep. I’d practically invited myself overfor sex—I mentally hissed—and then passed out on the man. And after Jack had been so patient and accommodating. He’d even watched one of my favorite shows with me and gotten my favorite snacks.
I could still feel the phantom touch of his thumb circling the back of my hand.
“Hey,” he said softly.
My attention jerked to his, as I paddled upstream against my humiliation and embarrassment.
