“Yeah,” he admits. “Calls that stick with you. People you wish you could’ve helped more than you did.” He shrugs, but it’s the kind of shrug people use when they try to make it seem like things aren’t as hard or bad as they are. I know, because I’ve done it plenty in the last year. “It’s part of the job. Doesn’t make it easier, but… you learn to handle it, lean on your crew, talk it out when you need to. Overall, I’m pretty lucky, honestly. I have a stable family, annoying siblings, and every child’s dream career. Very boring guy over here.”
“Boring is kind of refreshing.”
“You say that now,” he teases, leaning in. “Wait until my routine literally bores you to death. It’s why I moved here in the first place, for a change of pace. I’m thirty-two going on sixty.”
“I think there’s a lot we could do that isn’t boring,” I say, smiling, fully aware of how that sounds.
“Is that so?” He smirks.
“I’m still thinking about that kiss. But I think Spider-Man got it wrong. Upside down kisses are hot, sure, but I couldn’t kiss you properly like that.”
He doesn’t break eye contact. “Well, I’m kind of hoping I get to do it again later.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Me too.”
He grins. “Good. Then I’d say this date is going very, very well.”
CHAPTER 04: ELI
When the server drops the check on the table, I automatically reach for it. We quickly looked at the menu and ordered our meals to go.
“Nope,” Collin says, hand darting out to intercept it.
I shake my head. “Let me.”
He levels me with a look. “Let’s at least split it,” he insists.
“Fine, have it your way,” I joke.
The server returns for the check with a handheld payment processor. After we tap our cards to pay, we get up and slide out of the booth. We walk toward the door, our hands brushing and neither of us pulling away. He just glances up at me with that soft, almost shy look he’s been giving me all night.
When we make it outside, I know I don’t want the night to be over, and I can only hope he feels the same way. When we reach our cars, Collin stops and turns to face me. He leans back against the door, cheeks a little pink.
“Well,” he says softly. “Tonight was… something.”
“Something,” I echo, stepping in closer, smiling. “In the best possible way?”
He laughs under his breath, but it sounds nervous. “Yeah, very much so.”
I take one more step closer to him, crowding him into his car. I’m close enough that the space between us feels like nothing, and I can even hear the nervous hitch in his breath.
“So you think Spider-Man got it wrong?” I murmur.
His eyes flick to my mouth. “Pretty sure, but I’m happy to confirm it.”
That’s all the permission I need. I lift a hand to his jaw, and he melts enough that I can easily pull him in. His mouth parts under mine. He tilts his head, pulling me closer by the front of my shirt, and the sound he makes goes straight through me.
The kiss on camera before was great, more than enough for me to confirm the physical connection we obviously have, but this is so much better. Collin’s lips moving against mine now feel like they’re lighting my entire body on fire as we both enthusiastically deepen the kiss, attempting to pull each other impossibly closer as we trade off who’s in control. It’s passionate and intense for a parking lot.
When we finally break apart, we’re both slightly breathless.
“Wow,” he whispers.
“Yeah,” I say. “That was definitely better.”
He laughs and it lights up his whole face. God, I like that laugh.
“I want to see you again,” he says suddenly, almost like it just spills out without a second thought.
