Now we’re talking!
For once, I caught myself before shouting out the first thing to come to mind, which in this case was, “Hell yeah!”
And actually, aside from a huge part of me that really loved the offer, there was a loud, nagging worry that wondered why he was concerned about my comfort at all. Was he genuinely that nice, or was he just doing his job? Was I that used to my lot in life that I couldn’t take basic human concern at face value?
His hat had been so warm that I wished I could shrink myself down and curl up inside it like literally any of the cats did with every single empty shipping box. His gloves too; when I slid my hands in, a part of me wondered if this was what holding his hands might be like.
I wouldn’t let myself fall into whatever trap this had to be. Surely, no man this good-looking could also be this thoughtful and protective.
It sent alarm bells off all over the place.Be careful, Bee, he’s using you as a means to an end, and he’ll forget about you when this was all over.
That being said, I really,reallywanted him to come over.
I must have waited too long to answer, lost in the never-ending corridors of my mind, because he shifted and spoke up.
“Listen. I’m not trying to, uh … I’m not being … forward,” he said.
I bit my lip to keep from guffawing with laughter. Seriously, how could so many people in this town be afraid of him?
“For warmth?” I asked.
“For warmth,” he said at the same time.
I was still focused on the NYNB plan, but do you know what else new me would totally do? Snuggle the hell out of Owen Campbell. At least while I had him.
Owen didn’t look at me like that. Most men didn’t. It was a relief most of the time, this sort of “invisibility privilege” I had. It protected me from the worst. I was aware of how awful men treated women they found attractive—like those women owed them something. But this felt different and nice.
I would not make the situation weird like I always did.
I would keep my cool.
“Okay dokey, artichokey.” I patted the seat next to me with enthusiasm. Shivers wracked me, but these felt more anticipatory than cold-based.
He chuckled and didn’t curl his lip in disgust, so that was something.
“Right. So I will just go scooch on over to you then,” he said but didn’t move. He swallowed and eyed the booth where my hand patted again.
“Did you say ‘scooch’?” I looked up with my chin pointed down so he hopefully couldn’t see me fighting back a smile.
“No. It was something much more masculine and commanding.” He cleared his throat as he stood and stretched. He rubbed his hands together and tucked them in his armpits.
Was he nervous? Because of me? It wasn’t like I bit. Except for that one time earlier when I tried to bite him.
Owen went to the front of the tram, every step shaking us, and reached into a box built into the side. He pulled out a silver rectangle and flicked it out with a flourish.
“This is an emergency thermal blanket. It will help keep our body heat trapped,” he said, delaying the inevitable.
I was aware of how thermal blankets worked, but men like to feel useful, and I was too cold to point out his patriarchal shortcomings. Plus, I didn’t want to screw this up before it started.
Probably best if I didn’t talk at all.
A second later, his whole right side was pressed up against my left as his large arm encompassed me in the blanket. I grabbed one end to help wrap us up like a burrito. The thin material worked quickly except for my poor nose, but my teeth stopped chattering almost immediately.
“Better?” he asked.
I nodded. “I feel like a package of Pop-Tarts.”
Well, the not talking lasted roughly twenty seconds.
