If this were real, I’d slide back between his legs, lean into his chest fully, and pull his arm around me. I know I would. I’d want to feel his breath on my neck, his lips in my hair. I’d want to be held and cherished. But I don’t know the rules anymore. The lines we’ve had our entire lives are fading fast, and now I don’t know if there are any left. Are we playing with something real, or are we just playing?
Because if so, we’re playing with fire.
I stay where I am. Close enough that our bodies touch, but not enough to feel his breath. Close enough to want, but not truly hold.
On stage, the cast portrays a fantastic rendition ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream.We laugh in all the right places and share whispered comments about the costumes. It’s all so elegant and whimsical and just…lovely.
At intermission, Holden taps my knee lightly. “I’ll be right back.”
I nod, watching him disappear into the crowd. I’m kind of glad he left, because I need a break. My head is… fuzzy. Not only from the wine—from him.
From all of this.
It’s all just so… unexpected. I wish I knew what Holden was really thinking.
I reach for more strawberries as I look around, trying to soak it all in. The laughter bubbling through the crowd is invigorating. Tonight truly couldn’t be any better.
When Holden comes back, he drops down beside me with a small flourish, holding something behind his back.
“What did you do?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“Pick a hand,” he says.
I grin, knowing exactly where this is going. “Your left hand.”
He reveals a box of Mike and Ikes.
I laugh. “They had these?”
“It was that or M&Ms and I figured in this heat, Mike and Ikes were the smarter choice.”
Another laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Those were literally our favorites.”
“Were?” he echoes.
“Are,” I correct. I guess I’m still living in the past when all of this feels so damn new.
With his other hand, Holden reaches out, looping a rope of licorice lightly around the back of my neck.
“What are you—”
He tugs. Not hard, but enough to pull me a few inches closer. My breath catches when he leans in. His face is right there—close enough that I can see the tiny scar on his chin and the flecks of sapphire in his light blue eyes.
Holden smiles softly, then presses a quick, playful kiss to my cheek before pulling away, taking the last of my oxygen with him.
“Damn you,” I mutter. “You’re maxed out on points already. Stop trying to earn more.”
He just smirks, handing me the candy as if nothing happened. “Eat your snacks.”
I fiddle with the candy, staring at the stranger who is my best friend. My cheek still burns from where his lips grazed me.
It hits me all at once.
This is not fake.
There is no universe where this is fake.
So why does it still feel like it could all… disappear?
