On screen, the Beast became human. Applause rippled through the theater, but Evie didn’t notice. Slater’s hand had slid from hers to her knee—resting there, steady, warm, and possessive without being demanding.
“Come back to my cabin,” he whispered.
Her pulse skidded. “We shouldn’t.”
“Probably not.”
She swallowed. “People will notice.”
“They already have.”
There it was again—that quiet certainty.
His thumb brushed just slightly higher against her knee. Not enough to scandalize, but enough to make her shiver.
“I don’t enjoy hiding or sneaking around,” he said. “But I want you. And I’d rather have you in my cabin arguing with me about our friends than sitting here pretending this doesn’t matter.”
Her breath left her in a shaky laugh. “You sound very sure of yourself.”
“No,” he said softly. “I'm just sure about you.”
And that pretty much sealed her fate.
The credits hadn’t even started yet, but she was already standing. Slater followed without another word, grabbing the popcorn bucket as if they hadn’t just detonated something fragile and beautiful between them. They slipped out quietly, the theater door closing with a soft hush behind them. The hallway outside was dim and empty, and for a moment, they just stood there.
Alone.
Slater stepped closer, crowding her gently against the wall—not trapping, just closing the distance.
“You okay?” he asked, voice low now, stripped of bravado.
She nodded, though her hands had found his shirt without permission. “This isn’t easy,” she said again.
“I know.”
“And I’m scared.”
His forehead rested against hers. “I know that too.”
His hand slid to her waist, firm and grounding. “I can be brave for the both of us,” he whispered. “Because you’re worth it.”
Her heart raced and it felt like a dozen butterflies took flight in her belly. “Kiss me,” she breathed.
And this time when he kissed her, it wasn’t playful. It wasn’t stolen. It was deliberate. A kiss that said we’re doing this anyway.
When they finally pulled apart, both a little breathless, he took her hand again.
“Come on,” he said softly.
Evie didn’t even pretend to hesitate.
They walked with purpose down the hall and across the lobby. It was still pouring out, but it would have taken too long to go and grab anything to shield them from the rain. They looked at each other, and Evie swore she’d run through any kind of storm to have another night with him.
Their hands stayed linked the entire way, fingers woven together like a lifeline as they ran. They were soaked in a matter of seconds and instead of fixating on it, they laughed like a couple of kids. The wind was fierce, and it wasn’t just a matter of running through puddles; the entire surface of the parking lot was flooded, and when they got to the path for the cabin, it got worse.
Slater stopped abruptly, crouching slightly in front of her. “Get on!” he said, indicating she needed to hop onto his back.
It was pointless to argue, so she simply hopped on and held on tight, laughing with pure joy at the situation. She pressed her face against his neck, kissing him there. His grip on her tightened just a bit, but the path was a little treacherous, and she could tell he was having a hard time navigating it all. If she had been on her own, she would have fallen flat on her face by now, but Evie felt safe just like this.
