Page 41 of Only You

Eleven

Kayla buried her head against Jack’s chest, accepting the comfort he willingly provided. Sometimes, she just needed a hug. It was normal, but her reaction to the movie was not. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at him.

Jack lifted his hands to her face and gently brushed the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs. “What’s wrong?”

Kayla clasped her hands in her lap and looked down at them. “I don’t know.”

Jack placed his hands on her knees over the blanket. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

He was a good listener, but there were some things she simply couldn’t share. “I can’t explain it. I’ve never reacted like that to a movie before.”

Jack eyed her quizzically. “It had a happy ending.”

She sighed. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to experience that.”

“What, the flash mob?”

“No. The kind of relationship with the perfect combination of friendship and love.”

“You will.”

If only she had his confidence. “I was just being overemotional. Let’s leave it at that.” She started to move away, but he gripped her knees to keep her in place.

“Listen. You haven’t met the right guy yet. But when you do, you’ll know it.”

“How?”

“You’ll feel it right here.” He tapped the middle of his chest.

Witnessing the softer side of Jack did funny things to her insides. She waited for the punchline, but it never came. “Thanks for the pep talk. I’m feeling better now,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

Kayla nodded and glanced down at his hands on her legs. He had nice hands.

Jack quickly pulled them away. “Okay. So what do you want to do now?”

“I think I’ll go upstairs and read.”

“Already? It’s still early.”

“Now you can watch football.”

“That’s nice of you, but I really don’t have to.”

“Jack. This is your house, and you should do what you want to do.”

“What about dinner?” he asked.

“I’m still full of lunch.”

“You can’t go to bed on an empty stomach.”

Kayla chuckled. “If I get hungry later, I’ll come downstairs and make something. Don’t worry about me.”

Jack sighed. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m positive.” She stood and folded the blanket, intending to replace it in the ottoman.