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“A romantic comedy?” It’s hard to keep the skepticism out of my voice as I take a seat on the couch. Romance is my least favorite genre, and one I don’t want to watch in the presence of a girl I’m trying not to fall for.
“It’s my favorite.”
“A romance?” I’m having trouble picturing Sawyer as the kind of girl who fawns over love stories.
“More like romantic fantasy, I think.” She chews on her lip, which sends an unexpected wave of heat through my chest.
“You think?” I force my eyes to the screen as she sinks down next to me and reclines her seat.
“Well, there are fantasy elements to it.”
“Like a fairy tale?” I get my hopes up. Those I can do.
“Sort of. It’s hard to put in any one category. Trust me you’ll love it. Everyone does. It’s a classic.”
I’m not at all sold on her explanation, but I recline the chair and resolve to be impartial since she seems to believe it’s impossible not to love this movie. I’m fully expecting to have to pretend to be interested, and that's true at first, when my body is more aware of hers than the images on the screen. Then the action starts. And the comedy. Even the romance part isn’t over the top, so I don’t mind it. But the best part is watching her watch it. She’s totally absorbed, wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face, and by the time we get to the final kissing scene I’d swear her eyes are a little glassy.
“Well, what did you think?” Her voice is a little shaky as she tries to blink away the tears before I see them.
I’m tempted to downplay my response and tell her it was better than I expected to lighten the moment, but clearly this movie resonates with her, and I’m not going to risk sounding like an asshole when she’s letting me in a little bit.
“You’re right, I loved it.”
A lone tear escapes, and without thinking I reach up to wipe it from her cheek, stopping myself just before I make contact.Shit that was stupid.She takes a shaky breath and freezes, her mouth parted just slightly. The tear trickles downward, closer and closer to the plump lip I'm desperate to touch. Instead I gesture to it with my finger, hoping she thinks that was my intent all along.
Sawyer blushes and wipes the tear herself. “Gets me every time.” She shrugs sheepishly.
My heart pounds inside my chest, threatening my restraint. I’m overwhelmed with the urge to kiss her, because I just know it would be as epic as the kiss on the screen. I also know one wouldn't be enough, and there’s no going back from something like that. I can't do that to our parents. To us. I settle for offering her a hand off the couch.
The moment her fingers connect with mine I realize what a bad idea this was. Sparks shoot throughout my body, waking up all of my sense. Without intending to, I yank harder than necessary, pulling her into my chest. The motion nearly topples us both, and I drop my hands to her waist to hold her steady.
Pressed flush together, our breaths are ragged, our eyes wide with surprise. It’s the first time we've touched since the car ride, and my body threatens to react now much the way it did then. Only this time I wouldn't be able to pass it off as circumstance. I step back to put some distance between us, before my limbs can refuse me.
“I uh, guess we better head to bed.” My voice sounds pained even to my own ears.
“Yeah. Good idea.” Sawyer wraps her arms around herself, swallowing audibly, and heads for the door.
“Sawyer.” She turns to face me. “Thank you. For bringing me here I mean. I’m glad we get to do this.”
“Me too. Night.” Her voice is even huskier than usual, and I hear it in my mind well into the night.
***
“You’re forgiven for skipping out on homecoming,” Carter says as he admires the signed jersey from Colt.
“You already forgave me.” I smirk, handing a jersey each to the rest of the guys. “These aren’t bribes.”
“We didn’t really mean it when we said you were forgiven before. Now we do.” Bennet folds his jersey and sets it in his locker to get ready for practice.
“Typical,” I mutter. “So, was the dance everything you ladies dreamed of?”
“Yeah, go ahead and make fun, but it was great. We went to Devon’s cause her parents were out of town, and what was supposed to be about twelve of us turned into a huge ass party. It was lit.” Carter fist bumps each of the guys.
I turn to Ryan for confirmation, because he’s less prone to exaggerate.
“It was cool. You’ve seen her house, it’s got its own zip code and half of it is dedicated to entertainment. I won a few hundred bucks off Will in pool…”
“You mean you hustled a few hundred bucks.” Will huffs as he pulls out his shoulder pads.
