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After changing, I joined Sawyer back on the couch, his fingers and thumbs working the controller, though he’d managed to devour the bag of chips.
“How was that?” he asked.
“Perfect,” I said, putting my feet up on the ottoman. See, I was doing the right thing, soothing my muscles, elevating my legs.
Sierra appeared in the doorway, wearing pink and white striped pajamas, her hair wound up in a loose bun on top of her head. “Hey, do you guys want hot chocolate?” she asked.
I was ready to answer in an instant, but I held my enthusiasm and waited for Sawyer to reply.
“Yep, if you’re making it.” Sawyer flicked a nod to her.
“Yes please, if that’s what the hydration expert recommends,” I said, springing up, vaulting over the ottoman. “I’ll help.”
Sierra didn’t really need me to help. She had it all under control, getting three cups and putting the hot chocolate pods into the machine.
“There’s some sugar in these pods,” she said. “Is that okay?” I nodded, liking that she cared enough to ask. The coffee machine doing its job was the only sound as we stood side by side, a wave of nervousness and electricity zapping the air around us. I was as scared of saying the wrong thing as I was of saying nothing.
“I’ll take this into Sawyer,” she said, making me realize I’d been in a daydream and hadn’t noticed that the first cup was ready. She scurried away in her pink bunny slippers.
I cursed myself, an opportunity missed. My heart rate increased in anticipation of her return. I’d already defied my father’s orders in being here. I was supposed to be at home, legs covered in a strong smelling menthol rub, elevated on a pile of pillows, sipping on a seaweed smoothie.
But I’d come here for her, for Sierra, because when she looked into my eyes I melted, I changed. Because she radiated hope and dreams and belief in me.
“Okay, one down, two to go,” she said, grabbing the second pod and cup.
“Hey,” I whispered, resting my hand on her shoulder.
She shuddered slightly, almost making me back off, but she turned and looked up. And in her eyes I saw her belief. “You didn’t make a mistake,” I said, my voice suddenly husky. “It was me who didn’t know what I was doing. I wanted you to kiss me and I wanted to kiss you back.”
Her eyes sparked, they glistened and glowed and her smile lit up her face. This time I trusted my reaction, which was to bend down and kiss her.
Yep, without hesitation, my lips brushed against hers, just a touch, a taste, a tease of tiny kisses, stirring my heart around, an unbelievable rush of adrenaline pumping through me. If I was on a high after our victory today, this put me on top of the world.
As the machine beeped, I broke away. Sierra smiled and put in the next pod, the next cup, while I gently held around her waist. As the third hot chocolate brewed, I drew her in for more kisses, acutely aware that Sawyer was only a room away.
The beep signaled, making our lips separate, but I wasn’t quite ready to completely let her go. My lips found her forehead, lingering there as my fingers threaded through her hair, still a little damp from the hot tub. A soft murmur escaped her mouth and strangely, that sent a volt of electricity through me, an energy that resonated through every cell in my body.
Sawyer had switched off his game and turned on the television. Sierra sat between us on the couch and it wasn’t long before the bag of marshmallows had disappeared.
After a bunch of yawns, Sawyer stood, stretched out his back and said, “That’s if for me. I’m going to bed.”
“Yeah, I should get going,” I said, knowing that I should get home before Mom and Dad did. Though I made no attempt to move. Sierra squished beside me was too comfortable, too warm, too cozy. I’d be a fool to disturb this position.
With Sawyer’s departure, I took the initiative and put my arm around her. Sierra nestled her head on my chest and snuggled in.
“Thought you were going home,” she teased.
“Yeah, well,” I said with a laugh, my fingers running along the side of her arm. “I think I like being here.” I kissed the top of her head, wisps of hair tickling my nose and surrounding me with a vanilla scent.
“Can you believe we’re actually going to the state championship final?” she asked, her voice giddy with wonder and excitement. I loved that about her, that she cared about the championship so much.
“Can you believe that I’m sitting here with you in my arms?” I replied.
“And kissing me,” she giggled.
“Yeah,” I said with amusement, “and kissing you.” My lips found her forehead again, and I planted a soft kiss which made her sigh.
And basically, that was the last thing I remembered.
