AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lean into the table, closing the gap between us even more. “Then, what do you usually do with your free evenings?”
“Um, well I’m a big movie buff…you know…studying the acting techniques.” She smirks at her joke. “And, uh, I don’t know, lately I’ve been up late practicing for auditions a lot.”
I consider her lips as they move; soft, full, and rosy colored. I long to know how they would feel against mine.
“You seem very dedicated,” I suggest, trying to keep things light. “What kinds of roles have you played? And what are you looking for?”
She blinks up at me and smiles. “So far, just bit parts…nothing very big. But I’d love to land a Broadway role. Just to experience it. Even just once. I want to put my all into something that feels worth it. Something with a lot of emotion, where I can really embrace the character.”
Her eyes light up when she talks about her dreams, and I can tell she has the motivation she needs to make it big someday. I hope for her sake she also has the talent to show for it. It would be a shame for so much motivation to go to waste.
She regards me curiously. “What are you doing here in New York if you live in Chicago?”
“Just visiting some friends and seeing some shows, catching some parties.” I wink at her.
She smirks. “And is this party living up to your expectations?”
“By leaps and bounds,” I reply.
I watch her watch me for a moment. Her big brown eyes stare up into mine without waver. She’s growing braver, revealing the interest in her expression. She isn’t trying to hide it any longer.
I glance past her toward the dark sky, spotted with stars. The moon is full and clear tonight. “Have you ever seen the moon so bright?”
She blinks and shifts her gaze in the same direction. “Wow, yeah, it’s beautiful.”
I watch her hair, all soft and windswept from the breeze. Even in the cool moonlight, bits of warm amber shine from the strands. I wish I could run my fingers through it. Maybe I’ll get to.
“Shall we go over closer?” I gesture toward the edge of the deck, and she obliges, starting to follow me.
When Leah sees us move, she grabs Sophie’s arm and whispers something in her ear. Sophie whispers something back, nods, smiles, and then continues with me. I laugh quietly. Everything is always so secretive.
We stand with our elbows on the railing, watching a ship in the far-off distance sliding evenly across the horizon. My arm is pressed against hers when I feel her shiver slightly.
“Are you cold?” I ask, leaning into her.
Sophie runs her hands up and down her arms, trying to conceal her goosebumps. “Oh, no, I’m ok.”
I shake my head and shrug my jacket off, stepping behind her and draping it over her tiny shoulders. “Here,” I say as I gently smooth the fabric over her arms. It’s an excuse to touch her, I admit, but it’s part of the game.
She tenses at my touch at first, clearly out of her element here. She’s adorable and delicate, and I’m beginning to feel an urge to protect her. But she eventually relaxes and pulls the jacket tighter around herself. “Thank you,” she says quietly.
I wonder how such a pretty little thing like her doesn’t spend more time at places like this. Surely, she’d be snatched up nightly. But maybe she isn’t the kind of girl who goes home with strangers. Can I prove to her that I’m not the kind of stranger she should fear? Or am I exactly that type of stranger? I furrow my brow as I peer out at the water.
Since she doesnt seem put off by my touch, I press my arm against hers again. To my pleasant surprise, she leans into me, welcoming the warmth, and so I make the brave move to wrap my arm around her back. It isn’t a risky action by most women’s standards, but with Sophie, I could be coming on too strong.
When she doesn’t flinch, I rub her far arm firmly, trying to coax some heat into her tiny frame. “Hopefully you can warm up soon.”
She smiles and leans into me even more. “I already feel better.”
I take a breath, experiencing the unfamiliar sensation of nervousness again as I move my hand up her back. I’m beginning to realize if I’m going to get this girl to trust me tonight, it isn’t going to be through pick-up lines and suggestive advances. No, I’m going to have to play nice with her.
Be cool. Be cool.
I return my gaze to the water. “So, Ginge, where do you think that boat is going?” I point at the small white speck in the distance.
She giggles, and oh, it’s music to my ears. “Down the coast maybe…” She raises her eyebrows. “Coney Island?”
I rub her arm again. “Have you been?”
