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“Yep,” I reply. “I’ll have the Heart Attack, medium well, sweet potato fries, and a chocolate shake.” James chuckles at my order, and I roll my eyes at him. Yeah, he was right. My order was not going to be different. I cock my head to the side and wait for him to order. I know his order just as well as he knows mine. We’re creatures of habit. Maybe that’s why I’m so in tune with him.
“I’ll have the Shroom on a Broom, medium well, extra crispy fries, and a Coke.” His eyes find mine after he orders and I just smirk.
“Got it. I’ll put it in now and bring your drinks.” James nods at Malcom and he walks away to put in our order. James looks back at me and I can’t stop the smile that forms.
“You’re just as predictable as me, ya know?”
“Maybe I am. But it’s the best burger there is.”
I shake my head. “I disagree.” He starts to plead his case about how you can’t beat swiss cheese, mushrooms, and crispy fried onions on a burger, but Malcom shows up with our drinks, ending his rant.
We both thank him for our drinks and he leaves, leaving us in our bubble. But James burst the bubble with his next question.
“Now’s the time, Holly.” His eyes hold mine, his words echoing in my head. What is he talking about? Now’s the time, the time for what? He must sense the confusion on my face. He leans in across the table. “What was on your mind on the walk over?”
My eyes drop to the table and I shift in my seat while I try to think of a quick lie, but my mind stalls. Literally stalls. Nothing comes to mind other than him. I pull my drink closer and fiddle with the straw. I keep him in my peripheral vision as he leans back against the back corner of the booth. He’s so calm and my nerves are bouncing all over the place.
With a big breath, I straighten my shoulder and look at him head on. I try to be confident in everything I do, so why not in this situation as well? Hell, I’m probably going to look stupid, but maybe he won’t see it that way. I can give him just a sliver of information and let him run with it, see where he takes it. “You,” I answer. One word, multiple ways for this to go. I’ll leave it in his hands.
He leans in, his actions pulling me in with an invisible rope. “What about me?”
I pause and hold his gaze. It’s hard to tell in the dim light, but it looks like excitement and want. His stare is intense, but I don’t back down. “Just you,” I reply.
“I wonder if you have the same thoughts that I have. Thoughts about you.” His words give me hope, but Malcom breaks the moment when he returns with our food.
With our burgers in front of us and Malcom gone, I look at James. “What thoughts?”
His eyes scan the restaurant and then land back at me. “Now’s not the place or the time.” He glances at my plate and back at me. “Let’s eat and then we’ll head out.”
“James,” I plead, I want to know what he means.
“Eat,” he answers before taking a bite of his burger.
I follow suit, but watch him the whole time. My nerves are a mess, and I’m only able to finish half of my plate. Which is unusual when it comes to my favorite burger. We don’t talk, both of us in our heads. My mind is all over the place, wondering what he meant. I thought I had the lead in this, but he played an Uno Reverse on my answer and now I’m stuck with different scenarios in my head.
After settling the tab, which James would not let me go dutch on, we head outside. The cool December air blows my hair around and I try to tame it, but it’s no use.
“Let me drive you to your car,” James offers.
I give him a nod, my voice lost as my brain continues to read into everything. Did he pay for my dinner because he wanted to treat me? Or was it because he felt obligated to because I’m his best friend’s sister? And now I’m back to square one, completely confused.
We make it to his truck and he holds the door as I climb in. I watch him round the hood and give him a small smile as he climbs in. The man is too handsome. I lean against the door and watch him as he drives the few blocks over to the courthouse.
He parks next to my car, and I start to gather my things. He opens my door and takes my bag and sweatshirt from my hands. After stowing them in the back seat of my car, he closes the door and leans against his truck.
I try to think of something witty to say, but my brain and mouth don’t work together. “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re welcome,” he replies. There’s a storm in his eyes, or at least that’s what it looks like with the streetlight above us.
“I should go,” I tell him, not making any movement to open the driver’s door and get in. Something in my gut tells me we are on the edge of something new. Something life changing.
“Yeah, it’s late.” James continues to lean against his truck, watching me.
Since we’re at a standstill, I open my car door and throw my purse on the passenger seat.
“Fuck it,” James mumbles behind me. I turn to face him and he is right there. He slowly lowers his head, pressing his lips against mine as he kisses me tenderly. At first, his touch is soft and tender, but it quickly changes to something more. A deep growl vibrates through his chest while his fingers tangle in the back of my hair, pulling me closer as he takes complete control of the kiss.
His tongue brushes against mine and the world around us melts away as we get lost in each other’s arms. I feel something big building between us, erasing the doubt I had earlier.
