I kept my back to him because my cheeks were getting warm and I hated the idea of him seeing me blush. I was being so silly. I reached for the two action movies I’d rented and started to turn around to show him when he moved in behind me. I froze. My body went on high alert and I took several gulps of air.
“Let me see.” His mouth was surprisingly close to my ear. Then his arm reached around me and he snatched the movies from my grasp. When our hands brushed, I sucked in a quick breath. For a second he paused then moved away quickly. My crazy behavior had to be making him uncomfortable.
“Good choice. I’ve been wanting to see both of these but Nicole and I don’t normally watch movies.”
Nicole’s name sounded like a reminder for me.
I pivoted around on the balls of my feet. “Okay, good. Well, pick one and put it in. I’m going to go get my money before the pizza gets here.”
But first I am going to splash cold water on my face and calm down. I didn’t wait for his response before I fled the room.
The doorbell rang while I was shuffling through my purse for money. The delivery guy would probably be someone from school. Beau answering the door didn’t sound like the best idea. I rushed out of my bedroom door and came face to face with Beau. Or more accurately, face to chest. A very yummy-smelling chest. I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
“I’ll wait here while you pay,” he said in a low whisper. I nodded and stepped around him.
The moment I opened the door I was instantly relieved Beau was hiding. It was a starting lineman on the football team, Jimmy Noles.
“How’s it going, Ashton?” Jimmy asked, smiling.
“Um, good, thanks.”
“I guess you’re missing Sawyer.”
I nodded. “Yes, I am.” I handed him the money. “Keep the change and thanks.”
His grin got bigger. “Cool, thanks Ashton. See ya around.”
I returned his smile and closed the door.
Beau stepped out of the hallway. “That smells good.”
It did smell good but I doubted I could actually eat. Beau took the box out of my hand and walked over to the couch and set it down on the coffee table.
“I’ll get some paper plates,” I said, wishing I didn’t sound so nervous.
He started opening the box. “Don’t get one for me but a paper towel would be good.”
Beau managed to eat most of the pizza before I forced down one slice. I’m glad he didn’t feel awkward by my crazy behavior. He leaned back on the sofa with his eyes on the movie after wiping his hands on the paper towel. I sat my plate down on a stack of Garden and Gun magazines my dad kept on the coffee table.
“I left you two more pieces. You can’t be full.”
I glanced over at him. “You mean you didn’t stop eating because you were full?”
He shook his head. “No, I was being considerate. I’m never full.”
I leaned back on the sofa. “Eat all you want, I’m done.”
He didn’t lean forward to grab another slice like I expected him to. Instead his attention stayed on me.
“Why did you invite me here tonight, Ash?”
My face flushed. Why had I asked him to come? Answering that question wasn’t easy. Since he’d walked in the door I’d been acting ridiculous. I never seemed to be at a loss of things to say with Sawyer. Beau rattled me. Now, he was being bored to death by the preacher’s daughter while he could be with his sexy hot girlfriend doing all those things I knew nothing about. I was depriving him of an exciting evening. The idea that he’d come tonight to entertain me for his cousin’s sake made me feel awful. He’d been doing me a charity and I couldn’t even make it interesting for him. Well, at least I’d fed him.
“I’m sorry. I guess, I just didn’t want to be alone, but I’m okay. You can go. I know this is dull compared to your normal activities.” I managed a weak smile.
His frown deepened as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, but he didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Being with you isn’t dull. You just seem uncomfortable. If you want me to leave I will. I have a feeling you’re rethinking the having-me-over thing.”
I sighed and let out a small laugh.
“No. I want you to stay. I’ve just never had any guy over here but Sawyer and even then my parents were here. I’m nervous. It’s not that I don’t want you here.”
“Why do I make you nervous?” he asked, watching me.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.
“Hmm. You’re wrong, by the way,” he replied, grinning.
“What?”
“You’ve had other guys here. I used to come here often. Your room still looks the same.”
I smiled. He was right. I just needed to remember this was the same boy who used to lay on my bed with me and watch movies.
He closed the space between us and relaxed as he stretched his arm along the back of the sofa. “I don’t bite, Ash. It’s just me. Promise. Come here and see.”
I studied the crook of his arm, and the idea of snuggling up against him was extremely tempting. But I didn’t think he had that in mind. So instead, I leaned back on the couch, careful not to touch him.
His hand didn’t come around me and pull me closer. It remained on the back of the couch and I hated that I was disappointed.
“Relax and watch the movie,” he said in a soft voice I’d never heard him use before. It made me feel warm and safe.
Beau’s arm eventually slid down to settle on my shoulders. Absently he started tracing small circles on my upper arm. It was almost as if little jolts of electricity were zinging through my body. I hoped he couldn’t tell my breathing was getting erratic. I closed my eyes and fantasized about how it would feel to run my hands under his T-shirt and touch the soft skin that covered his hard chest. I glanced up at him through my lashes and his attention was completely focused on the movie. He had no idea he was driving me crazy.
I slowly moved closer to him until my head was nestled in the crook of his arm. The smell of Irish Spring soap and the outdoors filled my senses. Sawyer always smelled like cologne. I liked soap. I turned my head just enough so I could smell him better. His arm gently tightened around me. He didn’t mean anything by it but it felt so very good. I turned my body toward his side and closed my eyes. My imagination took over and I wondered what it would feel like if he didn’t have this bothersome shirt covering up his chest.