Taking three stairs at a time, I knock on her door.
Music is playing loudly from the other side of the door. I knock again. Harder. Louder.
She swings the door open, and my breath is stolen.
“Wow.”
“Is this too much?” She smooths down a little green dress. A slip—I think that’s what it’s called—dress with dainty spaghetti straps. There’s a slit in the right leg.
My jaw hangs open. I shake my head, unable to form words.
Sutton stands there, eyes fixed on me. She raises her brow and bites her bottom lip.
“Do you want to come in? I need to grab shoes.”
I follow her in. Follow her to her bedroom at the back of the apartment.
“What are we doing tonight?” she asks, but I can’t stop staring at her. I run a hand over my mouth. “Are you okay?”
“You’re beautiful.” I’m finally able to formulate a sentence. “We’re going to the movies.”
“This is way too much for the movies.”
“It’s not.”
“I was going to wear those.” She points to a pair of heels.
Okay, so maybe those won’t exactly be perfect for tonight, but…
Everything I’m thinking is on my face.
Sutton blows out an audible breath. “I’m going to change.”
I step into her. “No, I love this dress.” I kiss her forehead. Tilt her chin up to me and kiss her softly.
“I’m going to change,” she whispers against my lips. Kisses me again.
“Can I watch?”
Sutton slips into her closet, reappearing in a pair of leggings, pink fuzzy socks, and an oversized graphic shirt. Her hair is pulled back into a checkered clip. She spins and does a tada movement with her hand, dragging down her body. “Ready.” There’s an excited smile on her face. I match it, and she blushes.
On our way out of her apartment, she stops, grabbing her vintage patchwork jacket.
I pick up the pizza I ordered and head back to my house. Sutton is confused the entire time, even commenting on how the theater is in the opposite direction.
The gate to our backyard is open. I pull my Jeep through the back, barely missing the string lights.
“Cooper…”
“The drive-in closed. You never went, did you?”
“No. I always wanted to go.”
“What about your grass?”
“I’ll reseed it or glue blades back into the ground.”
I park. She tries to climb out, but I run around the car, almost parkour over the top. Open her door and help her out. Sutton turns around to grab the pizza.
