Realizing I’m biting my fingernails, I stop. “All good.” He smiles and puts an arm around my chair.
Brad’s been the perfect gentleman all night. He’s paid for everything, even though I offered to cover at least half of the cost. He hasn’t so much as touched me inappropriately, and he has checked in on me throughout the movie while we shared snacks.
It hasn’t been a miserable night, and he complimented me on the way I look, which, yes, might be a little too much for a movie and pizza, but I wanted to feel good about myself.
The bomb in the movie explodes, and soon after, the credits begin to roll. Brad picks up our things, and we dump everything in the garbage on the way out. I was a little wobbly at first with these shoes since they’re a little chunkier than I’d typically wear and I almost fell when I jumped out of the car. I’m thankfully steady now and not tripping over myself like an idiot.
“Pizza at Moonlit’s?” Brad opens the passenger door for me, and I nod my response.
Moonlit’s Pizzeria opened right before winter break, and I’ve already ordered from there a few times. Most of those times being with Levi?—
Who you are not on a date with. Brad. Brad is your date.
Said date gets in the driver’s seat. He turns the engine on but doesn’t move. His fingers are tapping against the wheel and I’m wondering if he’s letting the car warm up. It looks like a pretty new car, so it shouldn’t take long.
“Did you like the movie?” Brad asks.
Turning, I see that his brown eyes look hopeful, so I smile. “Yes.”
He narrows his eyes. “But?”
I shrug and roll my eyes. “The musical is way better.”
He laughs. “I’ll take your word for it.” Brad pauses. “Listen, Stevie.”
Damn.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a couple of weeks now, but was waiting until your audition was over in case you said no, and things would get awkward.” I swallow harshly as he continues. “I like you. I don’t want you to think I’m only here because I want to sleep with you—not that I don’t. That’d be nice, eventually.” He laughs, and I follow. I’ve never seen him like this, and it’s very endearing. When we both stop laughing, he gives methelook and leans over.
Shit, he’s going to kiss me. Should I? Yes, I should. He’s cute, funny, and a friend. He likes me. Maybe I’ll feel something.
I meet him halfway, and he gives me a gentle, closed-mouth kiss. A good kisser, but besides that, there are no sparks—nothing…absolutely nothing.
We separate, and he looks at me weirdly, while I return the look.
He opens his mouth. “That wasn’t what I expected.” Brad puts a hand up. “Not to say you aren’t a good kisser, but it was missing…”
“A spark,” I finish for him, and smirk. Brad rubs the back of his neck, agreeing. An idea occurs to me. He deserves a little more after all the work he’s put into tonight. “Let’s try one more time, butreallytry, and then if we feel nothing, we’ll know.”
He sits up and cracks his knuckles. “Let’s fucking do this.”
I giggle as he leans back over and takes my cheek this time. We both open our mouths and allow our tongues to touch for acouple of seconds. I can tell he’s enjoying it by his eagerness, and although it’s pleasant, it’s still not a toe-curling kiss.
We pull apart. “How was that?” he asks, a little breathless.
“Good.” I nod. “But…”
He smiles sadly. “Yeah, same.” Both of us lie back in our chairs in silence. “You like Levi, don’t you?”
My head snaps to him. “What would make you say that?”
Brad pulls out of the parking lot. “Just a wild guess,” he deadpans.
I huff out a breath. “That obvious, huh?”
“Eh, only a little.”
When I see him again, he winks, and I roll my eyes. Thank God both of us ended up feeling nothing. I still feel like crap for using him, yet somehow, he knew all along about Levi and didn’t say a thing. And now I’m one hundred percent certain that what I feel for Levi is more than sexual attraction.
