“What… what happened to your boyfriend?”
“We broke up.”Her mouth trembled.“He’s too busy making out with someone else.”
“Oh.I’m sorry.”
Even though I was jumping around with glee on the inside, I felt sad.
I grabbed a water bottle from my nightstand and handed it to her.“Here.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled before taking a sip.“God, I’m so unlovable.”
“No you’re not,” I blurted.
She looked up at me, a small smile tugging at her lips.“Thanks, Dylan.You’re really sweet.”
“Oh… thank you,” I said, heat crawling up my neck.
“Do you think I’m a robot?”Her words slurred again.
“Of course not,” I swallowed, glancing at her body.“I don’t think robots can pull off that dress.”
“This?Yeah, it’s a bit too skin-tight and itchy.”She looked down at herself and frowned, her fingers holding the hem of her dress.“Let me remove it?—”
I crossed the space between us quickly before she could start stripping.“No no, please don’t!”
She blinked at me and pouted.God why does she look so fucking adorable?“Why not?”
Because I’ll combust.Because I’ll never recover.Because you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and you’re drunk… You will regret it in the morning, and I don’t ever want to be the reason for your troubles.
I went to my closet and yanked out the baggiest clothing I owned.A worn-out hoodie I wore during my swim competition.
“Here.You can change into this.”
“Thanks, Dylan.You’re a lifesaver.”She looked at me as if I had handed her the moon and not a hoodie.
I turned my back immediately, slapping a hand over my eyes.Behind me, I heard the faint rustle of fabric, the zip of her dress and her soft sigh of relief.
Jesus Christ.Hold it in.Be strong.You’retheman.
“I don’t think you’re a robot,” I said quickly.“Because you look really lovely whenever you try the food you like… especially cheesecake.Or when I get good grades in math.Or when I win a medal.You smile and it’s like…” I swallowed hard.“Like the sun’s coming up and it feels warm and soft.”
The room was quiet except for my raging heartbeat and the muffled music from downstairs.
“I… I want to keep making you smile like that, Katie,” I whispered.“Only if you give me a chance I will?—”
I turned around but stopped.
She was asleep.
She had curled up on my bed, my hoodie swallowing her frame, her long legs tucked up beneath her.Her makeup looked smudged from crying, her cheeks pink from the alcohol, but she looked peaceful.Cute even.
My heart pounded in my ears.
I knelt, carefully slipping off her heels and keeping them aside.I folded her dress neatly, setting it on the desk.I pulled my blanket over her and tucked it around her shoulders.
“I like you so fucking much,” I whispered, brushing a lock of strand behind her ear.“I promise I’ll become your type.A handsome nerd who earns a lot.”
I sat back, watching her for a while before leaving my room and sitting against the door.I didn’t mind that the party was still going on, I’d sleep on the ground so when she wakes up next morning, she doesn’t freak out.
