Shit. I should have taken it from her earlier.
I don’t say anything as I move to the kitchen with the beer. I lean against the counter after depositing the case and hang my head. I never thought I’d see her again.
After losing track of her at the wedding and watching her dance with that cowboy, I let that idea that she was an option slip from my mind.
Okay, so she was still on my mind at times. But I never let it become anything real. She was like a fictional character, not one that I would ever chase because she wasn’t real.
Except she is real, and now she is sitting in my living room.
“Derek! Come on, man, time to play!”
I shake my head and get her a cold drink, putting her beers in the fridge. When I return, I hand her the drink, and herfinger touches the side of my hand, reminding me of the way it felt like there had been a spark at the wedding.
My eyes drift up to meet hers, and she gives me a kind smile.
Moving to the empty spot beside her, I gingerly set myself down, trying not to make any sudden moves. I feel stiff as a board, and I try to talk myself into chilling the fuck out.
I can’t! She’s too pretty!
My eyes catch on Enzo’s across from us, and he waggles his eyebrows like he knows something. He doesn’t know anything.
I take a deep breath, and we begin the game.
Charades takes place quickly, and of course, I end up on the same team as Elizabeth.
Elizabeth. Elizabeth. Elizabeth…
God help me, even her name is pretty.
“Derek, you’re up, man,” Garrett calls, and I stand in front of the room. All eyes on me.
See, this is a scenario that I would normally love. But right now, I’m being stared at by her. And by her… well, you know who I mean.
Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth.
I blink and shake out my hands, ready to reach for the first card as soon as Chris flips the timer.
“Ready and… go!” The timer flipped, and I’m off. I grab the first card and sigh. Bride.
I start mimicking a bride, pointing at Quinn to get the point across, and my eyes make contact with Elizabeth. She’s watching me intently, a glowing and gorgeous smile on her perfect face, and I freeze for a moment.
Everyone’s watching me, the timer is running low, and my eyes are stuck on the perfection that is her.
Holy crap. I need to get a grip.
I hold my hands together and pretend to walk down an aisle.
“Bride! Bride!” Elizabeth yells, and I point at her, moving onto the next card.
And it’s like we are meant to be teammates. Every single card after that until the timer finally runs out, she gets, and not a single other person on my team guesses what I am except her.
When I move back over to her, I hold up a hand for a high five, and she grants me my wish, holding my hand for a moment as we sit back down next to each other.
“You were great!” she says, smiling at me. I enjoy the sight more than I probably should.
“Me? You had some of those answers out before I could even fully act on them.”
“No, it was all you. You’re so good at this game!” I see her smile, but there’s a crinkle to her eye, like she’s embarrassed for a second.
