A cheer went up from the small crowd outside, heralding a new song, one with a faster tempo and a thumping beat that Kieran felt in his chest.
It started with a couple, two women, one dragging the other away from their small table. They were laughing as one spun the other around, as they fell into each other’s arms, swaying to the music. Then another group joined, four more bodies filling themomentary dance floor on the patio. Before Kieran knew what was happening, half of the patrons were up, singing along to the raucous melody, bouncing and swaying to the music.
It was silly, cheesy, something from a nineties-era rom-com. Something Kieran wouldneverparticipate in for fear of being perceived in a decidedly uncomfortable way.
Except, he could see Sammie watching them, grinning bright. He could see Zehra behind the counter, raising a brow in his direction before pointedly tilting her head toward the woman next to him.
Sammie hadn’t had to tell him she’d had a bad day. Kieran had seen it weighing her down the moment she’d arrived. She looked happy now, though, in the little bubble they’d found themselves in. She was happy here, in this place, and Kieran wasn’t about to dampen the light in her eyes.
“Come on.” He reached out, tugging her wrist as he slipped off his barstool.
“What?” Sammie let herself be led, past the small booths in the taproom, out into the warm evening. Her eyes went round as saucers as she realized what Kieran was doing. “Wait!”
It was too late. Kieran pulled her to him, hands falling to her waist as they fell into place among the other bodies. A nervous chuckle left Sammie as they swayed, but it quickly morphed into a full, charming laugh as Sammie melted against him.
The night air was hot, the humidity worse in the small crowd. Sweat prickled along Kieran’s skin as he tried to ignore the feeling that people were watching. They weren’t, of course they weren’t. Everyone else had their own lives, their own stories, their own little worlds that Kieran was no part of. It had always been hard, doing anything that might get him noticed. The only places he’d never had to grapple with the terrifying ordeal of perception had been on the court, with his team around him, or in front of a camera, where he could control the narrative.
But now, with Sammie laughing against him, leaning close to avoid bumping into anyone else, Kieran felt a little of that ever present worry melt away. He realized that if he looked ridiculous, then so did she. But Sammie didn’t care. She was smiling, bright and beautiful, the heaviness of the day lifting off her.
If he looked ridiculous, then so did she, and Kieran found that idea to be a lot less scary when he wasn’t alone.
The music was winding down, the people around them drifting off, back to their tables and their own stories. Kieran was still swaying, still letting Sammie lean in close. Contentment softened her features, her eyes drifting closed as she moved with him, arms wrapped around his neck.
All it would take was a slight shift forward. Hardly any movement at all, and Kieran could close the distance.
His thoughts crashed to a halt.
He couldn’t do that. He shouldn’t even bethinkingthat. Sammie hadn’t had many rules for their arrangement, but Kieran leaning in and pressing his lips to hers would absolutely be breaking one of them.
No kissing on camera.
They weren’t recording now. No, they weren’t doing anything that related to their work together. They were just two friends getting a beer together.
They weren’t on camera now.
Kieran’s mind was spinning, crashing against the boundary Sammie had set again and again. The song was ending, its final notes ringing out around them, wrapping Kieran in an urgency he didn’t understand.
And now Sammie was looking at him. Watching him intently, her storm cloud eyes heavy as they traced lines on his face. There was a line pulling taught between them that Kieran hadn’t realized was there.
She was close, so close, her strawberry scent a ghost on the evening breeze. Kieran’s heart was a drum in his chest, continuing the beat of the music that had finally trailed to a stop.
Someone bumped into Sammie, and she stumbled forward, falling against Kieran’s chest. Could she feel that drum inside him, crashing against his ribs, a thunder to match her storms?
“Sorry.” The person who had bumped Sammie hesitated, grimacing at the collision, giving them a small wave before continuing into the brewery. The spell over them broke, fading away like smoke from a blown out candle.
“I should probably go.” Sammie pushed back, her hands that had rested on Kieran’s chest falling to her sides. She still looked tired, but more settled than when she’d arrived.
Kieran nodded. “I’ve got an early workout.” They were still standing, alone in their corner of the patio. Even the trio of musicians were packing up. Kieran flexed his hands at his sides, ignoring the itch he felt in them that missed the warmth of Sammie’s body under his touch.
“Thanks.” She was still watching him, that quiet contentment still wrapped around her like a soft quilt. “For tonight. I needed this.”
A bubble swelled in Kieran’s chest. He hadn’t known what possessed him to ask her to meet up, but he was glad he’d done it, if only to see the weight of her worries lifted for their short time together.
“Thanks for meeting me.” He waved at their surroundings. “It’s a cool place.” He left the rest unsaid.It’s a place that suits you.
“I’m gonna go tell Zehra goodnight.” She was turning away, hand lifted in a small wave. “I’ll see you later, Kieran.”
“Night, Sammie.” And then she was gone, and Kieran was alone. As he walked back to his car, he could still feel the phantom touch of her arms around his neck.
