My foot continues its journey, even higher up that creamy leg I haven’t gotten a glimpse of in over an hour now. An hour too long.
I’m a man obsessed, all after a single fucking look.
What damage could she do to me with an entire night? I’m willing to find out.
Fuck, idk what a guy’s gotta do to get her attention, but I know that I’m not stopping until I earn it. What I’ll do with it from there remains to be seen. But I’m not losing this little game. I let my foot wander higher, demanding a response from her. If this doesn’t do it, I’ll try to work out how I can reposition myself so my hand can reach her instead. I have some ideas that woulddefinitelywin her over. And I’m not stopping until it’smeshe’s focused on. The way it always should’ve been, I was just too fucking stupid to see it.
Eyes on me, Gem.
TWENTY
GEMMA
He won’t. Stop.Staring.
I must’ve told seven stories about hijinks we’ve gotten up to onset, hilarious horror stories from our travels, and just dumb shit we’ve done over the years to endear Aaron to Spencer, and hopefully me to Kayla. He hasn’t chimed inonce.
Spencer has told countless tales from shows he’s worked on props for—one of which I know for a fact Aaron was a diehard fan of—and, still, nothin’.
Why did he even propose a double date if he’s not going to participate? I’d chalk it up to a rough day on set, except I know that filming doesn’t start for another few weeks.
While Kayla’s stories are of a slightly different nature than a film set, she still has some anecdotes from being around fame and some of the bullshit that comes with it, enough that it’s along the same vein as the rest of the conversation, so we’ve been having a great time. At least the three of us have. I don’t know what on earth that kid is doing.
It’s unnerving having all of his attention on me like that. Thank God Kayla doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe she just isn’t bothered by it? To be fair, if I had all that going on for me in the looks department, I’d be pretty secure, too.
For most of the dinner, he’s been alternating between glancing at me, scowling at Spencer, and donning comically fake smiles, like he just remembered he’s not supposed to be a dick. And to think, he’s the schmoozer of the two of us, the one who is almostalwaysin a good mood, can shoot the shit with and charm just about anyone. He’s literally paid to pretend, yet he’s failingmiserablyat it now, which just makes me think he doesn’t care enough to. Besides,I’msupposed to be the quiet, socially awkward one. I’ve never seen him like this before, and I’m starting to worry that he’s not as fine as he wants me to believe after his trip to Romania.
Are he and Kayla having troubles?They don’t look like it.
Every so often, I sneak my eyes off of Spencer as he uses his hands, his eyebrows, and every emotion in his arsenal to tell us some of the most lively and hilarious tales I’ve ever heard, and I peek at Aaron and Kayla.
That’s better.As if my mere worry that there could be trouble in paradise were the cure for such an ailment, Aaron leans into Kayla and wraps her in one toned arm, placing his other hand on her lap. The smallest pang runs through my belly at the sight, a much smaller reaction than I was worried about, and a little smile curls one corner of my mouth. I almost think that my reaction is due to how cute they are, rather thanwhois doing the snuggling there.
And to think, I was worried this would be awkward.
I. Am. Nailing. This. Double date.
I focus back on Spencer, and that smile taking over my cheeks grows. We’ve had nothing but good times these past several months, and my heart blooms at what the future might hold.
The campaign to get over Aaron is looking successful, indeed.We’ve come a long way.
I feel a foot bump into mine and realize Aaron must be stretching his legs. I shoot him a little smile and pull my right leg back to give him more space for his taller frame underneath the tabletop before returning my attention to Spencer.
My left hand curls tighter around his forearm, where I clutch onto him below the table. Spencer brings that hand to my left thigh where it presses up against him and traces idly on my leg. It feels more like a reminder, perhaps a promise for later, and it’s sending shivers racing through me as he continues talking, as if he’s not inches away from my?—
The thought is interrupted by that foot from a second ago bumping into mine again, except it feels more like it’s seeking me out, rather than an accidental brush.
Frozen, I am paralyzed by the uncertainty which weighs down every possible thought I could be having right now, focusing every single scrap of attention my brain has available to it on the contact I feel on my foot.
What is he doing?
Zero answers come to me, and I continue to sit still, refusing to move so much as a muscle as I try to process my environment.
That foot begins to climb upward, off the floor, and it feels like it’scaressingmy ankle as it moves.
A chill breaks out across my entire body, my leg twitching in response, and I feel my nipples harden beneath this thin dress.
Be cool, Gemma.
