HE’S RIGHT NEXT TO ME
HE DOES THAT THING WHERE HE PUTS HIS ARM ACROSS THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN HE BACKS OUT
Liam’s grip on the steering wheel loosens and he turns to me to sign.
“Hey.”
“Hey?”
“You sure we’re good?”
“Of course.”
He nods. “Did you give me your own shmoodie this morning?”
I shake my head and press my lips together.
“Jackson...”
Caught.
“You looked like you needed it.”
He lets out a slow breath and rests his hand on my knee.
I think I might literally melt on the spot.
“You’re a good friend, Jacks,” he says aloud.
“You are too. Your signing is getting really good.”
His cheeks turn a beautiful crimson.
“Thank you.”
His hand is still on my knee, and I think I’m having heart palpitations. Because he’s touching me.
I know it’s only friendly. Like him tucking in my tags. But he’s touching me, and my knees aren’t anywhere near my crotch but they’re also not that far away, and it’s just a hand, a warm friendly hand, but my jeans start feeling tight.
My breath hitches. “I better...” I reach for my backpack, and he releases me as I cover my lap with it.
“See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. See you.”
I wait for him to drive away, backpack held in front of me, teeth chattering—the sun’s come out, and the roads are clear, but the wind is still biting—then let myself into the garage. The Crock-Pot is going: Amy must’ve started it this morning, but she and Dad are still at work. The house is empty.
My knee is burning from where Liam touched me. And so’s another part of me, burning and fighting against my underwear, and thank god no one is home right now to see me.
I shouldn’t feel this way, because even though he’s not with Jasmine anymore, he’s still off-limits. More off-limits than ever, because now he’s broken Jasmine’s heart and she holds grudges the way a theatre holds glitter: forever and ever, long past the heat death of the universe.
But I can’t stop the way I feel about him. And I’m not sure I even want to.
My jeans are still too tight. I run to my room and lock the door just in case.
26
Monday morning, another huge printed banner is waiting for me on the Theatre Board:
