His arms are still wrapped around me, and we’re standing so close together it has my heart setting off at a crazy pace and my mouth instantly going bone dry. I can clearly see the light- and dark-gray areas in his irises and every inch of his attractive face.
Nerves and a fluttering of anticipation make my insides quiver.
He begins to lean down, and I hold my breath.
What’s happening?
“I love the smell of popcorn,” Lainey suddenly says as she comes down the stairs.
My face goes up in flames as I yank away from Easton. Grabbing the bowl of popcorn, I carry it to the coffee table in the living room. Feeling utterly confused and rattled, I rush back to the kitchen to get a chocolate.
“What do you want to drink, Lainey?” I ask, and when my voice sounds hoarse, I clear my throat. It only adds to my embarrassment.
He was probably just leaning in to kiss me on the cheek or forehead. He’s done that plenty of times before.
God, I’m seeing things that aren’t there.
And now I’m running around like a headless chicken.
“Um ...” Lainey opens the fridge and looks inside before grabbing a juice box. “I’ll have this.”
“Great.” I walk back to the living room and take a seat on the couch while reaching for the remote. Finding the movie, I wait for Lainey to get comfortable beside me before I press play.
“Scoot up,” Easton says, and I move to the middle of the couch.
While he sits down beside me, Lainey turns her body so she can lean back against me while draping her legs over the armrest.
“Comfortable?” I ask.
She nods, then looks at the table. “Can you pass me the popcorn, please?”
Easton picks up the bowl, and leaning into me, he places it on her lap. When he rests his arm on the back of the couch behind me, the side of his chest presses against my bicep and shoulder.
I’m practically squashed in between Easton and Lainey. Completely focused on every movement and breath from Easton, I have no idea what’s happening in the movie. I’m dying to steal a glance at him, but he’ll definitely notice.
My thoughts turn to earlier in the kitchen, and I replay the moment over and over.
Even though I love him and would give anything for a chance to be with him, I’m not sure I can handle a romantic relationship right now. It’s only been a month since I broke things off with Trent, and with everything that’s happened, I haven’t had any time to deal with the trauma he inflicted on me.
Feeling more and more confused by the minute, my thoughts are a jumbled mess.
Easton’s arm moves from the couch to my shoulders before wrapping around the side of my neck while his other hand takes hold of my chin. He nudges my face up so I’ll look at him, then he whispers, “Are you okay?”
Crap, he noticed.
Trying to cover up that I’m anything but okay, I lie, “Yes. Why? Don’t I look okay?”
He lets out a chuckle. “You look fine. You just seemed deep in thought.”
Just trying to figure out my chaotic emotions.
“I’m totally fine,” I whisper. “Well, as fine as I can be under the circumstances.”
Easton leans in again, and my heart all but stops in my chest, but then he presses a kiss to my forehead.
Ugh, I need to stop seeing things that aren’t there.
I turn my attention to Lainey when she snuggles into my side, and noticing she’s fallen asleep, I whisper, “We should take her to bed.”
