In the end, it turned out that both of us had actually been starving.
Seth attacked the pasta with impressive focus while I demolished half the burger in record time. At one point, Seth stole several fries off my plate without asking.
“I saw that,” I said.
Seth looked over innocently. “Saw what?”
“You stealing my fries.”
“You have enough fries for two people.”
“Those were my fries.”
Seth popped another one into his mouth without shame. “You’ll survive.”
A few beers in, the room softened around the edges comfortably. Both Seth and I felt more relaxed. The tension Seth had carried earlier finally seemed gone now too.
His shoulders loosened, and his laugh came easier. At some point, we abandoned the mostly empty plates onto the rolling tray near the foot of the bed.
Seth shifted beside me afterward, stretching before settling back against the pillows. It didn’t escape my notice how close he was next to me.
The movie continued playing unnoticed in the background.
I became acutely aware of Seth’s bare knee brushing mine beneath the blankets. Neither of us moved away. My pulse ticked upward quietly. Seth yawned softly beside me.
“Tired?” I asked.
“A little.”
He turned his head toward me slightly while speaking, close enough now that I couldn’t help but notice his gorgeous mouth.
Without really thinking about it, I reached over and brushed one damp curl back from his forehead. Seth went still immediately.
My hand lingered briefly near his temple before sliding slowly down the side of his face. His skin felt warm from the shower, and soft.
“Dane,” Seth murmured.
“You can tell me to stop any time,” I informed him.
A flush crept slowly across his cheeks, but Seth didn’t tell me I was crossing any line. In fact, Seth leaned into my touch before he seemed to realize he was doing it.
That tiny unconscious movement nearly ruined me. The air shifted. I let my thumb brush lightly along his jaw. Seth’s eyes dropped briefly to my mouth.
I considered that a very encouraging sign.
“So,” I murmured, inching closer slightly, “you always steal fries from people you fake date?”
Seth’s mouth twitched. “Only the special ones.”
Something warm spread low in my chest. I smiled despite myself. Then Seth shifted closer until his shoulder rested fully against mine.
That wasn’t an accidental brush this time. My arm slid naturally around him after that, settling along his shoulders. Seth relaxed into me almost immediately.
Seth fit against me like he belonged there, and my body already knew how to hold him. Seth tipped his head back slightly to look at me.
“You know,” he said quietly, “for people who claim this is pretend, we’re very cuddly.”
I huffed out a laugh.
