Page 20 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Once I come out, I see that he’s also changed into a pair of sweatpants and a new T-shirt of his own.

He’s also not wearing that cap on his head, which is good because when he turns it backwards it makes me stupid.

And don’t even get me started on the cowboy hat he wears.

Though, the sweatpants that are hanging low on his hips are doing the exact same thing.

“You’re right.” He shakes his head, looking at me with an undeniable heat in his gaze, though I don’t know why.

“About what?”

“We aren’t the same size, but it doesn’t matter because you look damn good in my clothes.”

I fight the blush creeping into my cheeks as he takes my wet clothes from me, turning to look around the house in an effort to distract myself.

“Do you want anything to drink?” he offers.

I plop down onto the couch, and it’s as comfy as I thought it would be as I sink into the softness. “No thanks, I’m good.”

“Okay, I’m going to get these in the dryer.

” He walks to where I assume the laundry room is, and I just glance around at the space, getting a glimpse of how Jameson lives.

The sense of comfort that surrounds me here has nothing to do with the couch, and more about the space in general. It makes me want to run.

But unless I want to get soaked again and drive home in sopping wet clothes, then I’m stuck for the time being.

When he comes back into the living room, I can’t help but ask, “Should we go get the dogs? I feel bad having your mom deal with Bennet.”

He pulls his phone out of his pocket, and when he turns the screen toward me, I see the picture of my black and white fluffy dog curled up on a dog bed with Jameson’s blue nose Pitbull snuggled up against him. It’s like they’re sharing the bed, with Duke using Bennet as a pillow.

My heart melts at the sight of the two of them together.

Why can’t it be that easy for humans to make friends?

There’s too much distrust and betrayal that comes with any relationship for us.

A dog would never betray another dog or do something to ruin the other’s trust. Dogs are the most loyal creatures there are, and the pure innocence of them only makes them even better.

If only I could let myself be like Bennet.

“That’s so sweet, tell your mom thank you.” I look up at Jameson who has that same look in his eyes every time he looks at me. The softness that sends a sense of calmness over me.

“I will,” he assures. “I think we should wait out the storm a bit, hopefully your clothes will be dry by the time it lets up.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” I agree, feeling a slight awkward tension in the air at the reality of being here with him alone, wearing his clothes, somewhat stuck until the rain stops.

“What do you like to watch?” he asks, dropping down onto the couch next to me, but keeping enough distance between us so we aren’t touching and something about the distance makes me want to close it.

I bring my legs up to hug them against my chest. “Anything is fine.”

“Don’t tell me that, I’ll put on something extremely boring. Maybe a nature documentary, or sports.” His tone is teasing.

I turn slightly toward him. “What makes you think I’d find either of those things boring? Maybe I love nature documentaries. I may be the biggest sports fan there is, you don’t know.”

“Oh yeah? What’s your favorite sport?”

“The one with a ball.”

“Which one?”

“All of them.”

He laughs, it’s so genuine I can’t help but smile. “Only sports with balls, huh?”

“Of course, is there any other kind?”

“Yeah, hockey uses a puck.”

I clamp my mouth shut because I didn’t even consider hockey. “You got me there.”

“Well, you’re lucky because it’s not in season right now.” He sits back, relaxing onto the couch. “So, nature documentary it is.”

I bite back my laugh, thinking he’s not actually going to put one on, but he does. My stubbornness prevents me from saying anything about it. Even after ten minutes of neither of us saying anything and already being bored out of my mind.

“Wow, did you know that?” he asks, and I realize I was not listening to the show, so I shake my head.

“Nope, I didn’t.”

“Interesting.” He nods like he’s actually paying attention to the screen.

A laugh bubbles out of me. “Don’t act like you’re enjoying this.”

“What do you mean? Of course I am.”

I roll my eyes, settling deeper into the couch.

I notice that somehow one of us has scooted closer to the other.

I’m not sure who moved, whether it was both of us, or even when it happened, but our sides are practically touching.

His arms are stretched out along the back of the couch while I remain with mine wrapped around my legs that are up by my chest.

The rain pounds the roof above us and the steady noise is all I can focus on because the longer I sit here, this close to him, the comfortable silence makes me want to reach out and touch him. It makes me want to feel what it may be like to kiss him again.

Would it feel the same as it did the other night? Would it pull every thought from my mind, and make him the only thing that matters in that moment? Would it be enough to break down my walls for me to give in and fall into him?

“Why’re you looking at me like that?” he asks smoothly, and the slight upturn of his mouth has me focusing on his lips even more since he’s still looking ahead at the TV.

I don’t know what to say because I don’t have a reason. There’s no way I could say what I’m thinking. I can’t tell him that I’m thinking about our kiss or that I want to do it again. The words won’t come out, and that’s when I consider throwing caution to the wind.

We’re alone here, and nothing from outside these walls needs to matter. Not what I ran away from, not the reason he came back. Nothing needs to matter except the two of us.

In an act of boldness I’ve never had before, I close the small distance between us, swinging a leg over Jameson’s lap, and he immediately grabs onto my hips.

“What’re you doing?” he asks, surprised, but holding me in place like he knows I may try to run.

“Don’t ask,” I whisper, leaning down to press my lips against his.