Page 111 of The Play Maker

I hold the bag of popcorn out to her, but she pauses, eyes flicking from the snacks to me, brows knitting just a little.

I remember that day at the diner when she barely ate, even when I slid the mozzarella sticks her way. She was clearly hungry, but it was like eating in front of me made her freeze up or something.

Which is fucking ridiculous. Everyone eats. She shouldn’t feel weird about that. Ever.

And if I ever found out someone said something to her, there’s not a goddamn person on this planet that could stop me from plummeting them into the ground.

“I got like six other snacks if you want something else,” I offer.

She smiles, and I swear I see something loosen in her shoulders. “I’m more of an Oreo girl.”

My smile widens, and I open the bag, reaching for those. “Lucky for you, I panicked in the snack aisle and bought half the store.”

She laughs, rips open the pack, and grabs one.

“I used to watch this movie with my sister,” she says, her eyes glued to the screen. “We’d quote it line for line.” She lets out a sigh. “This part always makes me cry.”

I glance down at her. “Why?”

She shrugs. “It’s just… sad, I guess. Two people in the same city, walking past each other every day and not knowing what they’re missing.”

Yeah.

I think about all the times I must’ve walked past her and didn’t even know she existed. And now she’s here, curled up beside me, and I don’t know how I ever went this long without her.

Halfway through, she shifts. Her head rests lightly against my chest. My arm slides around her waist without me even thinking about it. She lets out the tiniest sigh, nestling in closer, and I just sit there, blinking at the screen, my heart pounding like a jackhammer.

My heart is beating so loud, I’m surprised she doesn’t comment on it.

This feels good. This feels right.

I don’t remember the last time I felt like this.

I shift closer to her, and I feel her body stiffen just a little.

“You okay?” I murmur, glancing down at her.

“Yeah,” she says, lifting her eyes to look up at me.Fuck, those eyes. “I just… like this.”

I tighten my arm around her just a little. She reaches out and places her hand over mine. Her thumb rubs over my knuckles, and I want to pull her into my chest and keep her there. Forever. She has no idea what that little touch is doing to me. None.

I stare at the screen and pretend I’m following the movie, but the only thing I’m thinking about is the girl pressed into my side.

By the time the credits roll, she’s half-asleep on my shoulder, her hand curled lightly over my stomach. I don’t move. Don’t want to.

I want to stay like this.

Right here, with her tucked into me.

“That was so good,” I say, even though I barely watched half of it.

She tilts her head, eyes still sleepy but bright. “You liked it?”

“I liked the company more,” I tease with a smile.

She chuckles, rolls those eyes and I feel my stomach churn at the thought of saying goodbye to her tonight.

I force myself to shift, gently nudging her. “C’mon. Let’s get you back.”