“Really?” She peers up at me. Her big brown eyes are swirling with something that I can’t name, but whatever it is, it makes me want to kiss her. Who am I kidding? Everything makes me want to kiss her these days.
“Thank you, Tank.” She steps into me and gives me a one-armed hug.
I swallow thickly. “Anything for you, Tink.”
She quickly pulls back and clears her throat. “I set your chair up for you.” She points to the chair on the opposite side of hers.
“Thanks.” I step behind her chair and grab mine, moving it closer to hers. It’s so close our arms could touch when we’re sitting. It’s the closest I’ll be able to get without pulling her onto my lap, and I won’t do that here. Not because we’ve never done that in front of my family, but because now it means more, and they’ll see through me.
* * *
“Are we staying for the next one?” Alyssa asks.
“You okay with that?”
“Definitely. I just need to use the restroom.” She puts her chair back into the sitting position and leans forward to get the others’ attention. “I’m taking a restroom break. Anyone need to go?”
“Yes,” Palmer, Jade, and Kennedy all say at once.
“Piper and Heath are on their way here,” Palmer says as she takes the hand that Rushton offers her to help her stand from her chair. She smiles at him in thanks, and he nods before sitting back in his seat.
“Good. I’m glad they’re going to make it,” Jade says.
“Yeah, they should be here at the same time as Brooks.”
“How many times has he texted you?” I hear Kennedy ask as the four of them head for the row of portable restrooms, which I know they all hate to use.
“I’m going to run to my truck, then grab some more snacks. Anyone need anything?” I glance around at my remaining family.
“A candy bar,” Merrick says. “Surprise me,” he adds before I can ask him what kind.
I rush to my truck. The sun is going down, and it’s going to start to cool off. Not enough that we need a hoodie, but I know Alyssa, and she likes to be snuggled when she’s watching a movie. I tossed one of the many throw blankets I’ve bought for my place specifically for her over the years into the truck before I left. I grab it and make my way back to the concession stands. This time I order us both a pulled pork sandwich, a bucket of fries to split, and two bottles of water in addition to Merrick’s candy bar. My hands are once again filled, but I cheat by stacking the sandwiches on top of the fries and shove the bottles of water into the pockets of my cargo shorts, along with the candy bar.
Alyssa and the ladies are already back by the time I reach our seats. I stop next to Alyssa and lift my arm that the blanket is shoved under, and it falls on her head, making her laugh until she sees what it is. She looks from me to the blanket, and the smile that lights up her face also lights up my soul.
“Mer!” I call out to my brother, digging the candy bar out of my pocket and tossing it to him.
“The rest of this is ours.” I turn so that Alyssa can grab one bottle of water, then turn again so she can reach the other side. I wait for her to put them in the cupholders in our chairs before handing her the fries. I take my seat and hand her the pulled pork sandwich I got her.
“Sterling.”
Everyone is talking and laughing, standing and stretching before the next movie. Brooks arrives, as do Piper and Heath, but none of that matters. I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Did you want something different?” I ask her.
“No.” She’s quick to shake her head. “This is… the blanket, my favorite food. You spoil me.” There’s emotion in her tone.
I lean over into her space and use my free hand to tuck her hair that’s escaped from her ponytail behind her ear. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”
“Sometimes—” She stops short.
“Tell me.”
Her eyes are intense when she says, “Sometimes you make my heart race.”
Fuck me. I want to kiss her. Instead, I smile and sit back in my seat. I don’t tell her that she makes my heart skip a fucking beat every time I lay eyes on her. I don’t tell her that I’d love the opportunity to make her heart race every day for the rest of our lives.
No, I pretend as if her confession is no big deal and peel back the wrapper of my sandwich. It’s a dick move, but I know myself. If I say a single word. If I touch her, all bets are off. I don’t care where we are or that my family will have front-row seats.