Page 53 of Late Nights

Ah, so that’s what this was all about. He liked watching scary movies because Kate was all over him. Man, this guy was good. I really should be taking notes. I wasn’t sure how Kate was so oblivious, but it was clear to me. Maybe that was because I had a similar situation going on. We both liked someone and were trying to hide it but still wanted to act on certain impulses.

West brought Halle closer to his chest. “I know I wouldn’t mind you cuddling up to me for protection during a scary movie.”

“I don’t really get scared during movies, but I could definitely pretend.” She gave him a flirty look, like they hadn’t been a couple for the last several months.

Demi glanced at me, and I stared back.

Well, it looked like a scary movie was in our future, and West and Halle would be snuggled up, and Kate would be mauling Jax in terror. Where did that leave Demi and me? Did she get scared watching horror movies? Could we play off our cuddling as us being close friends, like Jax and Kate? I wasn’t opposed to trying if the chance presented itself.

16

Cannon

We’d started the movie once we all got out of the hot tub and showered, meeting in the theater room to eat pizza. There were three rows of three sets of reclining love seats, but we’d all sat in the front row. West and Halle had taken the farthest one on the right, and Kate and Jax took the one in the middle, which left Demi and I to share the loveseat on the left. I’d debated on whether I should sit with Demi and act like it wasn’t a big deal, or if I should take a seat in the second row to give us some space, but eventually I’d taken a seat next to her. It might have looked even more suspicious if I hadn’t sat with her. I never would have thought watching a movie and figuring out where to sit could be so complicated. I was almost thirty years old, and I had been worrying about where to sit like a teenager.

Sitting this close to Demi, I could smell the flowery scent of her shampoo since her hair was still wet from her shower. The smell instantly had me thinking of our nightly routine of playing video games together, since she would wash her hair after working her shift at The Bridger before coming out to join me. I wished we were home alone instead of having to spend the next two hours sitting this close to Demi without talking, teasing, or possibly tickling her. Instead I was tense, not wanting to give West or anyone else any reason to think I thought of Demi as anything more than a friend.

The pizza was long gone, and the movie was getting more intense. Scary movies didn’t bother me, but I had to keep stifling a chuckle every time Kate let out a gasp, clinging to Jax’s arm. She was plastered to his side, her eyes wide as she stared at the screen in fear.

I snuck a glance at Demi to see if I could get a read on how she was feeling about the movie. She had a blanket covering most of her body, her legs tucked up underneath her, but she looked rigid. If I had to guess, she was more affected than Halle but not quite to the terror level of Kate.

My hand started moving on its own, slowly making its way along the couch and under the blanket. My brain tried to tell my hand this was a bad idea, but it clearly had a mind of its own. I was grateful for the cover of darkness and that West was as far from us as he could get in this theater room.

When my pinky ran into the side of her thigh, I stopped, just wanting to let her know I was here if she needed me. Without looking at me, her hand came to rest against mine, intertwining our pinky fingers. The simple and innocent touch sent a sparking sensation through my hand and up my arm.

A jump-scare on the screen resulted in Demi’s pinky finger squeezing mine. Once she lessened her grip on me, I slowly disentangled our fingers, turning my hand face-up to capture the entirety of her hand in mine. My large hand completely enveloped hers, but I couldn’t help notice how well our hands fit together.

My eyes were on the screen, but I barely recognized what I was watching. All I could think about was Demi’s hand in mine. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d held someone’s hand. I was sure I had at some point, but nothing was coming to mind, nothing that had left an impression. But I knew for sure I had never held a woman’s hand like this.

The rest of the movie went by in a blur. I hoped nobody asked me any questions about the second half because I wouldn’t be able to tell them anything about it. But I could tell them how many times Demi squeezed my hand and how good her skin felt against my thumb as I stroked it gently across the top of her hand.

I reluctantly let go of her hand when the credits started rolling on the screen, before anyone had a chance to turn on the lights.

“That was the worst movie ever,” Kate exclaimed.

“I rather enjoyed it,” Jax said with a sly grin.

Kate smacked him on the chest. “That’s only because you love teasing me about it.” She narrowed her eyes. “And getting your revenge.”

Jax’s smile grew. “Revenge can be so very sweet.”

Kate rolled her eyes, sitting on the edge of the loveseat and stretching her arms overhead. “I’m going to head to bed. After skiing and then tensing every single muscle in my body during that entire movie, I’m exhausted.”

“I’m exhausted, too,” Halle said. “Skiing uses different muscles, ones I am not used to using.”

I checked my watch. It was only ten, but if everyone was going to go to sleep, there wasn’t much else to do.

Kate and Jax headed out of the theater room, with West and Halle behind them. Demi and I hadn’t yet moved.

“Are you going to head off to bed too?” I asked.

She smoothed out the blanket on her lap, keeping her eyes down. “Um, I’m not quite tired enough to go to sleep. I was thinking of making myself some hot chocolate and sitting out on the patio.” She swept her gaze up to me. “Do you want to join me?”

Did I want to stay up late and spend some time alone with her? A thousand percent yes.

“Yeah, that sounds nice,” I said, downplaying my excitement.

She smiled, standing and placing the blanket back on the couch. “You go first.” She gestured for me to go ahead of her with a teasing grin. “You’ve already enjoyed the view way too much today.”

---