Page 70 of The Charade

"Oh," I said, pretending like the thought of sitting right next to him had never occurred to me. "So, the middle seat is actually more comfortable than the seat I'm already on?"

"It's the best seat in the whole house as far as I'm concerned." He patted the spot next to him.

But since I wasn't quite done playing games, I slid only about a foot over from where I already was. I was technically on the cushion he'd indicated, but only just barely.

I leaned back, putting my hands behind my head in a relaxed position. I let out an over-exaggerated sigh and said, "You're right. This spot is super comfy. I think I'm going to enjoy watching the movie from here very mu—"

But I didn't get to finish my sentence. Carter slipped one arm behind my back, spreading his hand against my hip, and slid me across the cushion until I was positioned right next to him.

"Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands," he said.

And I probably would have had a witty retort for him if I wasn't so distracted by the fact that my entire left side was lighting up like kindling about to catch fire.

He must have noticed that he'd left me speechless because a wicked grin lifted his cheeks before he said, "What do you think? Is this seat any better?"

Since I was barely thinking in one-word syllables, I just nodded my head and said, "Yeah."

Then he pulled me against him so my head rested on his chest, and as the opening scene ofMegamindcame on the screen all I could think of was that this was so much better.

27

Ava

When the movieended and the credits started rolling, the last thing I wanted to do was get up from the couch where I'd been cuddled up to Carter for the past hour and a half. It was probably strange that we were two high school seniors who had chosen to watch a cartoon, but it was probably what we'd needed after the heavy conversation on the back patio at dinner.

The movie was lighthearted and fun, and I hadn't laughed so much in a long time.

Carter pressed a button on a silver remote to turn on the overhead lights at the front of the room. Then he picked up a black remote and used it to turn off the screen.

He set the remotes back down, and then he smoothed his hands up and down my arm. In a quiet voice, he said, "I should probably get you back to the school, huh?"

But after listening to his breathing and his heartbeat and basically just basking in the glory of what it was like to be near Carter Hastings for an extended period of time, leaving his side and going back to the school where I'd have to wait until who knows how long to be alone with him again was the last thing I wanted to do.

We hadn't even really done anything besides watch the movie—no kissing, no fooling around—but it was probably the most enjoyable hour and a half that I'd had in a very long time because I'd been able to be near him. And I didn't know what it was, but I just felt better when I was with Carter. He was like a calming presence to my erratic brain, and I was more peaceful and content when I was with him.

Which was crazy, because he was also the same guy who could send my heart racing into overdrive with just a flip of the switch.

I didn't really know what he thought about me or what had been going through his head during the movie—for all I knew, his attention had been onMegamindand the character’s quest to be the baddest super villain of all time and he hadn't even really noticed my presence at all. But he had to feel something, right?

And so, since I really didn't want to get up from this couch and remove myself from this wonderful bubble of happiness, I burrowed my face into Carter's chest and said, "I fell asleep. I can't go anywhere," in a muffled voice.

Carter chuckled at my lie. But playing along with me, he brushed his fingertips through the hair that had fallen across my cheek, shifted his position so he could see my face better, and whispered, "Are you a sleep talker, Ava? Did you just say something?"

"Yes," I muttered.

I could feel him watching me, and so I tried to keep my expression neutral. I breathed more rhythmically, mimicking a sleeping person because even though it was totally obvious that I was faking, I was now dedicated to the production.

"I really hate to wake you up," Carter whispered, his hot, minty breath warming my forehead. "But you've left me no choice."

Before I could brace myself, his fingers were tickling my sides. I clenched my muscles, resisting the urge to squirm under his tickling touch. But while I was able to keep from twitching for about ten seconds, I could only hold off for so long because the sides of my ribs were the most ticklish part of my body.

"Ugh," I said, squirming away from his tickling fingers and sitting up. "You're so mean. You know that?"

Carter laughed, and for a moment I thought he was going to keep the tickle torture going just for fun. But he stopped and said, "I had to be mean for your own good." He used the button on the side of the couch to move his seat back to the upright position. "And now that you're awake again, I think it's time for me to take you back so you aren't late for curfew. You don't want to get on the headmistress’s bad side."

"I really don't care about getting on her bad side."

"That's only because you've never seen her when she's mad. Believe me, she's not a woman you want to mess with."

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