Page 308 of Small Town Firsts

“I think you’ll like it.” He studies me for a minute. “Unless you’d prefer a chick flick?”

“What’s it about?”

Sterling grins. “It’s about The Dude.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

I settle back against the fluffy pillows, unease still swimming within me, while Sterling queues up the movie.

As the opening scene unfolds, I find myself very much doubting Sterling’s taste in movies.

“Just trust me,” he murmurs as he scoots closer to me, easily reading my disbelief.

I try my hardest to give the movie my full attention, but my brain isn’t having it.

Sure, it’s funny, and I laugh when I’m supposed to, but my half-drunk brain is working overtime to process everything.

Not just today, either, but the past month.

The same thoughts have been looping around my brain so often, I’m starting to annoy myself. But how? How did we go from Sterling wanting to destroy me to having movie night in his bed?

I’m so lost in my obsessive internal quest for answers that I don’t even notice the movie’s over.

“So, what’d you think?” Sterling asks.

“It was good,” I answer automatically. It’s not a lie, though—the parts I tuned in for were really good. “Not something I would have picked, but I liked it.”

“I’m glad. Next time you can pick.”

“Next time?” I yawn and snuggle deeper into my pillow, tugging the covers up to my chin.

“This isn’t a one-and-done, baby.”

“You keep calling me that.”

He nods, rustling the sheets. “I do.”

“Why?”

“Time will tell.” He winks, and I swear to God, I don’t know if I want to hug him or suffocate him.

“Or you could tell me. Now.” Another yawn slips past my lips, causing Sterling to frown.

“You’re tired. Maybe tomorrow.”

“How am I supposed to sleep now?” I whine.

“Need me to tuck you in?”

I huff out a laugh. “You’re really not going to tell me?”

“Not tonight.”

“Fine. Then tell me something else before we go to bed.”

“Anything?” he asks, and I nod.

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