Page 78 of Hypothetical Heart
She lifts her gaze to meet mine, her eyes soft yet resolute. “It means everything to me,” she says just as softly, her words wrapping around me like a delicate promise. In thatinstant, the world outside fades, leaving only the two of us in this fragile, perfect bubble.
This is real,I think, my pulse quickening as I try to grasp the magnitude of what’s unfolding. Her words are a soothing balm but ignite a whirlwind of emotions.What if this is the chance I’ve been waiting for?I find myself daring to dream of a future where we are more than just two people in a moment.What if this is where everything changes?
Our friends are now sitting at the table while we stand nearby. Jameson’s finger runs up and down Genevieve’s shoulder, sliding beneath the spaghetti strap of her dress. Honestly, I never expected Genevieve to be big on physical touch, but the way she is with Jameson completely contradicts everything I’ve ever pictured her to be like as a girlfriend.
Dinner is served a bit later, and we end up at a table with all our parents, something that doesn’t happen very often anymore. My dad and Winnie’s dad give each other looks throughout dinner, and my guess is it has something to do with the fact they saw us kiss on the dance floor.
And once everyone is done eating, Madame Bacri comes up to Winnie and me, telling us that if we wanted to leave, we could. It was all we needed to not feel guilty about leaving at the same time as all our friends.
I handed my dad the keys to my car so he can drive it home since Genevieve is driving us all back to her house in her Range Rover.
“Winnie, can you sit on Logan’s lap?” Eloise asks, climbing in the backseat.
“Um…” She pauses, looking toward me for approval.
I shrug. “I don’t mind.” In fact, Winnie sitting in my lap is ideal.
“Okay,” she says, still seeming nervous when I step in front of her to take the seat next to Eloise.
“Hop on in, sweetheart,” I tease as I hold my arm open for her.
She steps up into the car, turning so she can drop down on my lap while I hold her arm to keep her steady. For the first few minutes of the ride, Winnie’s the only one who stays silent. She’s also stiff as a board while being perched on the very edge of my knees.
I lean in, resting my head on her shoulder so I can whisper in her ear, “You okay?”
She nods, her throat bobbing as she swallows down her words.
“Just a couple weeks ago, I had your back pressed against my bedroom door while I kissed you senseless, so I’m a bit confused as to why this is embarrassing for you.” She blushes at my words, and all I can hope is that none of our friends heard what I said.
Like normal, Genevieve and Jameson are bickering in the front seat, and Eloise and Luke have joined their argument from where they sit next to Winnie and I.
“I’m not embarrassed,” she says quietly. “I just don’t want to invade your personal space.”
“What if I want you to?” I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her backward and making it so her body is completely flush with mine.
She gasps under her breath, but it’s obvious she doesn’t want to seem awkward in front of our friends, so she leans further into me.
“What are you doing?” She hisses through her teeth.
“You looked uncomfortable,” I tell her honestly.
I’m not going to sit here looking pretty while she’s clearly tense and uneasy. It doesn’t work like that with me.
It takes a bit more time before she completely relaxes and is able to join in on the conversations, but I keep my arm wrapped around her waist and pull her closer when Genevieve refuses to avoid potholes.
We’re almost back to Gen’s house when the seatbelt around the both of us locks because of a sharp turn. Winnie starts moving back and forth, fiddling with it and trying to get it unlocked. I hold her hip tighter than I probably should, gritting my teeth to keep me from losing my cool.
“Winnie,” I whisper in warning, hoping she’ll take the hint.
Of course, that beautiful, innocent brain of hers doesn’t. “Sorry,” she says harshly. “I’m just trying to get this unlocked.”
For a few moments, I let her continue pulling at the contraption, praying she can get it free and end this torture, but when she continues rocking back and forth with every tug of the strap. I can barely contain myself. “Winnie,” I say again, much closer to her ear and with a lot more desperation. “Please stop, I’m begging you.”
“Why?” She settles herself back down on my lap, a small gasp leaving her when she feels exactly why. “Oh…”
“Yeah,” My voice strains as my body recognizes every inch of her skin that is pressing against me, making my pants grow tighter. “Just stay still for a minute.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her hand resting on the back of my neck. “I didn’t?—“
