Page 10 of Sin Bin Daddies
She’s rambling, adorable in a way she probably doesn’t even realize.
“You almost died over doggy bag pho,” I deadpan.
Her lips twitch. “Technically, I almost died over Sunny’s dinner.”
“Yeah. Totally better.”
She sniffs, wipes her hands on her shorts, then looks up at me again. “Thank you, by the way. I mean, you literally saved my life. That was some serious Superman-level shit.”
I huff a laugh. “You should probably watch where you’re going, though.”
“Noted,” she says, mock-serious. “I’ll start looking both ways like a responsible adult.”
“That’d be smart.”
She grins, and it’s unfair. Too bright. Too fucking pretty.
“I’m Madeline,” she says, sticking out a hand.
I take it, and—fuck.
A little zing shoots through my palm, crawling up my arm.
I haven’t felt that in a long time.
“Leo,” I say, my voice lower than I mean for it to be.
“Leo,” she repeats, like she’s trying it out. “Nice name.”
“Yeah?”
She nods. “It suits you.” Before I can overthink that, she steps back. “Anyway, thanks again for the save. I owe you my life and possibly a takeout order.”
I smile. “I’ll take a rain check on the second one.”
She laughs, waves once, then crosses the street—and I just fucking watch her.
Something about the way she moves—long-legged, confident, golden hair catching in the neon lights—has me completely mesmerized.
I don’t move until she disappears around the corner.
Then, I shake myself loose and keep walking.
By the time I reach the theater, my legs ache from the walk. I took the long route here, but it’s worth it. A few blocks of silence, just me and the city, helped clear my head.
The smell of popcorn and old carpet hits me the second I step inside. I switch off the white noise on my headphones and head for the ticket counter, already feeling a little lighter.
I buy my ticket for the horror marathon, then head to the concession stand, digging out my wallet.
“Large popcorn, extra butter,” I tell the guy behind the counter.
A voice pipes up behind me. “Superman strikes again.”
There is no way she’s here.
I turn.
And there she is.
