Page 22 of Silent Count
He looks at me like he’s trying to figure something out. “Thank you. I like them.”
“Well, that’s good!” We both laugh. “Bo, I feel bad taking your room. We barely know each other, and I’m taking over your space.”
“I wouldn’t say we hardly know each other. We’ve been friends now for, like, a year, right?” He walks a little closer to me.
“Friends. Yes, of course.” I nod, smirking.
We stand there, staring at each other for a beat, and then we hear Noelle call to me, breaking the moment.
“Chels! Let’s go. We’re turning the show back on.”
“Coming,” I call out.
I start to turn to walk out, but Bo places a hand on my shoulder.
“Hey.” His hand slides down my arm. “I like having you in my space.”
Now, I’m not the kind of girl who blushes, but I can feel the heat in my face, and I can’t help but smile. “I like being in your space, Bo Callaway.” It’s a flutter of honesty that comes out before I realize what I’m saying.
He smiles and nods as I walk out. I look back over my shoulder and return his smile, and he turns and grabs a pillow off the bed.
When we get back to the family room, Casey, Noelle, and Charlie are all sitting on the couch, and Silas came back out of his room and is lying down on the floor, sprawled out for some reason.
“You okay there, Silas?” I ask him.
“Yep. I just need to stretch out my back.”
He pulls his long, thick legs into his chest and holds them there. He’s surprisingly flexible for as big as he is. I mean, they all seem big to me since I’m short. Bo and Casey are tall and definitely fit, but Silas is huge.
Bo sits back down in the chair, and I take my spot again on the couch after picking up my phone and setting it on the arm of the couch.
“Okay, I’m back, let’s do this.” I clap.
As we watch the show, the guys all have commentary about the drama. Casey and Silas more so than Bo, but he adds comments here and there. And I hear him laugh a few times too. We lose Silas at some point. He’s now snoring away, still on the floor.
After the show ends, Casey takes the remote from his sister and puts on ESPN.
“Hey, I didn’t say you could change the channel yet. I wanted to watch one more episode.” She slaps him playfully on the shoulder, and he ducks into Noelle, who giggles.
“Show’s over, Char. Go call Beck or something.” He points toward her room.
“Rude. Why are you trying to get rid of me?” She fake pouts.
“I could never get rid of you. From the time of our conception, I haven’t been able to get rid of you.” He starts laughing when she shoves him a little harder this time.
“You’re so lucky I’m your sister and that I love you. You wouldn’t be the same without me.” She crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at him.
He wraps his arm around her and pulls her into his armpit. “I am the luckiest, I agree.”
She pinches his side, and he lets her go.
“Oww! What was that for?”
“You literally put my head in your armpit. That’s disgusting!” She starts to stand, but stops. “Oh, I wanted you to tell me how your interview went today.”
“Me too! I totally forgot today was your day,” Noelle chimes in.
Casey nods and shifts on the couch and puts his arm around Noelle. “It was good. Pretty easy since I’m a natural on camera.” He chuckles.
