Page 26 of Full Court Love
We’re now holding hands out on the table for everyone to see. Beet red, I pull my hand away. “Nope. I’m just here to read my book.”
As well as to sit with you and drink coffee with you and every once in a while look up and see you just being here with me.That part I definitely don’t say out loud.
Instead, I hold up my book to emphasize that I’m not joking.
I intently begin to pretend to read. Staring at the book, I force my eyes to move back and forth, but I’m internalizing nothing. I’ve read and re-read the same paragraph about ten times. What Iamhyper-aware of are Jordan’s eyes on me. But I don’t look up.
Then, I feel his leg make contact with mine. It almost feels accidental until the other leg brushes mine. It’s both kind of hot and also very middle school. It’s the action that finally gets me to bite.
Looking over the top of the book so only my eyes are visible, I just raise my eyebrows.
He holds up his hands, feigning innocence. “I didn’t even do anything.”
I roll my eyes. “Uh-huh. Sure you didn’t.”
He runs his foot up my calf. Goose bumps erupt and climb up my entire body. I drop my book on the table. His eyes sink to my mouth for a split second, and I know what’s on both our minds.
We haven’t kissed yet.
I know Jordan’s past, so I’m surprised. He’s been flirtatious, for sure. But it feels like he’s holding back on purpose. He definitely likes to be close to me–always grabbing my hand or wrapping his arm around my shoulders–but nothing more.
Yet.
This little interaction is making me wonder if I’m not the only one who’s been thinking about it.
But I still need to make him work.
“Do we have a problem, sir? I came here for a peaceful afternoon of coffee and reading. Is that going to be possible with you?”
A smile plays at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”
His leg is still touching mine.
Narrowing my eyes, I pick up my book and open it dramatically. “Go get a coffee, you little nuisance.”
He stands up and winks as he passes me. “You know you love being annoyed by me.”
He’s right.
I can’t get enough of it.
It, meaning him.
He strolls up to the counter, drawing every eye in the place. Including mine. He starts up a conversation with Angie, and as he turns and both are gesturing in my direction, it becomes pretty obvious who their topic of conversation is. Noticing me staring, he shakes his head like a disappointed teacher and points back to my book.
Sheepishly, I pretend to read, but every few seconds, I glance up. He and Angie are laughing like old friends. Petecomes out from the back and shakes Jordan’s hand as Angie introduces them. Why does this feel like such a monumental moment? It’s almost like bringing him home to meet family.
Jordan finally saunters back to my table, coffee in hand, smiling like a kid. Rather than sitting across from me, he slides his chair around so we’re side by side. His legs are pressed against mine, and he reads over my shoulder for a minute.
I really wish I was able to play it cooler, but I can’t see straight. My heart is hammering and all my senses are buzzing. We are snuggled up at a coffee shop, in public, reading one of my favorite books–or just holding it in front of my head.
Finally, I give up on the charade of pretending to read. I turn to face him, which is a move that only heightens my nerves because we are intimately close.
“So, how’d you like Angie and Pete?”
He doesn’t answer right away, choosing instead to move a hair that had gotten caught on my lip. His fingers graze across my cheek, and my sharp intake of breath makes him smile softly. He rests his arm across the back of my chair and uses the other one to pull my legs even closer to his. Then he leaves his hand resting right on my lap.
He’s fully aware of the effect he’s having on me, even if he refuses to show it. Every move is calculated. He’s totally in control, and as hot as it is, it also irks me to my core.