The doorbell rang while I was shuffling through my purse for money. The delivery guy would probably be someone from school. Beau answering the door didn’t sound like the best idea. I rushed out of my bedroom door and came face to face with Beau. Or more accurately, face to chest. A very yummy-smelling chest. I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
“I’ll wait here while you pay,” he said in a low whisper. I nodded and stepped around him.
The moment I opened the door I was instantly relieved Beau was hiding. It was a starting lineman on the football team, Jimmy Noles.
“How’s it going, Ashton?” Jimmy asked, smiling.
“Um, good, thanks.”
“I guess you’re missing Sawyer.”
I nodded. “Yes, I am.” I handed him the money. “Keep the change and thanks.”
His grin got bigger. “Cool, thanks Ashton. See ya around.”
I returned his smile and closed the door.
Beau stepped out of the hallway. “That smells good.”
It did smell good but I doubted I could actually eat. Beau took the box out of my hand and walked over to the couch and set it down on the coffee table.
“I’ll get some paper plates,” I said, wishing I didn’t sound so nervous.
He started opening the box. “Don’t get one for me but a paper towel would be good.”
Beau managed to eat most of the pizza before I forced down one slice. I’m glad he didn’t feel awkward by my crazy behavior. He leaned back on the sofa with his eyes on the movie after wiping his hands on the paper towel. I sat my plate down on a stack of Garden and Gun magazines my dad kept on the coffee table.
“I left you two more pieces. You can’t be full.”
I glanced over at him. “You mean you didn’t stop eating because you were full?”
He shook his head. “No, I was being considerate. I’m never full.”
I leaned back on the sofa. “Eat all you want, I’m done.”
He didn’t lean forward to grab another slice like I expected him to. Instead his attention stayed on me.
“Why did you invite me here tonight, Ash?”
My face flushed. Why had I asked him to come? Answering that question wasn’t easy. Since he’d walked in the door I’d been acting ridiculous. I never seemed to be at a loss of things to say with Sawyer. Beau rattled me. Now, he was being bored to death by the preacher’s daughter while he could be with his sexy hot girlfriend doing all those things I knew nothing about. I was depriving him of an exciting evening. The idea that he’d come tonight to entertain me for his cousin’s sake made me feel awful. He’d been doing me a charity and I couldn’t even make it interesting for him. Well, at least I’d fed him.
“I’m sorry. I guess, I just didn’t want to be alone, but I’m okay. You can go. I know this is dull compared to your normal activities.” I managed a weak smile.
His frown deepened as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, but he didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Being with you isn’t dull. You just seem uncomfortable. If you want me to leave I will. I have a feeling you’re rethinking the having-me-over thing.”
I sighed and let out a small laugh.
“No. I want you to stay. I’ve just never had any guy over here but Sawyer and even then my parents were here. I’m nervous. It’s not that I don’t want you here.”
“Why do I make you nervous?” he asked, watching me.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.
“Hmm. You’re wrong, by the way,” he replied, grinning.
“What?”