Which I understand now, but if you’re okay with it, I think we should try to do those physical things, like cuddling and holding hands, and I don’t really know what else we should be doing because all of my knowledge about what normal teens do is based on a TV show, so I’m guessing they’re not entirely accurate.”
My heart again had that glowy, fluttery feeling. “You are giving this an extraordinary amount of thought.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Honestly, I’m worried if I think about it too much, I’ll go running into the hills and never return. In case you didn’t notice, I’m all about avoidance as a coping mechanism.”
He nodded, serious. “I noticed. I told you, I tend to overanalyze things when left to my own devices, like our current circumstances.”
“I’m trying to be in the present with you. Not thinking about it but just doing it.”
“Would you be okay, then, with us touching each other?”
This was something I could definitely get on board with. I had been, like he said, skittish when it came to men touching me, because touching had always led us down a road that ended in kissing. So I stayed away from it to avoid the end result.
But this time I was trying to get to that place.
“I would be okay with it. And you don’t have to ask me every time. This is my blanket permission.”
His wolfish grin momentarily made me think maybe that had been the wrong decision. Then he reached up with his free hand and ran his fingertips along the edge of the sapphire pendant necklace I was wearing. I felt little tendrils of fire every place that he touched me. My skin was flushing from the sensation. “So you’d be okay if I told you this was pretty. That you look pretty wearing it.”
It was like somebody had slammed into me, leaving me momentarily breathless. “What?”
“Where did you get it?”
“It was a college graduation present. Sapphires are my birthstone. My mom worked extra hours to get it for me.”
The next thing that occurred to me was that this was just like the scene in the second Duel of the Fae movie where Malec ripped the truth-telling locket from Aliana’s neck, and instead of being upset with him for destroying a piece of her magic, she kissed him.
I was understanding her reasoning.
“Or you’re fine if I do this,” he said.
Now he moved his hand from my collarbone to my hair, running his fingers through the ends, watching the way the strands twined around his fingers. “So soft,” he murmured, saying it in a way that made me think he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“That happens when you have nice conditioner.” I was trying to joke, but it was like I could barely get the words out. I wondered if it was okay for me to touch him, too. Would his hair be soft? Would he let me twist and turn it with my fingers? Maybe make little braids in it?
“That kind of reminds me of the other thing I think we should be doing.” How could he speak so calmly when my insides were being jumbled like crazy? “We should get to know each other better. Like, I don’t even know if you’re from California.”
“I am. Born and raised.”
“Okay . . .” He was still playing with my hair, and I was still loving it and wanted to lean into him and purr like a cat. “What about your favorite color?”
“Teal, like my work polo shirts. What about you?”
“Black, like my soul.”
I laughed at that and then said, “My turn. What’s your favorite movie?”
“Pass.” He shook his head. “Too many for too many different reasons. Same with books. I do have a soft spot for Fight Club, though. Favorite vacation? You already know mine. It was the only one I’ve ever taken.”
“My mom used to take me up to Big Bear and we’d spend a couple of nights there. We couldn’t really afford to go anywhere else.” I was suddenly realizing the gift I’d been given. I could ask Noah Douglas anything I wanted and I knew he’d answer. He was notoriously tight lipped in his interviews and would often just refuse to answer certain questions that he deemed too personal. And I could find out all of his favorite things while he was playing with my hair.
Talk about a win-win.
“Favorite sport?” I asked.
“Football.”
“Favorite team?”
“The Portland Jacks.”
I didn’t care all that much about sports. I’d only asked because for some guys