Young Adulting - Christina Benjamin Page 0,36

few weeks ago, that would’ve been a no-brainer. But now, with Izzy’s hands in mine, the choice wasn’t so easy.

Chapter Twelve

Izzy

Hours later I was laughing so hard my stomach muscles hurt.

“Hey,” Henry said, grinning down at me with his hands on his hips. “It’s not as easy as it looks.”

I shook my head as I reached for the darts so I could show this heartthrob how it was done. Pop, pop, pop. Balloon after balloon bit the dust.

“Okay, this is clearly rigged.” Henry’s growl had me giggling all over again as I was once again declared the winner by the poor college-aged kid who’d been hired to spend his afternoon pretending to be a carnie.

“Yes,” I said, my eyes wide with innocence as I used my best patronizing tone. “Definitely rigged.” I patted his perfectly sculpted biceps. “I’m sure that’s why you couldn’t hit a target to save your life.”

He gave a huff of a laugh as we moved on to the next game, waving to Blythe and one of her friends who’d finally showed up and relieved Henry of BFF duty.

After our lunch meeting the other day, I thought I’d gotten past the butterflies in my stomach around Henry. I’d thought maybe I’d become somewhat immune to his good looks and charm.

But then this.

I mean, who wouldn’t swoon over the sight of a Hollywood celebrity playing Prince Charming to an eight-year-old princess?

No one would believe it. Not even Fallon, and she was convinced that the sun rose and set with Henry Landon’s smile.

But even Fallon would fall over in a faint if I told her that Henry wasn’t just smooth, and charming, and ridiculously sexy.

He was...nice.

Kind, even.

He’d been so thoughtful about playing with the lonely birthday girl, and then taking pictures with her and her friend while ignoring the older crowd who were eyeing him like he was prey.

We’d gotten cornered a handful of times by people who he’d introduced to me as friends of his parents, but it was clear they weren’t approaching Henry as friends. They were coming to him with requests. They were asking for favors. A few requested selfies, which seemed rather gauche even to me.

But when he wasn’t making nice with his parents’ friends, he was doting on me. Entertaining me, making me laugh, making sure I was fed and comfortable…

I glanced back at the latest game he’d played with me when I’d told him it was my favorite part of our local fair. He’d even humiliated himself to make me happy.

I let out a little sigh as he took my hand and led me back toward the party. The crowd had only grown these past two hours, and I wasn’t sure if I was becoming more worldly or if Henry was just taking up all of my attention, but I’d barely even blinked at all the celebrities I’d spotted.

I’d only stuttered once when Henry had introduced me to Martina Maxwell. So, really...I was pretty impressed with myself.

He tugged my hand so I was walking closer to his side. “What are you smiling about?”

I looked up at him. How had I ever thought he was an egotistical jerk? It was hard to remember why right now when his eyes were all warm with affection and his lips were curved up in a sweet, boyish grin.

“I’m just having fun, that’s all,” I said. I laughed out loud as his chest swelled with pride and his walk turned to a swagger.

“Of course you are,” he said. “You’re with me.”

I rolled my eyes but I knew he was teasing. In all honesty, though, I was pretty sure he was why I felt so comfortable with this A-list crowd. Not only was he the most attentive non-date I’d ever had...he was also the most charismatic man I’d ever met. He had this energy about him that was overwhelming.

It was hard to be blinded by the stars around me when I was standing next to the sun.

“What do you say?” Henry asked as we drew close to a crowd who was talking loudly by the outside bar. “Do you want to head back into the frey and network some more or head out of here?”

I took a deep breath. I probably should stay but it was a Sunday and I still had a mountain of laundry to do, some chores to knock out, a few scripts to finish before a meeting tomorrow morning, and a FaceTime call with my parents to get through before I could call it a