I wanted to rush her from the restaurant, take her to my apartment, and just hold her. I wanted privacy to show her the comfort I could offer, the comfort she’d kept herself from for so long, but I had to settle for wrapping my arms around her in the middle of everyone’s dinner.
“I know we’ve been apart, Kal, but I’m here and I never really left. I’ve just been waiting for you.” Her face tilted up to look at me and I could see the wet tracks from the tears falling down her cheeks. I clasped my hands behind her, at the small of her back, holding her in place. All I wanted was to lean down and kiss her, but I knew the timing wasn’t right.
“I’m grateful you waited,” she whispered, trying to smile through the tears, so I pulled her closer to me. When her cheek rested against my chest again, I kissed the top of her head and heard her sigh. No, I wouldn’t push her. I’d let her come to me. It had worked so far.
Chapter Eight
Gratifying Ogling
Kalli
The alarm on my phone blared and I swiped my finger across the screen, then moved my hand back to rest under my cheek where it had been all night. I knew it had been there all night because I hadn’t slept. Not at all. Not even a little.
Riot had brought me back to the studio lot, parked right next to my Rover, and we said good-bye. It was ten whole seconds riddled with angst and tension. I wanted so badly to scoot across the bench of his truck, pull his face to mine, and remind myself what it was like to taste him, but I could tell he wanted to leave things platonic. He made no move to touch me, even though I could have sworn he was battling the same desires I was. If he was, he hid it well. I left him and my whole body was buzzing with unreleased tension, which kept me awake all night.
My mind drifted constantly through images of what would happen next. I saw us on dates, I saw him kissing me, could practically feel his fingers brushing over my skin as his lips pressed against mine. Then I would blink and realize I was still in bed and still awake, very much unkissed and entirely untouched.
The last time I’d spent the night awake and daydreaming about a boy I’d been seventeen and the captain of the football team had asked me on a date. I was all aflutter with anticipation and hopeful wishes for a romance to rival fairy tales. And even though our history was far from fairy tale status, I still hoped there was a happy ending waiting for Riot and me. What that happy ending would entail, I wasn’t quite sure. But as long as we were both happy I didn’t think it mattered much.
I flung down the blanket covering me and swung my legs out of the bed, stretched, and then headed to the kitchen. Coffee was on my list of things necessary to get through my day. As I stood by the coffee pot, hip cocked and leaning against the counter, my phone pinged, signaling I’d gotten a text message.
**I hope you’re as tired as I am. I didn’t sleep a wink.**
I smiled at Riot’s message. I smiled because it was sweet he was messaging the morning after our dinner, but also smiling because he’d been up all night too. I couldn’t help but hope his mind had kept him up with thoughts of me.
My thumbs moved swiftly over the keypad on my phone as I replied.
**I’ll probably need lots of coffee today. Good thing I know of a coffee shop that’s close to my set.**
**I like the way you think. I’m free around noon. Any chance you want to meet me there for a pick-me-up?**
I smiled down at my phone, running my bottom lip between my teeth. We were flirting. I was smiling. This was good.
**I think that can be arranged.**
I held my breath waiting for his reply.
**See you then. Can’t wait.**
My morning, although it would be a rough one, was exponentially better now that I knew I’d be seeing Riot in just a few short hours.
I poured my cup of coffee and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Hours later I opened the door to the Coffee Bean and let out a relieved sigh when I saw Riot sitting at our table. He had a script on the table in front of him and he was wearing a backward baseball hat. When he heard me coming his head tilted up and his eyes met mine. Having all his hair pushed back gave me an unobstructed view of his beautiful face and it sent butterflies soaring in my belly.
His dark eyes, which were usually complemented by his dark hair, were like beacons and my eyes zeroed in on them without hesitation. His smile widened as I came closer. As I approached the table he used his foot to push out the chair across from him. I took the seat and wasn’t upset that I’d have to look at his beautiful face.
“Hey,” I said with a smile, sitting and placing my purse on the empty chair next to me.
“Hey, yourself.”
“I don’t know about you, but I need to be caffeinated.”
“I was just waiting for you. What would you like?” he asked as he stood from his chair, his eyes never leaving mine.