He looks at me for a moment before dropping his gaze and shifting in his seat.
The passion I’ve just dredged up for the scene is now snaking out toward him.
I shove the emotion down. It’s like trying to shove a pillow into a shoe box.
Stupid passion.
This is why we’re not friends anymore.
A huge roar of “Asshole!” comes from the next room, and Connor and I exchange a look. Our friends are playing some asinine card game, and as usual on these Wednesday night get-togethers at Jack’s house, Connor and I are in charge of snacks. I may not be able to cook, but I can open a bag of chips with the best of them, and Connor is the King of Frozen Pizza.
We make a good team.
I watch as he unwraps a couple of frozen pies with the finesse of a magician.
I find myself staring at his hands. He has lovely hands. Actually, most of him is lovely. Sandy brown hair. Brown eyes. Handsome face. Nice body.
Best of all, he’s one of the sweetest, most caring men I’ve ever known.
It’s a pity that doesn’t seem to be enough for me.
“Do I have a booger?”
“Huh?”
Connor smiles, and suddenly the whole room seems brighter. “You were staring. I thought I might be sporting nose poop.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Just admiring the pretty.”
He shrugs. “Okay. I can live with that. But if you think those bags of chips are going to open themselves, you’re sorely mistaken. Get to work, lady.”
He passes me a bowl, and as I dump in the Doritos, he raises an eyebrow. “You making your famous salsa to go with that?”
I nod. “You know me well enough to not doubt my awesomeness by now.” I pull out a jar of salsa and open it. “Voilà! Cost me a hot buck and a half to get it just perfect.”
He smiles as he sprinkles extra cheese on the pizzas. “You’re so talented.”
“I know, right? You, too.”
He holds up the bag of cheese. “Yep, if I don’t make it as an actor, Pizza Hut managers all over the country will be lining up to hire me.”
“You make it sound like that’s your fallback plan. May I remind you that even if you do make it, you might still have to take a job as a pizza artist? Theater paychecks can be crappy.”
He laughs. “Yeah, but becoming stars in any capacity means we have to first pass this term’s acting class, and it seems like Erika’s making that as hard as possible with these passion scenes.”
He puts the pizzas in the oven and sets the timer while I grab two beers from the fridge and pass one over. “Well, I’d better start looking for my second job now, because I can barely get through my scene without giggling like I’m high.”
“Oh, please.” He uncaps his beer and takes a drink. “You have nothing to worry about. Your scene with Miranda was amazing yesterday.”
“Are you saying that because you’re a guy who gets off on two women kissing? Or are you basing it on our actual performance?”
He rolls his eyes. “Cassie, give me a break. I’m not Jack. I am capable of watching two women make out like demons without objectifying them.”
I raise an eyebrow.
He turns away as he mumbles, “No matter how fucking hot it was.”
At the mention of his name, Jack walks into the kitchen.
“Are we talking about Miranda and Cassie again? Cool, because I’ve been meaning to ask you a question, Cassie. Is Miranda a better kisser than Holt? Softer lips? Smoother skin? I’m sure the answer is yes, but I’d like to hear it in your own words. Be specific.” He goes to the fridge, grabs a beer, and opens it before looking at me expectantly.
“Forget it, Jack. Miranda and I don’t kiss and tell.” Plus, I’ve perfected the art of blocking out what it was like to kiss Ethan. I’d like to say that time dulls the memories of his mouth, but it really doesn’t. “Besides, Connor will soon be able to give you a play by play of Holt’s kissing technique. Aren’t you guys up to rehearse tomorrow?”
“Unfortunately,” Connor says, and takes a long pull of his beer.
Jack rubs his hands together. “I think Erika was going for maximum crowd entertainment when she cast you two together. I’m taking bets that it’s going to be the most awkward kiss in the history of lips. Cassie, you want in on the action? You could clean up.”
“No way. I have faith that Connor’s going to make it work.”
Jack laughs loudly before heading back into the living room.
Connor takes another slug of his beer. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but we both know Holt and I are going to suck. Ethan’s never made a love scene work with anyone but you, and if he can’t pull it off with the girls in our class, he has no chance with a guy. Let alone a guy he very clearly hates.”
“I don’t think he hates you.”
He gives me a look. “Every time I’m within five feet of you, he glares like he wants to beat the shit out of me.”
“Yeah, but that’s only because he doesn’t know you’ve done twelve years of karate so you can defend yourself against your asshole brothers.”