Now, I’m the one wanting to ensurehe’sokay. “If you watch it with me, I’ll make popcorn. I know I have popcorn in the house.” I add a playful lilt to my voice.
He considers a moment as if he’s in some kind of internal debate. “Fine. I’ll stay.”
I rise from the couch to follow through on my popcorn offer. “What’s the movie?”
His grin verges on sinister. “Cujo.”
I throw a pillow at him. “No way I’m watching that.”
He tosses the pillow back at me. “I’m kidding.”
I turn on the TV and see he hasA Dog’s Way Homecued up. How appropriate is that? I almost want to cry over the sentimentality of it that he would pick a dog movie after what went down today. “Great choice.”
“I figured you’d like that one.”
I pad into the kitchen and put a bag of popcorn in the microwave.
Nick takes his seat again on the couch. “You know, what you did to save Bandit isn’t that different from what I do on the beach.”
His back is to me so I can’t see his face, but his words strike an unexpected place in my heart that feels unseen.
After dividing the popcorn into two bowls, I walk over and hand him one. “I don’t think they compare, really. You save lives.”
The corners of his mouth lift into a warm smile when he looks up at me. “Isn’t that what you did for Bandit? Saved his life?”
I think my heart’s going to explode. Sure, Graham and Liam—and my parents—have supported and encouraged me in this crazy plan of mine to open a practice to treat both people and their pets. Yet, they’ve struggled to grasp the idea at times.
But Nick just gets it, as if he gets me.
Before I can even think of a reply, he grabs the remote. “Let’s get this party started.”
I settle onto the couch. Good thing I’ve seen this movie before because the main attraction in the room isn’t what’s playing out on my television.
CHAPTER 13
Nick
The first thing I notice is how bright the room is. Did I forget to close my bedroom blinds? Then reality slips in to remind me I’m not at home.
I’m on Hannah’s couch, but now it’s broad daylight? That means I fell asleep here. The next thing I realize is the weight on my chest, which is warm and makes me feel…cozy?
I pop my eyes open as the familiar scent of Hannah’s curls fills my first deep breath of the morning. The details of last night clarify in my sleep-addled brain. We wound up sharing her gray-checked afghan. Hannah dozed off and snuggled against me in her sleep. So, I didn’t want to disturb her.
Plus, the movie hadn’t ended yet, so I figured I’d let her rest a bit more before getting up. Guess I fell asleep, too, and now here we are, on the couch together. Except instead of next to me, she’s snuggled by my side, and my arm is around her like I imagined last night.
I can only see the back of Hannah’s head, but I’m keenly aware of her warm hand on my chest through my T-shirt. The wise thing would be to move, to get up and leave.
But I don’t want to. I’d rather stay here, at this moment, for a while longer—to picture what it would be like to be morethan friends with Hannah. I already spend a fair bit of time wondering about it, but this, right now, is new and unexpected.
Like a taste of what could be.
And not something Graham can ever know about. That thought bursts my pretend bubble. I shift carefully, trying to disentangle myself from Hannah without disturbing her too much, but her soft sigh freezes me mid-motion.
She turns her head to rest her chin on my chest and blinks at me with sleepy eyes. She is the most beautiful and adorable creature I’ve ever seen. And the urge to pull her close and kiss her is so intense, I can’t breathe.
Her brows draw together with her languid frown.
I can tell she’s processing the situation just like I did moments ago.
