Yes, it does.
To me it does.
Chapter
Four
Ari
This definitely means we’re boyfriends now. It has to, right? Will I look like a fool for not saying anything?
Problem is, the raccoon was less afraid of me than Cody looks right now. Shit. Did I force this? I only want to force him in the fun way. You know? The shove him against the wall and kiss the daylights out of him kind of way.
But only if he wants me to. Meyers only take willing victims.
I inhale my hot dog—the hot dog he brought me—and eye the rope of licorice hanging around his neck.
“Do you not like this? Being here with me?”
His hand fists into my plaid jacket. I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it. “No. I like … like it here. With you,” he adds.
I rub his thigh. “I like hockey,” I tell him.
“I know that,” he says, fighting a smile.
“Also, like hot dogs.”
“Ari!”
“And licorice.”
“Stop—”
“And you, darlin’.”
He freezes, swallows, takes a breath. “I like you, too,” he whispers. “So much.” I barely hear the last two words.
“So … then we’re boyfriends,” I dare to pronounce.
Cody laughs. It’s the first time I’ve gotten him to laugh. It’s not the first time I’ve heard it—just the first time it was because of me. My heart skips a beat.
“Don’t you think that’s moving kind of fast?” he says.
“It’s not fast enough. I want to snatch you up before someone else does.”
He fiddles with my collar, intermittently flicking his brown eyes to mine. “I’ll think about it.”
“Think about it? What’s there to think about? I’m a great guy.” I slip my hand into one of his. He uses the thumb of his free one to continue rubbing the collar of my shirt.
“You’re a great guy,” he agrees. “Or I wouldn’t bring you hot dogs.”
Don’t I know it? I’ve worked my ass off to win him over. I’ve never had to work this hard to get anyone to give me the time of day.
“But you’re okay to sit here with me like this?”
He nods. “For ten more minutes and then I have to get back to work.”
Damn work.I wanna hold him here forever.
