~
There’s a knock at the door of my temporary bedroom that I barely register as I devour the romance book I’ve been carrying around in my purse all week. “Come in,” I call out, not bothering to look up from the page I’m on.
I hear the door open, and I glance up to see Henry hovering in the doorway.I guess for Henry I can put the book down.Reaching for my bookmark, I gently set it in the folds of the pages and let the book close as I sit up.
“You settling in okay?” he asks, fidgeting with his hands before shoving them in the pockets of his sweatpants.
“I unpacked hours ago, can’t you tell?” I ask as he glances around the space. “There wasn’t much. I did some online shopping earlier to make up for it, though,” I try to joke, but after the day we’ve had, it falls flat. It’s tempting to smother myself with one of the pillows.
Henry’s mouth tilts upward into a faint smile, at least he’s trying to make me feel like it was funny. We haven’t spoken much since everything with my parents this afternoon. I haven’t known what to say. I feel awful because it was my idea to let my parents think we’re actually together.
“I hate it when people interrupt me when I’m reading so I’m sorry to interrupt you, but someone is here to see you,” he says, his eyes lingering on me. “Where did you find that sweatshirt?” Henry asks, and I look down at the faded Duke sweatshirt that I’m swimming in.
“It was in the closet underneath a sheet?”
He chuckles to himself. “I knew Kaitlyn hid it. She told me she had no idea where it was, and it was here the whole goddamn time. That’s my lucky sweatshirt from when I was at Duke. I wore it every time I had a test.”
I pull the sleeves of the sweatshirt over my hands, unsure of what he wants me to do. “Is it okay I’m borrowing it? I got a little cold an—”
“It’s fine, Mira. I just wasn’t expecting to see you wearing it. I haven’t seen it in months, thanks to my sister.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, hating how weird it is between us now. I’ve always been weird and awkward, but Henry has never tiptoed around me.
He nods, his bright eyes meeting mine as they sparkle with amusement. “It looks better on you than it ever did on me. Hopefully it still has a little luck left in it, I think we could both use some.”
I sigh in relief, sliding off the bed, but I falter in front of Henry. “Hey, Henry?”
Henry looks down at me as I swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you for earlier. I know how much you look up to my dad, and I’m sorry for everything he said to you. You didn’t deserve any of it, and I hope you don’t believe any of it was true,” I clarify awkwardly. I cross my arms over my chest as if that could protect my heart from how he’s about to splinter it into a million tiny pieces when he says it was all pretend.
“I meant every word, Mira. You’re not a kid anymore—you’re an incredible, strong, and beautiful person. You’re also selfless. I don’t think anyone else would help me the way you are. You had my back today, so of course I had yours.” Henry drags a hand through his hair, the sleeve of twisting ink catching my eye as his arm flexes during the movement. I wonder what it would be like to trace them with my fingertips. “Thank you,” he says, pulling my attention from his tattoos. He leans down to brush his lips over my cheek, sending a spark through my body. I flinch in surprise, causing Henry’s chest to rumble with quiet laughter. “Relax, Mira. No one’s going to believe us if I can’t even kiss you on the cheek without you flinching.”
My cheeks flush because he’s right. “I wasn’t expecting it since we’re at home.”Do it again, I’m tempted to say. I’ll be ready this time.
“Have you changed your mind yet?” he asks, concern marring his handsome face. “That was a lot with your parents earlier.”
Forcing my mouth into a smile at the reminder of that shit show, I shake my head, willing myself to not look as miserable as I feel. “I haven’t changed my mind. We’re doing this. It’ll get easier. You heard my mom—they need some time.” I also heard Dad say a lot of horrible things to Henry that I’m hoping he apologizes for at some point.
I pat his arm reassuringly, internally groaning as Henry raises his eyebrows at me, before slipping past him to see who’s waiting for me. I know it’s not my parents, considering Henry didn’t have a black eye when he opened the door.
My uncle is chatting with Wilson about something related to the team when he notices me. “Hey, Mira, got a couple of minutes to chat?”
“Are you going to tell meI told you soagain?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I don’t think that’s what you need to hear right now, so it wasn’t my plan,” Uncle Owen says, cracking a smile that helps me relax. I’m not sure I can take another lecture today, it’s been the longest day ever.
“Perfect, then it looks like my schedule has cleared up.” I smile back at him as I hear Henry walk down the stairs behind me.
Uncle Owen steps forward to ruffle my hair like I’m five years old again. “Atta girl, let’s get some ice cream.”
Ice cream sounds like the perfect Band-Aid to soothe the injuries inflicted during the last twenty-four hours. “I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had,” I say, slipping into my flip-flops next to the garage door.
“Have fun,” Henry calls after us, and I look at him over my shoulder, waving slightly.
“Thanks, Henry. I’ll be back in a little bit,” I say, hesitating to follow Uncle Owen. I let my impulsiveness get the better of me, closing the distance between us to lean in and press a short kiss to Henry’s cheek before I lose my nerve.
He doesn’t flinch like I did, but I don’t miss the sharp intake of breath as my lips kiss the stubble on his cheek.
Would Henry be opposed to me asking if we should practice anything prior to making our first appearance together? The last thing we need after the disaster with my parents is for someone to guess that this relationship is fabricated to make Henry more likable.
