“Says who?”
“Says, mom. Will you go get it for me?”
Jack rolls his eyes. “Why do you need it?”
Hannah pokes her head out of the bathroom. “Do you hear yourself? I need it to deodorize my shoes. If you’re not going to get it for me, I’ll go into your room and search for it myself.”
“I’ll go help her,” I say, standing up.
“It’s okay. I’m not sure where it is.” Jack gets up and walks past me, patting my shoulder. “I’m coming, Princess.”
“It’s about time,” Hannah says, shutting the bathroom door.
It only takes Jack about a minute to find the shoe deodorizer. “Here you go,” he says, opening the bathroom door. “Holy hell Clark! What died in here? Are you sick?”
“It’s my shoes, you jackass! I’ve had them on since seven o’clock this morning.” Hannah throws a roll of toilet paper at Jack, who dodges it. It hits the wall and rolls down the hall, unraveling.
Jack walks back into the theater room, holding his nose and waving a hand in front of him. I walk past him toward the bathroom, but he grabs my arm. “Dude, don’t go back there. You’ll never look at her the same way.”
“I’ll take my chances.” I laugh.
“Don’t even think about it, Cross. Sit your ass back on the sofa. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she yells from the bathroom.
Jack and I stare at each other wide-eyed.
“Okay, I’m going,” I holler back.
Tyler’s laughing so hard he’s curled up on the air mattress. This makes Jack laugh harder, and I can’t help it and laugh too. Several minutes later, Hannah comes out of the bathroom. Jack pinches his nose again, and Tyler, the idiot, makes a show of sniffing the air. “Knock it off, you dorks. I washed my feet in the bathtub and thoroughly sprayed my shoes. I even cracked the window and sprayed air freshener for you big babies.” Hannah plops down next to me, looking annoyed and very tired.
“I think you smell good. Do you want to go upstairs and change into something comfy?” I ask, kissing her temple and rubbing a hand down her back.
“Yes, but if I go upstairs, I won’t make it back down. Did you finally pick a movie, Tyler?” Hannah asks.
“Jack talked us into letting you watchCaptain America.” Ty points the remote at the tv, pressing play.
“That must’ve been before I called him names. I’m sorry, I’m tired, and the name just slipped out. Thanks for talking everyone into watchingCaptain America.”
“You’re welcome, and I should have knocked…and then ran.” Jack laughs.
“I’ve had those shoes on for over twelve hours. I’m surprised my feet didn’t start to rot,” Hannah says.
“Come here.” I pull her to me, lifting her onto my lap. She grabs a blanket, pulls it over her lap, and rests her head against my shoulder.
Tyler rolls over on his air mattress, glancing at us. “Should I turn the volume up, or are you two lovebirds, quiet kissers?”
“Oh jeez,” Hannah groans.
In answer to T.’s question, I chuck a pillow at his head, and he’s not fast enough to dodge it. “Okay, okay, I’ll turn the volume up,” he says, facing the tv, but he doesn’t pick up the remote.
“Do you need some tissue in case you drool?” I whisper.
“Steve Rogers isn’t at the top of my list anymore. This cocky football player named Ford is.” Her words make my heart flip-flop in my chest. I lean in, kissing her.
“Thank you. You’re at the top of my list, too.” I skim my hand up under her cheer skirt, lightly scratching up and down her thigh. Her eyes flutter closed, and within a couple of minutes, she’s fast asleep. I recline back on the sofa and shift Hannah, so her legs are tangled with mine. I untuck her cheer top and glide my hand under her shirt and rub her back. I love being able to sit and hold her like this.
The title page for the movie is playing on repeat when I open my eyes. Both T. and Jack are passed out on the air mattresses, and Hannah is still asleep next to me. Somehow, she maneuvered her hand under the front of my shirt, and her fingers are rubbing back and forth over the top of my abs. It must be a self-soothing motion, but it has my body buzzing like a live wire. I pick up my phone and click it on. It’s almost four in the morning. I want to just close my eyes and go back to sleep with Hannah in my arms, but if her parents wake up and see us like this, I know it will cause problems. I don’t want to lose the privilege of being here late at night or their trust in letting me stay over as Jack’s friend. Besides, there’s no way I’ll fall back asleep with Hannah rubbing my bare chest. I reach under my shirt, entwining my hand with hers.
“Hanny,” I whisper over her lips. “It’s time to wake up.” I lean in, giving her a soft kiss.
