Page 79 of It's Always Sonny

“My childhood in Rhode Island would say otherwise.”

He turns to me and plays with the faux-fur lined hood of my parka, putting it on my head and squashing my hair. Good thing I’m wearing one of those beanies with the cutout for a high ponytail, or I’d be annoyed.

“Yeah, but you’re all bundled up in Rhode Island.” He traces his finger from the top of the hood down to the bottom, letting his fingertip graze my forehead, cheek, and jaw the whole way down. The sensation sends a hot flush through my body that makes this parka even more unnecessary.

“And you’re wearing a cape in Lambeau Field.”

He arches his brows. “A cape? You make it sound like we’re cosplaying as nineteenth century English lords.”

“What do you call it, then?”

He boops my nose. “A sideline cape.”

“Because that’s so much better.” I rock forward slightly on my platform sneakers as he grabs the flaps of my coat right below my chin, and once again, his hands are brushing against my skin. He’s finding every reason he can to touch me, and I’m okay with it.

Up on the small stage, Anthony, Gabe, and Sienna are performing a Beastie Boys song. They’re as loud as thunder, but I can barely hear them over my hammering pulse and Sonny’s low, teasing voice.

“Of course it’s better. Sideline capes are awesome. They feel like you’re wearing a warm hug.”

“Okay, Olaf.”

“Easy, Elsa. I promise you can’t hang with my Frozen jokes.”

“Elsa? As if! I’m that big ice monster who drives them all away.”

“You wish. You’re the girl who’s shoved her feelings deep down behind an icy wall because you’re afraid of what will happen when you finally let it go and show yourself.”

“What are you doing? Are those quotes?”

He grits his teeth and laughs at my blank expression. “Okay, Ice Park, pretend all you want. I’ve heard you sing Let it Go before.”

“Only because it was on the radio—”

“Disney Radio, which you would have to cue up. Admit it. Frozen is your jam.”

“Never. Besides, if I’m Elsa, what does that make you? The little fire salamander?”

Sonny’s eyes go even wider and brighter. “You watched Frozen 2?”

“While I was babysitting for Duke and Millie. Not on my own,” I scramble to add. And although that’s true, I conveniently leave out the part about how the Panic! At the Disco version of Into the Unknown has a permanent place on my playlist.

“If I’m the fire salamander,” Sonny says, “we should see if I turn into a prince if you kiss me.”

“You’re mixing up your movies.”

“You’re avoiding my suggestion. No, sorry, invitation.”

My eyes drop to his lips as a fire roars to life inside me, melting my will into a puddle. I want to grab the ties dangling from his hoodie and pull him in for a kiss that stops time and causes stars to collide in distant galaxies. I want to crush our lips together until we don’t know where one person starts and the other stops.

I want him, body and soul.

So when I fold my arms instead of kissing him, it’s perhaps the greatest show of self-restraint I’ve ever exhibited.

Because I am terrified.

What will happen if we succeed?

“You, sir, are ridiculous.”

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