Page 49 of The Heir

“It’s not your fault, but this explains so much.”

My cheeks grew warm, and I was grateful it was dark in the car.It angered him when he thought that Ryker was my boyfriend?I liked the thought of him caring that much. That was a good sign.

“I need to talk to him,” I said, lifting my face up. One tear dropped onto my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. “I’m glad you told me.”

“Well, I didn’t mean to make you sad. I just assumed, since you asked me to see a movie, that you guys were broken up,” he shrugged.

“But you hold my hand–all the time”

“I know, and believe me, I felt a little guilty about it, but I thought it helped you, and I could not deny giving you any sort of comfort.”

“I cannot believe him,” I said under my breath. I had not realized the car had stopped, and that we were parked in the theater parking lot.

“Let’s forget about it for tonight. And for the record, I would have asked you out on the first day of school, but I didn’t want to come on too strong, you know?” he said, lifting up my chin to face him, causing it to tingle.

“What?” I whispered.

“Honestly, I wanted to ask you out when you smashed into my head on the sidewalk,” he smiled and trailed his thumb under my jaw.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, Emma, you are special.” But before I could respond to that, he let go of my face, and the next second, he was out of the car and at my door. He opened the door for me.

We decided on seeing a romantic comedy. It was either that or some horror film, and I was not going to be able to sit through that one with my own horrific memories. We sat down, and the previews took a little while to start.

“So—about Homecoming,” Shad said with a smile, nudging my shoulder.

“I really was not asking you to Homecoming. I am so embarrassed,” I groaned.

“I know, but I still say, ‘yes.’ I will always say ‘yes’ to you, Emma,” his deep voice rumbled.

“Well, you were right before; the guy is supposed to ask,” I said, putting a piece of his popcorn in my mouth.

“Would you go to Homecoming with me?” he asked, interlocking our hands.

“Shad, I mean, I do not need a pity date,” I whispered, trying to pull my hand out of his so that I could think more clearly.

“It is in no way a pity date, Emma. There is no one else, no one that I would want to go to this dance with—just you.” He took my hand back and held it slightly tighter, and I looked at him.

“Seriously?” I asked, trying to cover up my smile.

“Absolutely, I have never been more serious.”

“Okay.”

“Wonderful!” he said, enthusiastically, and he kissed my hand. I thought I was about to die from the warmth of that kiss on the back of my hand. I watched him as his gaze locked onto mine. He turned my hand around, kissing my palm, my fingertips, and my wrist. I felt warmth and a twist in my belly. I tried to look at him, but the lights began to dim, and the previews started, and for the entire, two-hour long, romantic comedy, Shad held my hand, making it one of the best movies I had ever seen in my life.

The movie was long, but I could have sat there for an eternity with Shad’s shoulder touching mine and his hand in my hand. Those melted kisses he left on my wrist and palm tingled. When the credits started, I did not want to move. If I had moved, I would have been away from him, and all I wanted was to be right beside him. He tugged me up, keeping our hands clasped. We threw away our popcorn containers in the trash and headed out the double doors, opening out into the parking lot.

“What did you think of the movie?” Shad asked, swinging our hands outward, playfully with a smile.

“Uh, it was good,” I responded quickly. I had not really been paying much attention. With Shad beside me, I took notice of every movement he made and every shift of his body and everyglance of his eyes. “What about you?” I asked as we reached his car.

“It was incredibly enjoyable,” he said as we sat there, inside his car.

His smile gleamed at me, and I felt my cheeks heat up again. “There it is. I could not see you well enough in the movie to see that pretty pink in your cheeks. I missed it.” He grazed his fingers over my heated face.

“Yes, well, I like the darkness for the exact opposite reason.”

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