Page 106 of Meet Cute Reboot

He scoots away so he has a better look at my face. “I can tell by the glazed look in your eyes that you’re lying.”

“No, I’m just tired. What time does Betsy usually start moaning?”

“Right,” Luke says slowly like his excitement over the Marvel franchise made him forget the real reason for this overnighter. “Usually around three or four o’clock in the morning. Which means we have...” He glances at his smart watch. “Five more hours.”

I can’t suppress a yawn.

“We can call it a night.”

“No.” I cover my mouth and shake my head. “We can watch two more movies, right? And then hopefully Betsy will start haunting up this place.”

“You sure?”

I manage to stay awake throughThe Incredible Hulk, and long enough to watch Luke feedIron Man IIinto the DVD player. Then, what feels like a second later, I feel Luke nudging my shoulder. I open my eyes as the credits roll up the screen.

“I missed it?” I say groggily.

“Yep.”

“All of it?”

Luke chuckles. “I think ghost hunting will have to wait for another night. Let’s get you to bed.”

“No. Betsy. I want to meet Betsy.” My words are slurred.

“You already met her in the kitchen.”

“But...” I don’t have the energy to continue.

He helps me off the couch and props me up as we head to the stairs and ascend to my bedroom. At my door, we pause. I lean against the wall and Luke closes the gap between us. He places both hands on my hips and steps closer, shuttering myview of the world with his broad shoulders. My heart wakes up and begins pumping fresh blood. Suddenly, I’m alert, acutely attuned to the sensations Luke stirs in me. I push myself off the wall into his arms and we kiss. Afterward, he cups my cheek.

“I had a great time today,” he says.

“Do you want to come in?” The words tumble out. It’s a bad idea, and the rational Cassie knows it, but her voice is becoming exceedingly small the longer I take in the scent of Luke’s cologne as my face is inches from his chest.

“You’re tired,” Luke says.

“Not anymore.”

Luke flits his eyes to the open doorway and then back at me. “As much as I’d love to, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“When did you become so reasonable?”

He breathes deeply. A faint smile etches his face as he looks down at me. “When I realized what’s important.”

I scoff but attach it to a smile. “I hardly know this Luke.”

“I know.” He places his hands on my shoulders and pivots me toward the open bedroom door. “Get some sleep.”

“Fine.” I sigh. I peek at him until the door latches, and then I climb into the bed that he graciously prepared for me. The empty bed.

I’m wide awake.

Thoughts of Luke thread through my mind. Memories of the kiss we shared just minutes ago. I flop to my side and clutch the comforter that still smells brand new, trying to clear my thoughts, but all I can see is Luke, his bare chest glistening with sweat.

Maybe just one more kiss?

I slide out of the bed and tiptoe into the hallway. Nightlights line the walls, beckoning me toward the stairway. I descend the steps, cringing at every creak of the antique floorboards like I’m a teenager sneaking out of the house.

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