Page 44 of Your Rhythm
He chuckles. “You really are the lone ranger type, aren’t you?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t make me sound even more pathetic.”
“I don’t think it’s pathetic. There’s a lot to admire in that. You’re self-sufficient. You don’t let people boss you around. Sometimes I wish—”
The loudspeaker crackles to life again, and we sit through the unintelligible French before straining to catch the only slightly more intelligible English.
“All passengers on the eighty-thirty bus to Ottawa should now make their way to the gate. The bus will be boarding soon.”
“That’s my first bus,” Matt tells me.
“Guess you better get going, then.”
He doesn’t stand up. In what feels like slow motion, he reaches his hand towards my face and brushes the tip of my nose with a finger. All the noise of the terminal fades.
“How did you get Cheeto dust on your nose, Kay?”
His head is bent close to mine, his voice so low and laced with temptation he might as well have just asked if I want him to kiss me. The rush of blood roaring in my ears is enough to answer that question.
He drops his finger to my chin, ghosting over my lips and making my breath hitch.
“I can’t control myself when it comes to Cheetos.” My voice is hoarse.
He taps twice on my chin. “I like seeing you lose control.”
Neither of us is thinking about Cheetos right now. My lips part as he tugs his finger downwards, inching towards my throat.
“I like it when you look at me like this.”
His hand falls into his lap and I regain the power to move. I turn away.
“You’re going to miss your bus.”
He stands and shoulders his bag. I only feel safe meeting his eyes again once he’s taken a step away.
“Have a good Easter, Kay.”
I give him half a smile but don’t trust myself to speak. He stares down at me for a moment and then he heads off into the crowd. He’s already out of earshot by the time I murmur my goodbye.
“You too, Matt.”
