Page 12 of Falling for You
Holding up the offending object, CeCe laughed. “There has to be a story here,” she said through a fit of giggles. “This is the girliest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“You should see the matching bedspread,” Evan deadpanned as CeCe dissolved into laughter. She hugged the pillow to her body as she shook the mattress with her teasing.
“You’re kidding, right?” she asked, swiping away at a tear on her cheek.
Evan’s heart expanded at the sight of her enjoying herself, even if it was at his expense. “Unfortunately, no. My niece, Lucy, gave me the set as a graduation gift from college. I don’t have the heart to get rid of them, and I only use them when she visits with my nephew, Jackson.”
CeCe held out the pillow and studied it with fresh eyes. Her laughter subsided, but her smile grew. “You really are a nice guy, Evan. Keeping something so silly because it means a lot to your niece.”
Evan bristled. For some reason with CeCe, being kind was an ailment to fix. Now was not the time or the place to defend himself, so he simply stepped away. “I’m going to get another beer,” he announced to the room as he strode into the kitchen. Usually if CeCe mentioned his nice attitude, a dig at their age gap wasn’t far behind.
CeCe followed him, boxing him in by the fridge. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” she asked, clearly perplexed. “You shouldn’t have these pillows out if you’re going to be sensitive.”
Evan spun around, two beers clenched in his hands. Slamming the fridge closed with his elbow, he handed a beer to CeCe. “Before you ask, I’m old enough to buy my own beer,” he snapped as he headed back to the couch. He couldn’t find a dignified way to crawl onto the mattress when he was this angry.
CeCe joined him and tossed the pillow onto the bed before sitting on the couch. Her frame was so small, she fit on just one of the cushions. She tucked her legs under herself and studied him for a moment before saying, “So you’re upset I said you’re nice? I don’t think I mentioned you being young this time.”
“Younger,” Evan corrected. “You can tease me all you want for my niece’s things. I love her and the goofy crap she buys me, but I’m not a child, and I’m not always happy and nice. Damn it, CeCe. I’m nearly twenty-five. We’re only a few years apart.”
CeCe frowned and took a pull from her beer. Her neck muscles worked as she swallowed, her entire body radiated with nervous energy. “Well, I’m about to turn thirty, so you’ll forgive me if I point out the obvious.”
Evan was alert and on edge. “And what’s so obvious?”
CeCe took another sip and placed her beer on the coffee table. “We’re in different stages of life. That’s what’s obvious.”
“Different stages of life? We have similar jobs and live in the same town. How are we in different stages of life?” Evan slammed his beer down, clearly done tiptoeing around the age conversation.
“I’m older,” CeCe said, as if that explained everything.
“You’re a little older than me, so what? You’re hardly on your way to the nursing home.” He scoffed as he rolled his eyes.
CeCe swept one of her arms across the room. “You have a fort in your living room. An actual pillow fort. Evan, I wouldn’t do that.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared her down. “And that’s why you’re not having any fun right now. You can’t see a world where building the occasional pillow fort is a fun way to spend an evening.”
CeCe raised an eyebrow. “How often do you build pillow forts?” she asked, as if it was the most normal question to ask a person.
Without missing a beat, Evan replied, “Twice a year. Now, during kung fu marathon weekend, and once again in the summer when my niece and nephew visit. I think that’s a perfectly reasonable timeline of fort building.” For a few moments, CeCe didn’t answer, just watched Evan as he calmly awaited her reply. “Why does my age bother you so much? Is that the only reason you won’t go out with me?”
Evan was impressed with his own boldness, but he was sick of pretending he wasn’t interested. He was so tired of seeing CeCe and not being able to touch her, to comfort her while she was clearly going through a tough time. He could be her support ... if only she’d let him.
CeCe stiffened and pulled back. “We are not going there now.” She sighed, looking for her beer.
“Why not? You never talked about your feelings in a pillow fort before?” he asked. “What a boring life that must be,” he mused, looking around at the space he loved and the woman he was crushing on.
CeCe’s teeth gritted together and she squared her shoulders. “My life is not boring,” she spat. “I have a very exciting life.”
“What was the most exciting thing you did recently?”
CeCe looked around, as if the answer was hiding under a stack of blankets. “I don’t know, but what about you? What’s the most exciting thing you’ve done recently?”
Not missing a beat, Evan leaned closer and shoved CeCe back. She exhaled into the pillows and sputtered as she got on her knees. Before she could respond, Evan hopped down onto the air mattress, sending her rolling toward the TV. He picked up the pink pillow and playfully tossed it at her, watching her bat it away and laugh in disbelief. She swatted a lock of her hair off her face and blinked at him.
“I had a pillow fight in my fort,” he said, lobbing another pillow at her. “That’s the most exciting thing I’ve done recently.” He pulled the blanket from under her and watched as she rolled onto the floor.
Now she was laughing and trying to get up on her knees. A look of unadulterated joy crossed her before she grabbed two pillows and jumped, sending Evan back on his elbows. He barked out a laugh as she threw a pillow straight at his head. Dodging the second pillow, he scooped up another and threw it at her. She batted it away and bounced until he lost his balance. As he tried to grab the sequin pillow, she snatched it from his grasp and threw it at him with surprising accuracy.
Feeling the pillow corner hit his eye, he flailed and fell back on the bed. He covered his eyes in mock horror and shouted, “My eye!”
