Page 20 of Falling for You
Evan splayed his hand over his chest and sighed. “Your trust in me is truly inspiring.”
Mallory lowered the window. “Don’t mess this up,” she urged as she turned on the ignition and drove away. Evan allowed himself a moment before responding to CeCe. Despite him knowing he wanted her at his place, by his side, this was a big step for her.
It was a big step for Evan as well. He wouldn’t let this opportunity slip through his fingers; he would be a gentleman and an adult. He would be the man that CeCe deserved. Pulling out his phone, he invited her over and immediately went to work tidying up the apartment again. Fortunately, Mallory had already started dinner. A little bonus that Evan wouldn’t squander.
CeCe’s response said she’d be there in twenty, which gave Evan enough time to change and shower. He was laying it on pretty thick, but he didn’t care. By the time he was combing his hair, he heard a faint knock. Nearly running, he opened the door to CeCe looking like a vision. Her blonde hair was pushed back off her face and her cheeks were rosy from the cold.
“Hey,” she said quietly, raising her hand in a small wave. She’d changed from her work clothes into a pair of jeans and a graphic T-shirt from her favorite movie,First Blood.Stallone sneered at him, as if he knew Evan had screwed up. In her other hand, she lifted a six-pack of his favorite local beer. “Peace offering?” she said as she stepped inside.
Evan got a whiff of her signature vanilla scent, and it nearly buckled his knees. “Make yourself at home,” he said as he took the beer and went in search of a bottle opener. Joining CeCe back in the living room, he was relieved to see she’d already taken up her spot from the night before.
Turning on the TV, she scrolled through streaming services until she found an action movie. “This is one of my favorites,” she said, relaxing back on a stack of pillows. Evan gingerly sank onto the air mattress and handed her a beer. “Thanks.” CeCe gestured to the TV and smiled. “Since you showed me the wonders of kung fu movies, I thought I’d share my passion for ’80s and ’90s action stars.” She gestured to her shirt and smirked. “You can pick next time.”
Next time, meaning this wasn’t a fluke. Evan gathered all his strength and kept himself from screaming with delight. If someone asked him what heaven looked like, he would have told them it was this moment. Bliss, pure bliss.
“This is Stallone’s best work,” Evan said.
“Hands down,” CeCe agreed. “I know sequels aren’t always better, but there is something about this one.” After a moment, she sniffed the air and sat up. “Please tell me that’s dinner. I know we only ate a few hours ago, but I’m starving.”
Evan placed his beer on the floor and rolled to his feet. “Mallory started a casserole before she left. Your timing is perfect.”
CeCe joined him as he plated their meal. “I’m having déjà vu.” She laughed. “Weren’t we doing this twenty-four hours ago?”
All Evan thought was that he could do this every day. He swallowed past that revelation and focused on food—it was what he did best. “Here we go,” he offered her a plate and settled in beside her. Their elbows banged as they settled. Muffled curses and crashing furniture blared through the TV’s speakers.
CeCe took a bite of her dinner but kept her eyes on the screen. Since the afternoon, her color had come back and she looked like her normal self. Evan loved to see the peachy hue of her cheeks and the way her eyes flashed when she enjoyed herself. When they were done eating, he took the opportunity to clear the air.
“I want to apologize for how I acted earlier,” he started, taking in a lungful of air to bolster himself.
Before he could continue, CeCe placed her hand on his and squeezed it gently. “I need to apologize too. You’re a friend, Evan, and I should trust you with things like this.” Her voice was low, and Evan had to lean closer to make sure he heard her.
“I’m more than a friend, CeCe.” Evan paused to clear his throat. “Or at least I’d like to be.” Their legs slid closer; he felt the warmth of her through the denim. The air was thick with anticipation.
CeCe’s eyelids lowered as she licked her lips. “I know you would,” she whispered, her breath tickling Evan’s lips. Putting his weight on one arm, he reached out with his free hand to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. His thumb slid over her earlobe, and she shivered at the contact but didn’t move back. This was his moment, and he took it.
Inching closer still, he asked the most important question of his life. “Can I kiss you?” He lost his self-control, but he would never do anything she didn’t want. He needed her fully on board with the situation.
“Yes.” CeCe’s breath was an exhale as she closed the distance between them.
Evan’s senses exploded as their lips met, and he nearly forgot to breathe. Every touch, every thought, was all about CeCe. Her hand went up to cup his cheek and a tiny moan escaped her lips. The sound reverberated through his chest, and he had to stifle his own whimpers. His dream girl was in his arms, sharing the best kiss of his life. Things didn’t get any better than this.
Just as Evan was about to deepen the kiss, a scream blasted from the TV and startled them both from the moment. He reluctantly loosened his grip on her. She looked at him, searching his face. “Evan.”
Not wanting to frighten her, he traced her cheek with his knuckles before lowering his hand to cover hers. He would not push things further; he would enjoy the moment for what it was. She let him hold her hand for the rest of the movie while she rested her head on his shoulder. As the credits rolled, he felt her stirring. “I should head home. Can’t make it a habit of sleeping on your floor,” she teased.
“You can sleep on my floor anytime,” he said without thinking. Realizing what he said, he covered his face with his hands.Real smooth.
CeCe laughed, a sweet sound that took away the sting of embarrassment. “When you make offers like that, it’s hard to see why you’re still single.”
He watched CeCe collect her things and head toward the door, and he couldn’t stand to see her go. “Wait,” he said, stopping her as she tied her sneakers. She raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Um, working?” she said, standing back up and meeting his gaze. “You’re not proposing another movie marathon, are you? You must really want me to sleep on your floor.”
Evan snorted but recovered quickly. “Let me take you out.” At his suggestion, CeCe’s face fell, but he soldiered on. “Hear me out.” He raised his hands up to stop her pending complaints. He adored CeCe, but the woman could tear down the simplest suggestion if she felt cornered. “I’m going to Elm River. There’s a karaoke night at one of the local pubs. Come with me.”
CeCe didn’t say no right away, and he took that as a small step forward. “You want me to sing karaoke?”
Evan raised a shoulder and strived to appear casual. “Or you can watch me and dozens of other Buckeyes make absolute asses of ourselves. Your choice.”
