Page 18 of Loving the Sinner
I don’t answer, just give her a playful shrug.
I can just make out an eye roll and hear her mumble “insufferable” through a deep exhale. Then, her head whips back to me, wide eyed in realization. “Wait a minute. Robin called you Westley earlier…”
She remembered?
“My mom was a big fan of the movie. If I were a girl, you’d be calling me Buttercup, guaranteed.” I laugh.
Elli giggles, and the sound is music to my ears. “So youhaveseen it. That’s amazing. Your mom had great taste.”
We’re promptly shushed as the grandpa begins reading the story, and Elli settles more comfortably into the couch by bringing her left leg up to fold slightly underneath her, which causes her thigh to be less than three inches from mine. Herbarethigh because of the length of her shorts anddamn itif I don’t want to squeeze the softness, trace my fingers along the smooth skin. Trace the curves of her body up her thighs, her sides, up her arms, across her shoulders, and loop my arm around her waist to pull her closer to me so I can place a kiss on the crown of her head before resting my head on hers…
I glance over at Matt, who looks like he’s thinking the same thing as me as his eyes scan her from her legs all the way up, up, up-then his eyes meet mine. He looks embarrassed for all of two seconds before he gives me a smug grin.
The thought of fighting with Matt over a girl makes me queasy. We’re adults, and Elli can make her own choices. If Elli were to decide she wanted to date Matt instead of me, I would back off. I just want them to be happy. All I ever want for the people I care about is to be happy.
Even if it would hurt me in the process.
Elli’s reactions to the movie are so genuine and adorable, I’m having a better time watching her than the actual movie. She sighs dreamily at Buttercup and Westley’s first scene together, gasps at the eels, tenses at the sword fight between Inigo and Westley, and scowls at Prince Humperdink.
I don’t know when she scooted closer to me- okaymaybeI scooted closer to her- but now the few inches between our thighs are non-existent. She’s sitting with both legs crossed underneath her, her chin resting in her right hand. My hand has been resting on my right thigh, so when Elli’s hand comes down to rest on her left one, our pinkies brush slightly and it sends a wave of tingles up my hand. Except for a sharp intake of breath, which could have been a reaction to the movie, there’s no indication that she notices, so I tell myself it’s an accident.
“I’m going to go get a drink, do you want anything?” Elli leans over and whispers right as Miracle Max says, “have fun storming the castle!”
“I’m okay, thank you.”
She gives me a small nod, then leans over to whisper presumably the same thing to Matt. Matt shakes his head, so she stands and walks out of the room. Matt waits maybe thirty seconds before he stands up and follows her. I try to convince myself that I don’t care. That whatever happens, happens and I can’t do anything about it.
After five minutes I can’t take it anymore and I follow them too. I second guess myself right before I turn the corner, but I can’t stop myself from listening to their conversation.
“Are you busy tomorrow?” Matt asks.
“Seeing as I have a mountain of IKEA furniture to put together and another mountain of boxes to unpack, I think I’ll probably be busy for the next week. Plus, Izzy leaves Wednesday so she and Luke have a big romantic date planned for Tuesday, so she wants to help me get it all unpacked tomorrow.” Elli says.
“I see. And you have to go with them? On this big romantic date?”
“To chaperone, yes, unfortunately.”
“Is anyone else going with you?”
“Nope. Luke has this picnic planned so I’m going to find a nice shady tree to read under while they make out or stare at each other or whatever they do.” She giggles.
I know exactly where this is going, so I save myself the trouble of hearing Matt get the girl. When I get back into the movie room, I lean over the couch and ask Sean for a favor.
Chapter 8
Elli
I’m not the girl that guys want to date.
I don’t mean that in a self-deprecating way, I mean it in a “this is how it’s always been and I’ve come to terms with it” kind of way. I don’t get hit on, and Idefinitelydon’t attract guys that look likeGQmodels. So when Matt asks if he can take me out on Saturday, I don’t think I heard him right.
“Wait. What?” I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts to be coherent again.
Matt steps closer, chuckling a little bit as he tucks a stray hair behind my ear just like earlier, then slides his hand down my arm and grabs my hand. “I think you’re smart, funny, and beautiful, Elli. I want to get to know you better. I’d like to take you out on Saturday. Thatway we can get to know each other without twelve other people around.”
Oh.
Oh my goodness.
