Page 106 of Jerk
If you walked in on us at this moment, you’d think it was something we do all the time, the three of us like a family. If you walked in right now, you’d think my attention is on the movie. But it’s not.
My attention keeps drifting to Hannah, curled up beside me in nothing but my old SBU hockey t-shirt. She sits in a way that our knees brush, her scent mixing with the leather of the seats and popcorn in the air. It’s always been something deeper than that YSL perfume she wears. It’s something that’s just Hannah.
My abs twitch, my finger taking a walk over to her thigh. I could reach out and wrap my hand around that shirt and pull her close to me. I could pull her lips on mine, and something tells me she wouldn't pull away. I can fuck the past few days out of her. I know we can bring each other to bliss and forget our tiny place on this fucked up planet.
Instead, I let all those thoughts taunt me. I let the little space between us feel as painful as the throb between my legs.
Turning to her, she’s already looking at me as our eyes lock. She doesn’t say anything. No sassy remarks. No quick jabs. She just stares, those honeyed eyes melting mine.
“What are you thinking about, Alfonso?” I fire first.
Her cheeks redden before she smirks. “You couldn’t handle what I’m thinking about.”
Fuck…
The bite of her lip makes me want to wrap my hand around her throat and claim her with my mouth.
“Uh, should I leave?” Krystal asks, breaking me out of whatever trance Hannah has me under.
I turn to Krystal, but not without another glance at Hannah’s glossy, pouty lips. “And miss this Academy-worthy masterpiece?”
Krystal rolls her eyes. “The only thing more disturbing than this is watching you two eye-fuck each other.”
“That isnotwhat we’re doing,” Hannah leans forward, catching Krystal’s gaze. Then she flips her hair. “But, if it was, it wouldn’t be my fault that I'm such a distraction.”
“Oh, you are,” Krystal says. “Rye hasn’t looked at the screen for thirty minutes.”
“The movie’s shit.” I give a playful wink to Hannah and… fuck, wait, did I really just wink?
“Then I’ll help you.” Krystal grabs the bowl from my lap and pours it over my head. “Better?”
Hannah laughs, almost melodically, as she steals some popcorn from my head. Has she always laughed like that?
A smile creeps on my face. “You’re gonna regret that when you have no one to save you from the zombie vampire outbreak.”
“We all know you’re a hero, Rye.” Krystal leans against the other side of the sofa, her eyes on the screen.
Her last word echoes in my head, a slight clench in my jaw. But it’s accurate.
Neither of them makes another sound for a while, the events of this semester spinning in my head. The plan was revenge. Retaliation. Ownership. Not this.
It's not long before a snore sounds from Krystal, shortly followed by another. My eyes move to her, her head resting on the arm of the sofa, her mouth wide open, and her eyes shut. I turn to Hannah, and she laughs before bringing a finger to her lips.
We don’t say a thing, letting the screams and slashing sounds from the film blend with my sister’s loud snoring. My hand still sits on the edge of my lap, and I know how far away it is from hers, but I don’t move it. It feels different choosing to hold her hand this time. Last time, she needed me. Hell, I needed her. But this time is different.
Isn't it?
Hannah lets out a soft moan right before her head dips on my shoulder. It’s a light fall, like she didn’t mean to let herself get that comfortable. But she stays. And I don’t fucking breathe.
I don’t budge when she falls deeper into my shoulder, her breathing getting heavier.
I don't offer that she go to bed. I don't take this as my cue to go.
I stay.
THIRTY-FIVE
HANNAH
