Page 21 of The List of Things

I drop the shoes on the floor and move my long black hair from my back. The second his fingers graze my skin I swear every hair on my body stands up. Awareness spreads through every inch of me as I feel my body awaken just from the simplest touch. I react to him far more than I would if it was anyone else. What just happened is proof of that. Dear God, I need to behave myself.

“All done,” He tells me, reaching his hand around my body.

He gathers my hair, moving it to my back once again, and then he turns me by one shoulder. His touch lingers and his stare is prominent. I look up at him hesitantly, no expression present on my face as I wait for him to reveal what he’s thinking as we continue to stare at each other.

“Pretty.”

I press my lips together, but they inevitably turn up into a smile. Bellamy normally throws comments at me that are senseless, and seem as though they’re a joke. This, though it’s simple, feels real. Like he truly means it when he says it. One word, only one but it hits my chest hard.

“Thanks,” I turn around, not letting any of my thoughts be seen on my face.

I grab the shoes from where I dropped them on the floor. I walk into my living room and throw myself down on the couch.

I hike my leg up so I can put the heels on, the material of my dress beginning to slip up my leg as I rest it on the table. I feel the air brushing my exposed skin. I’m not showing too much, but just enough.

I catch Bellamy’s eyes, his hands in his pockets, his face, and gaze stuck in my direction. He looks like he was struck by lightning. It’s not a bad look but it’s one I don’t know so I speak my thoughts.

“I’m sorry it took me so long. I didn’t know what to wear because someone likes to keep things a secret,” I snatch some of the unwanted tension from the air.

He might enjoy it, but I know I don’t.

“I have to have some edge on you... I also had no idea what you were wearing. It’s only fair, right?”

I roll my eyes as I switch feet. I try to move quickly as I put on the other shoe.

“Well, I don’t care what’s fair. I need to know from now on what the dress code is for every single one of these stupid dates,” I lace the shoes with skill around my ankle and calf.

“As long as you don’t call them stupid again. Speaking of...” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the list.

The thought of him having it – keeping it, and looking at it – ties knots in my stomach and I hate the feeling. I watch as he holds it, ignoring his hands as I look, and see his eyes scanning the paper.

“We’ve got a lot to get done,” He shakes the list lightly, his eyes sliding back to me.

“Yeah, and I know some of those things aren’t possible right now, but it’s fine. I guess we can just do as much as we’re able,” I stand and make my way to him.

He watches every move I take like he’s never laid eyes on me in his life. I move close to him, practically chest to chest. He’s focused on me, more than he ever has been right now.

“Ready?” He asks and I nod softly.

He motions to the door, and then he opens it for me. We walk out together, down the hall, and to the elevator. As we move through my building, he’s sure to open every door for me, and the moment we walk out of the complex he walks around me, moving me so I’m on the inside, and he’s closest to the street. All green flags from Bellamy Archer, that’s a fact. Not that I’m surprised.

“My car is right up here.”

I walk beside him, a small distance between us as we walk, his arm barely brushing mine as we move together. I continue my pace down the street and feel his presence leave. My head turns and I look at him as he opens the door of an old beat up Jeep. I knew he drove a Jeep, but I didn’t think this is what it would look like. One that looks like it’s lived a lot of life. Been to a lot of places. The car is more loved than I am from the looks of it.

“This is your car?” I ask him.

“I’ve driven you before… And for someone without a car, I don’t think you have much room to judge mine.”

I walk back to him and shake my head.

“No, I’m not judging. I just expected something different,” I know he’s got money.

A lot of it too. His family is loaded. I guess it was shallow of me to expect anything at all from him. Especially that he’d have some fancy nice car. Oddly enough, this old beat up car fits Bellamy perfectly. I did think his reddish Jeep was newer than the one I’m now sitting in.

“What were you expecting then?” He closes the door behind me as I climb in.

He walks around the front of the car and gets in on his side. We both buckle, and he pulls away from the sidewalk, beginning our drive.

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