“Hey,” he comforts, slowing down at a red light. He takes the bottle and opens it. “I know this is rough, but we’re okay. There’s a water bottle right here, drink some and take the medicine. You’ll feel better in a bit.”
My eyes go to the half-empty plastic bottle he’s referring to between us. I must have made a face as he chuckled and passed it to me.
“Don’t look so disgusted.” Wrapping my fingers around the bottle, I glance up at him. His eyes are focused in front of him, waiting for the light to change. “It isn’t like we haven’t exchanged bodily fluids before.”
My voice is hoarse. “Don’t remind me.”
His lips kick up on the corners.
After I swallow the pills, I hold the water bottle in my lap and stare down at my hands. The pad of my thumb runs down the ribbed sides, and I watch as little water droplets slide down the inside of the plastic.
“Thank you,” I find myself whispering.
His hand reaches over and takes mine. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m here for you.”
Without thinking, I flip my hand over so our palms cup each other’s. He squeezes my hand, and I squeeze my eyes closed. The heat from his touch eases the panic in my chest, but it doesn’t lessen the other feeling swarming my stomach.
The flutters.
The warning signs.
The alarms.
Our drive is silent.
Chapter Eighteen
Kinley / 16
The fogginess of being freshly woken by someone shaking my shoulder has my eyes peeling open to be met by silver ones. Body locking, I sit up and let the blanket wrapped around me fall into a bundle on my lap.
Thankfully, I’m sporting my decent pajamas instead of the ratty tee I originally had on before bed. I guess spilling hot chocolate over me had its perks.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, rubbing my eyes and staring at the time on my clock. It’s not even one in the morning.
“I got it, Little Bird.”
I blink slowly, too tired to follow.
He sits down on the bed. “I got the role in the movie. Better. They’re going to give me a part that gets more screen time.”
My eyes widen and I’m suddenly awake as I launch myself at him in a tight hug. “Corbin! That is so amazing, congratulations. How did you find out? Did they call? Email? Facebook message? Morse code?”
“Morse—” He shakes his head and chuckles quietly, pulling away. “You’re nuts. No, Daniel called me about half an hour ago. He’s friends with one of the casting crew and wanted to tell me himself.”
I bounce on the bed and smile so big it physically hurts. “You’re going to be in a movie. A movie. Corbin Callum—actor.” My arms pebble with goosebumps. “People will want pictures and autographs and get all weird and giggly when they’re near you.”
“Whoa.” His smile is full of amusement as he shoves me over so he can sit beside me. “I wouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves. This is only a made for television movie, remember?”
I swat the back of my hand against his chest and lean into him, collecting the blanket and offering him some. He accepts and maneuvers under the covers, kicking his shoes off in the process.
“Lots of people watch those movies,” I tell him, my cheek resting on his shoulder. “Plus, it shouldn’t matter if it’s just made for TV. You’re still in a movie, on a screen, where anyone can watch. It’s insane.”
His lips find the top of my head, causing me to close my eyes and curl into him. “I was starting to think my dad was right.”
I straighten up and stare at him until he meets my eyes. “Don’t doubt yourself. I’ve watched you practice your lines so many times, Corbin. You’re amazing. A natural. This isn’t going to be the only part you get.”
He studies me for a second with those intense eyes before smiling. “You’re my biggest cheerleader, you know that?”
I playfully jab his ribs. “I’m your biggest fan, too. Tell all the screaming women that when you encounter them.”
“I’ll make a shirt,” he says seriously.
We sit like that for a moment, just watching each other in the tight proximity of my twin bed. The white down comforter has hair from our dog napping on it when I’m writing, and the many pillows I own are scattered on the floor instead of perched on the bed that way I have room to sleep. There’s a gray throw blanket that my Grandma gave me for my birthday last year that’s hanging off the edge of the mattress from my usual restlessness.
Resting back again, I give him a nudge with my shoulder. “You should really thank your parents. You’ve got the looks and the name. I have no doubt in my mind that you’re going to be everywhere. Then I can brag about you to everyone I know.”
“What about you, huh?”
“What about me?”
“You’re going to have books with your name out there for everyone to fangirl.” His hand finds mine over the blankets, our fingers playing tug-of-war.
“One day.”
“It’ll happen, Little Bird.”
“Mm.”
Sleepiness washes over me again.
“Kinley?”
I look up at him. “Yeah?”
His eyes dip down to my lips. “Thank you for being there for me. It means more than you know, especially with Dad…”
I wet my bottom lip. “You know I’ve got your back, superstar. And like I said before, your dad loves you. He’s just struggling.”
“And you?”
I blink. “You really have to ask?”
Instead of smiling, he leans in and bumps his nose with mine. His warm breath invites me to tilt my chin up and capture his lips the same time he brushes mine. One of his hands cradles my face as I sit there and absorb the minty taste of his breath. Collecting enough courage, I make a move to straddle his lap, forcing him to shift to the center of the bed so I have room. My knees rest on either side of him, his hands grasping my cotton-clad hips.
“Hey,” he whispers, squeezing me. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking right now. Talk to me, Little Bird.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I’m thinking that I’m happy for you. I’m excited you get to start living your dream. And I’m thinking … that I’m not thinking at all.”
My lips go to one cheek, then the other. Slowly, I trail them over his lips and leave a barely-there kiss like the first one he ever gave me. His fingertips twitch on my hips but stay where they are. Letting me explore, I wiggle on his lap until he bites back a groan. My spine straightens when I feel him harden beneath me. Our eyes meet and his cheeks pinken like mine.
“Corbin?”
I think his throat bobs. “Yeah?”
“Do you think … I mean, would it be okay if we, uh…” I lick my lips and feel my confidence wavering by the self-doubt increasing in the pit of my stomach.
His fingers find the hem of my shirt. “May I?” He tugs the material up, leaving my heart racing over what will happen if I say yes.
I nod in a daze, letting him peel the shirt off me and let it drop on the floor. His eyes widen as he takes in the sports bra I’m wearing. My boobs aren’t very big—barely a B cup. But he looks at them like he’s never seen something so beautiful, and my entire body blushes over the light in his eyes.