Chapter 5 #4
“Nah, I’m good, man,” I tell him and then slowly start to make my way through the crowd.
It’s a mix of Russian, English, and ASL, and I’m curious to see how fast Lyra picks up on all three.
When I look around, I see her in Dima’s arms. He’s holding her so her back is to his chest, giving her a view of everyone, and she’s obviously loving every second of this get-together.
I scoot my way around Tyoma’s parents and aim for the patio bench that’s still miraculously open.
Right as I sit down, I feel someone else take the other cushion.
Looking over, I’m surprised to see Sitka’s stormy-grey eyes looking right back at me.
She’s carrying a book in one hand and a plate of pie in the other.
“Sorry,” I quickly say. “I can find another spot.”
I start to get up, but she grabs my arm. Her hand is only on my bare skin for a few precious seconds, but the heat from her touch remains.
“You don’t need to leave,” she says. Then she holds up the book in her hand, letting me see the title that I can’t read. I dart my eyes away, wishing I’d chosen somewhere else to sit. I want to be near her, but not if it’s going to involve a book.
When I don’t say anything, she says, “I just need a spot to eat my pie and read my book. You don’t need to leave though.
I have plenty of room.” Using her fork, she gestures to her family that’s still way too close for my comfort.
“This could go on for hours, so I’ve learned to always bring a book. ”
I’m at a loss at what to say, so I stay quiet while she takes a bite of her pie and opens her book.
I debate getting up, but I don’t want her to think it’s because of her.
I hadn’t planned on her reading during our first conversation, and it’s thrown me for a loop.
I nearly sigh with relief when I see Ev headed our way.
When he scoots around Allie and her mom and sees who I’m sitting next to, his face splits into a grin before he quickly hides it away.
Standing in front of us, he balances a plate that’s piled high with three different types of pie and a bowl of ice cream. He eyes the small bench we’re on and looks around, but there’s nowhere else to sit.
“Don’t suppose I could squeeze in there, could I?” he asks, and I can tell by his tone that he’s fighting a laugh.
“Of course,” Sitka says before I can tell my cousin to find a new spot.
He gives me a smirk when Sitka looks down to scoot over as much as she can and in a completely innocent voice asks me, “Do you mind if I sit on the end? I don’t like being boxed in.”
At six-four, Ev is an inch taller than me, and just because he keeps his head in the books, it doesn’t mean he neglects the gym.
“Sure,” I say, and then scoot over and try not to laugh when Ev has to squeeze himself in the small opening I’ve given him.
“Can you hold this?” he asks, handing me his bowl of ice cream while he wiggles in a bit more. “Can you also scoot your ass down a bit? No man-splaying, Damien. Share the bench.”
Sitka lets out a soft laugh while I groan and scoot down.
There’s no way for us all three to fit on this without being smushed together.
The entire left side of my body is pressed firmly against her right side.
The bare skin of our arms touch, and if I wasn’t also pressed up against Ev, I’d say it was the most erotic moment of my life to date.
It’s kind of sad that my bare arm touching her bare arm is erotic to me, but it’s true.
I have zero experience with women. Ever since Lindsey called me out in first grade, I’ve always been a little leery of them, especially the smart ones, the bookworms like the one I’m sitting next to.
“Sorry,” I tell Sitka when Ev is settled and we’re like three peas shoved into a tiny pod.
“It’s okay,” she says, and when she turns her head, our faces are only inches apart.
The look in her eyes has me trapped like a deer in headlights.
It’s an open curiosity that she’s not even trying to hide.
I watch her grey eyes as they run over my face and along my neck before she slowly takes another bite of pie.
I’m helpless to look away from her mouth, watching in silence as she chews, the movements forcing her full lips into a hypnotic dance that leaves me mesmerized.
When I see the small dab of whip cream in the corner of her mouth, I have to force myself to remain silent as she slowly darts her tongue out to lick it clean.
Before I can make a fool of myself, Ev leans over, butting into my space and pushing me back a little while he discreetly nudges my ribs with his elbow. While he asks Sitka some random question about the weather, I look past him and see Volodya staring at me.
Understanding that Ev just saved my ass, I let out an easy laugh when Sitka tells him he’ll probably be wearing a hoodie for most of the trip, and then I hand him his bowl of ice cream and stand up.
“I’m gonna talk to Bran about the dirt bikes he said we could borrow,” I tell them and then get my ass as far away from my grey-eyed temptation as I can get.
The last thing I want or need is for her dad to get suspicious on day two of our trip. I’m guessing he doesn’t miss much, but I’d like him to remain ignorant for as long as possible.