Chapter 14

I didn't mean for it to happen.

Truly.

But somehow, I was standing outside the movie theater alone—with Oliver.

"This isn't a date," I blurted out the second we made eye contact.

Oliver blinked. Then smirked. Dangerous. "Never said it was."

I narrowed my eyes. "Good."

Except… wasn't it?

Lena was supposed to come. My totally real, absolutely foolproof buffer. But five minutes before showtime, she texted:

LENA: I have to bail. Family emergency. But hey, think of it as free popcorn with your stalker ;)

I was going to strangle her.

Oliver leaned down slightly. "You're overthinking."

I scowled. "I do not overthink."

He pointed at my fingers—which were currently strangling my soda straw to death.

I yanked my hands away. "Let's just go inside."

—

We sat in the middle row, with one seat between us. A safe distance. Completely normal. No weird feelings whatsoever.

The lights dimmed, the movie started, and everything was fine.

Until the jumpscare.

It was loud, sudden, and I—totally on accident—flung my popcorn onto Oliver's lap.

Silence.

Then, laughter. His laughter.

"Oh my God." I sank into my seat. "I'm leaving."

Oliver, still grinning, grabbed my wrist. "Stay."

I stilled. Oh.

He wasn't laughing anymore. His fingers, warm and steady, lingered on my skin before letting go.

I swallowed. Face forward. Ignore the weird flutter in my stomach.

"Still not a date," I mumbled.

Oliver chuckled. "Of course not."

Liar.