The Things I Can't Do To You

Twelve people

By Wednesday afternoon, Amelia had developed a new habit. Every time her phone buzzed, she smiled before she even looked at it. She hated that Jake had noticed before she had.

Jake:

Question.

She laughed quietly.

Amelia:

I'm beginning to think your entire personality consists of questions.

Jake:

Only the interesting part.

Amelia:

Go on then.

Jake:

Are you doing anything on Friday?

Amelia smiled to herself. There it was. She'd wondered how long it would take him to ask. Not because she'd doubted he would, but because she suspected he'd spent at least half an hour deciding how.

Amelia:

That depends.

Jake:

On?

Amelia:

Whether someone is asking me on a date.

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Then appeared again. She could practically see him rewriting the message.

Finally...

Jake:

Amelia Carter. Would you like to go on another date with me this Friday?

She bit her lip to stop herself grinning.

Amelia:

I thought you'd never ask.

Friday evening arrived wrapped in warm sunshine. Amelia changed outfits three times before settling on dark jeans, a cream knitted jumper and white trainers. Comfortable. Jake had never once made her feel as though she needed to impress him, and that was oddly freeing.

When she stepped outside her building, he was already waiting beside his car. The moment he saw her, his face lit up. It happened every time and she hoped it never stopped.

"I believe I'm two minutes early," she said.

"You are."

"So why have you been waiting fifteen minutes?"

"I like arriving early."

"You like arriving ridiculously early."

"There's a difference."

He opened her door.

"It's spotless in here," she said as she climbed in.

"I cleaned it."

"I know."

"You do?"

She pointed at his shoes.

"Little flecks of polish."

Jake looked down and laughed.

"I've been caught."

"I'm beginning to think nothing escapes your attention."

"Only important things."

He smiled to himself as he started the engine.

"I rather like that."

Twenty minutes later they pulled into the cinema car park.

"You brought me to the cinema?" Amelia asked.

"I did."

"I thought people couldn't talk."

"They can't."

"So how are we supposed to continue our nine-hour conversation?"

"I thought we'd simply pause it."

"I suppose I'll allow that."

Inside, the foyer buzzed with Friday evening excitement. Jake glanced at the queue.

"Twelve."

"What?"

"Twelve people in front of us."

She counted.

"There actually are."

"I know."

"You counted them."

"I was bored."

"You've been standing here about seven seconds."

"It was a productive seven seconds."

She laughed.

"I think you might secretly be eighty."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

While they waited, Amelia wandered over to the sweets.

"What are you buying?" Jake asked.

"Nothing."

"You're holding chocolate."

"I'm considering chocolate."

"You've already chosen."

She looked down. Apparently she had. Jake grinned.

"I win."

"You've known me two weeks."

"I observe."

"That's mildly alarming."

She bought the chocolate anyway while Jake appeared carrying an enormous tub of popcorn.

"That's enough popcorn to feed a village."

"I intend to share."

"Very generous."

"I know."

They handed over their tickets and the usher smiled.

"Screen six. Last row."

Jake glanced down. His eyebrows shot up.

"What?"

"I may have made a mistake."

She leaned closer. He turned the tickets around.

Row J. Seats 11 and 12. Premium Couple Recliners.

Amelia blinked then slowly looked back at him.

"You booked the couple seats."

"I genuinely didn't know they were... couple seats."

"You didn't?"

"I saw 'premium' and assumed better leg room."

She laughed.

"I'm choosing to believe you."

"I appreciate that."

"I probably shouldn't."

They walked into the screen. Only then did Amelia realise why Jake looked so embarrassed. The back row consisted of wide leather recliners designed for two. There was no armrest separating their seats, it was just one large chair.

Jake stopped.

"Oh."

She laughed so hard she had to hold onto his arm.

"You really didn't know."

"I absolutely did not."

"If you'd planned this, I'd think you were incredibly smooth."

"And now?"

"Now I know you're accidentally romantic."

"I'm not convinced that's better."

"It definitely is."

They settled into the oversized seat and Amelia pressed a button. The chair reclined and she quietly squealed.

"They move!"

Jake tried his.

"So they do."

"This is dangerous."

"You think you'll fall asleep?"

"Possibly."

"I'll try not to be offended."

She smiled.

"I make no promises."

The lights dimmed as the trailers began. Amelia instinctively went to rest her elbow between them before remembering there wasn't a gap. Instead, her arm brushed his and Jake became fascinated by the screen. Far too fascinated.

"You alright?" she whispered.

"Perfectly."

"You've gone very quiet."

"I'm trying to behave normally."

She smiled.

"I don't think sitting in a chair is difficult for most people."

"It is today."

"Because there's no armrest?"

"...yes."

His honesty was becoming one of her favourite things.

For the first part of the film they genuinely watched. They whispered the occasional comment, laughed in the right places and shared the popcorn where every now and then their hands met in the tub. Every time, Jake withdrew first.

Halfway through the film the air conditioning drifted across the cinema and Amelia shivered. Jake noticed instantly.

"Cold?"

"A little."

He looked from the screen to the oversized seat and back again. She recognised the expression.

"You're thinking."

"I may be."

"About?"

He cleared his throat.

"I have an idea."

"I'm listening."

"It might be a terrible one."

"They usually aren't."

"The seats are..."

He stopped.

"They're what?"

"...made for couples."

She waited.

"So..."

Another pause.

"You could... come a little closer."

The sentence came out so awkwardly she couldn't stop herself smiling.

"You've spent thirty seconds trying to ask if I want a cuddle."

"When you say it like that..."

"It sounds adorable."

"I wasn't aiming for adorable."

"I know."

She looked at him for a moment. Then quietly slid across the seat until she rested comfortably against his side. Jake stopped breathing. Very carefully, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Not pulling her closer but simply holding her, giving her every opportunity to move away.

She didn't.

Instead she sighed contentedly and nestled against him until her head rested beneath his chin. His wolf fell completely silent. Not because he was unhappy but because, for perhaps the first time in years, everything felt exactly right.

"This okay?" he whispered.

Amelia smiled without looking up.

"More than okay."

She rested one hand lightly against his chest.

"I've never done this on a second date."

Jake smiled.

"I've never done this on any date."

She laughed softly.

"You seem surprisingly good at it."

For the rest of the film they barely moved. Amelia laughed against his chest and Jake occasionally looked down instead of at the screen. Every time he caught the familiar scent of honey and vanilla which was becoming dangerously comforting. Eventually Amelia looked up and caught him watching.

"Were you looking at me?"

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You absolutely were."

"I was checking you hadn't fallen asleep."

"You don't expect me to believe that."

"I was hoping."

She smiled.

"I quite like that you were."

Jake laughed quietly.

"I appear to be terrible at hiding things."

"I hope that never changes."

By the final act of the film, half the audience seemed close to tears. Amelia looked up.

"Are you crying?"

"No."

"Your eyes look suspicious."

"The cinema is dusty."

"Of course it is."

"What about you?"

"I am absolutely not crying."

A tear escaped down her cheek. Jake looked at it then into her eyes. She sighed.

"We're never speaking of this."

"I understand."

"If you tell anyone..."

"I value my life."

She laughed, wiping her face.

"I blame the music."

"I blame the screenplay."

"That too."

When the credits rolled, neither of them hurried to stand. Amelia remained tucked comfortably beneath his arm.

"Well," she murmured.

"Well."

"I think the couple seats were a very happy accident."

Jake smiled.

"I have to agree."

She looked up at him.

"I'm going to tell everyone you planned it."

"I don't think anyone would believe that."

"I would."

He laughed as she reached up and absent-mindedly straightened the collar of his jumper.

"I've realised something."

"What?"

"You're much braver when you're protecting me than when you're just trying to hold me."

Jake considered that. "You're probably right."

"That's alright."

"Why?"

"Because one day you'll realise you don't have to be brave with me."

Jake looked at her for a long moment. Still tucked against him, still smiling and still looking at him as though there was nowhere else she'd rather be. He realised then that asking her to cuddle had been difficultbut letting her go would be much harder. Eventually the lights came up but still, neither wanted to move.

"I suppose we should go," Amelia said.

"I suppose."

Neither of them stood.

She laughed. "We're going to be those people who have to be asked to leave."

"I'm surprisingly alright with that."

"So am I."

Finally they climbed to their feet. As they walked out of the cinema, Amelia slipped naturally beneath his arm again. Neither of them commented on it. It simply felt like the most obvious place in the world to be.

Outside, the evening air was cool.

Jake looked down at her.

"So..."

"So."

"Did you enjoy the film?"

She smiled sheepishly.

"I honestly can't remember most of it."

He laughed.

"I was hoping you wouldn't say that."

"Can you?"

"Not really."

"What do you remember?"

He looked at her.

"You."

Amelia felt her cheeks warm.

"I remember you too."

And somehow, both of them knew the film had never really been the point. Jake walked Amelia back to her apartment from the car park with her tucked comfortably beneath his arm, blissfully unaware that the conversation inside his head had become complete chaos.

Mine.

Absolutely not.

Claim her.

We've been on two dates.

Exactly.

That is not exactly.

Amelia snuggled a little closer and Jake nearly walked into a lamp post.

"You alright?" she asked.

"Perfectly."

"You've almost hit a cyclist, walked into a post and forgotten what you were saying twice."

"I've had a busy evening."

His wolf remained spectacularly unhelpful.

Kiss her.

No.

Carry her home.

Definitely no.

Bite her.

"Absolutely not."

Amelia blinked.

"What?"

Jake froze.

"I... wasn't talking to you."

She laughed.

"Were you talking to yourself?"

"...Possibly."

Outside her building, she smiled up at him.

"I had a lovely evening."

"So did I."

She kissed his cheek and his wolf completely lost what little composure he had left.

OURS.

Jake became rigid. His wolf was now enthusiastically suggesting behaviour that would almost certainly result in Amelia calling the police.

"I think," Jake said quickly, "it's probably time for me to go."

"So suddenly?"

"My self-control has reached today's limit."

Amelia grinned.

"You are running away again."

"...Yes."

She hugged him. Jake hugged her back for approximately two seconds before gently disentangling himself.

"I'll text you."

"You'd better."

He almost jogged to his car. Amelia watched him drive away, laughing softly.

"I don't know why he keeps running away."

At the first red light, Jake rested his forehead against the steering wheel.

"You," he muttered to his wolf, "are an absolute menace."

His wolf sounded unbearably smug.

She hugged us.