Her eyes darted up to mine, confused.
By the time the credits rolled and the lawn erupted in chatter, I stood, stretching my body. Hazel looked ready to bolt, clutching the empty popcorn tub awkwardly.
Before she could escape, I pulled her into a hug. I felt her whole body go rigid, every muscle tensed like she didn’t know what to do with me pressed against her. I thought she’d shove me away, leave me standing there looking like an i***t.
Then slowly, her hands lifted, uncertain, and she hugged me back. It wasn’t much, just a small press of her arms around me. But it was enough.
Her hair brushed my jaw, soft and clean, and I inhaled before I could stop myself. She smelled like chocolate and the buttered popcorn, like someone who didn’t realize how badly I wanted her to stop pulling awa
