Layers of Heat

Layer 18

Even though Miles saw the distress on Winnie's face, he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop until she understood his intentions.

"I'll admit, I'm not a great guy. Every time we bickered, I knew I was only getting more and more on your worst side, but I couldn't stop. It became the only way I knew how to interact with you. And if I'm being honest..." He paused, seeming to debate whether to reveal his next words or not. In the end, he said them shamelessly. "I enjoy it when you treat me differently from everyone else. No one can quite get a rouse out of you as much as I can."

Winnie narrowed her eyes at him. "Jerk."

Her insult only made him smile. "Just like that."

Seeing him smile so innocently, so authentically, made her freeze. She felt like a deer caught in headlights...and it was blinding.

"Winnie," he said. For some reason, the sound of her name coming from his lips was different compared to all the other previous times. It was soft, gentle...

Melting.

The overload of sensations made her blurt out, "Okay."

He tilted his head, confused. "Okay?"

"Okay, I get it. But...I need time. To adjust." Winnie clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes. "And if I find out this is some sick joke you're playing, you're dead."

Miles suddenly stepped closer to her, causing Winnie to step back on reflex. She slipped on the snow below her feet, but he easily caught her by placing a hand on her back and pushing her against his chest. For a solid five seconds, they were unmoving, simply standing close, feeling each other's heat in the winter cold.

Only when people passing by began staring at them did Winnie break out of the trance.

"What the hell was that for?" she questioned, still reeling from his proximity.

"Sorry," Miles apologized, sounding out of breath. "I got excited and was going to ask for your number."

Winnie couldn't believe this whole predicament was caused by something so mundane. It was stupid. But she wasn't going to deny his request.

"I'll give it to you, so let me go."

Miles held onto her for three seconds longer before dropping his hand. And yet, he didn't move away from her, continuing to stand at a distance that made her feel far too warm. Winnie frowned at the heat and stepped away from him while pulling out her phone.

She opened her contacts list and handed it over to him. He typed his number, as well as his name. Seeing it in something as personal as her cell phone felt...weird. In the first place, Winnie only had a few contacts in her list. Most of them were family, some were faculty members of her major, and the least of all were friends.

So where did Miles fall under those categories?