In Love with Madden

LOOK AT ME, PLEASE

They were at Everly's flat.

She had invited Richard over for dinner, simply because they hadn't seen each other in a week.

Daniel had had a minor accident (he had tripped over his cat and sprained his ankle), and everyone working on the movie had involuntarily gotten a week off.

Everly and Richard were watching the movie 'A Star Is Born', and even though there had been at least a foot's space between them at the start of the movie, they had somehow ended up sitting pressed up against each other.

About halfway through, Richard exaggerated a yawn and put his arm around Everly.

"You're ridiculous!", she laughed, while giving him a slight shove. It didn't stop her from putting her head on his shoulder, though, and it certainly didn't stop her from having a huge grin on her face the rest of the movie.

***

When they finished the film, they just sat on the couch, drinking coffee and relaxing.

Richard stretched and yawned, his t-shirt riding up and exposing a stripe of bare skin, just below his navel.

It was mesmerizing, and Everly couldn't stop staring, not even after it had disappeared beneath his shirt. She was only vaguely aware of the fact that Richard was watching her, amusement clear on his face.

Amusement and something else.

"Everly?", he asked, softly.

"Y-yes?", she croaked, before clearing her throat and trying again. "Yeah?"

"Look at me, please."

Only then did she realize that she was, in fact, still looking at his stomach.

She slowly raised her eyes, expecting him to laugh at her. Instead she saw something completely different written in his eyes.

He leaned in, and his lips were suddenly only a few inches away from her own.

He hesitated, and Everly could see the question in his eyes. She nodded and close her eyes in a silent invitation.

It took only half a second before Richards mouth was on hers.