A Billion Stars

Chapter 21

"This is my favorite part." Ricky mumbles, pointing to the screen as the characters begin to dance to fast-paced orchestra number. "My favorite part is when Maria and Tony meet." I admit and Ricky looks down at me, smiling. "Typical. You're such a woman." I laugh and push him away and right as I do so, his arm comes back around me, pulling me into his side. "That's not typical! It's so special, they look at each other like they're the only two people in the room and-" Ricky cuts me off with a gentle rub against my shoulder. "That's something I can get behind." He tells me and I smile. We turn our attention back to the screen and I sink further into Ricky which makes my heart feel like it's going to jump out of my chest. His breathing turns shallow, I can tell by the way his chest rises and falls, so I know I have the same effect on him and excitement floods through me. "Hey" I speak out softly and Ricky turns his head to look down at me. "Thank you for today, well for all the days you've been around but today especially." I tell him and he nods, focusing on me a bit more intently. "Why today especially?" He asks, matching my tone. "I lived today." I tell him, laughing brightly and smiling up at him. "I forgot what it was like to have someone tying me down, I got to cross some stuff off of my LA bucket list, and just being around you..." I cut myself off, unable to finish my sentence but it doesn't matter. Ricky picks up my hand and traces the back of it with his fingertips carefully, just like I did earlier. "I'm just grateful you came into my life." He says gently and I turn to meet his eyes. His eyes are gentle but they bore into mine, causing me to sink further into the couch. "I'm grateful too." I tell him and he bites his lip, no doubt containing a smile.

As the movie continues on, I'm pulled into a peaceful sleep, nothing too deep knowing that Ricky is still on my couch, but enough to make my body relax and clear my mind. I feel callused fingertips run across my forehead, pushing back my hair and I attempt to stop my smile from spreading too much. I feel Ricky shift into me, his head resting against mine gently. When I hear the credits of the movie begin, I wonder if he'll get up but all I hear is the click of the remote and his steady breathing as he moves just a little closer to me. We're close enough for me to feel his warmth and one of his hands rests on my wrist lightly and I begin to think what this could all mean. Is this a start of a relationship? Is he just killing time with me? Does he feel something or is he with me because I'm around? If he likes me then am I ready to be in a relationship again? Because god knows I like him. The tiniest part of my brain wonders if he'll turn into EJ as time goes on, passing off possession as "caring." I didn't want to think about it though because curled up into Ricky, breathing in his scent and feeling the warmth of his body was almost a reward for all the shit I had gone through. I didn't want to mess it up just yet.