Icebreaker

by Hannah Grace

Looking at her makes me want to be the funniest guy in the room, so I can be the one to make her laugh.

She laughs and, my God, that noise. I’ve never enjoyed making someone laugh as much as I do with her. It’s because she makes me work for every laugh and smile—the competitive side of me buzzes when I manage it.

“You have no idea, do you? The lengths I’d go to if you’d let me. What I’d do to make you happy.”

“I don’t need you to defend me,”

“I know you don’t, but you’re worth defending. Every cut, bruise, every single pang of anger or frustration. It’s all worth it. I’d throw my last punch defending you because you deserve to have someone be that person for you, and there’s no one more qualified for the job than me.”

“You’re just really fucking pretty, Nathan. It’s super hard to concentrate sometimes, do you know that? Do you understand how difficult it is sometimes to focus on literally anything when you’re around me looking effortlessly beautiful?”

“You ready to play house every single day?” “As long as it’s with you.”