Page 72 of Haunt the Mall

He hesitated, his muscles tense.

“You don’t have to,” I hurried to say, lifting my cheek off him. “I know you might be sick of movies because of your job. We could try a TV show? Or, I don’t know, I should probably learn about more of your hobbies at some point and—”

“You know enough.”

I did? It didn’t feel like it. I wanted to bathe in his very essence. Was he cutting me off when I’d barely dipped my toes in?

He kissed my face and slow-blinked. “I love films, and I’d love to stay…as long as I’m able to. I like being with you, Kat.”

I exhaled and snuggled close, steam seeping into my bones.

He wanted to stay. I never wanted him to leave. This love was quickly turning into an obsession, but at least he was descending into it with me.

32

Commentary

Victor appreciated me naked with messy makeup, so it didn’t matter if he saw me bare-faced in comfy pajamas. He said he liked all of me. That meant he’d like me in anything. I put on plaid shorts and a hooded long-sleeved tee with thumb-cutouts.

Unfortunately for my skin-contact-craving self, he changed into his pants and button-down shirt despite my generous offer to loan him my fuzzy black bathrobe. We cuddled on the bed while he scrolled through the streaming library on my little TV. About five minutes later, he still hadn’t picked anything.

I rubbed my face on his arm and yawned. “I thought you liked movies.”

“I do,” he said.

“So why are you taking eight thousand years to pick something?”

He frowned at the screen. “I was thinking.”

I giggled and hugged him. “You’re so weird.” It was undeniably charming. “What are you thinking about?”

“Um, nothing.” He picked a horror movie. “Happy?”

Sort of. “I thought you said you liked think-y movies.”

He shrugged. “I can think about horror movies.”

That was true, but this was a B-movie at best. Not exactly prime for dissecting character and themes.

I side-eyed him. “You picked this for me.”

“Maybe.” He smiled, his cheeks tinged pink.

Oh my god, he was blushing. My spider man was a secret softie. I wrapped myself tighter around him. “So, what were you thinking?”

He sighed and vaguely gestured to the TV. “I was weighing which movie would be the best for our mutual interest and casual viewing.”

“You mean since I’m so chatty?” I teased.

He shrugged and bit the inside of his cheek, clearly fighting another smile.

“Well, you’re right,” I said. “This movie is going to come with full commentary.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, but he texted someone during the opening credits. A woman, based on the icon. It was probably his sister.

< Victor: Come see me at the theater tomorrow. >

Yep. Probably just craving a visit from his sister. Or an old friend. He wouldn’t be private messaging another girl while cuddled up with me.