Page 84 of That Last Secret
“I come bearing snacks for movie night,” she says, lifting up the bag.
I widen my stance, crossing my arms over my chest. “Your choice of snacks will determine if you can cross this threshold.”
Emiline rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, I got you your Twizzlers.”
“You may enter.” I laugh as I step aside, allowing her in. “Did you decide what movie you wanted to watch?”
She walks toward my kitchen to place the bag down before unloading the contents. “I have a few in mind.”
I meet her at the table and notice she has the entire candy aisle on my kitchen counter. “Did you raid the local convenience store?”
“I can’t answer that. You’ll have me arrested.”
I bark out a laugh. “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me.”
Emiline’s laughter dies down while she stares at me. She’s still smiling, but I see the wheels in her head spinning like she’s deep in thought.
I hope she knows I mean it when I tell her that.
“Tell me your movie ideas,” I urge, hoping to steer the conversation away from something more serious.
“I was thinking we could watch10 Things I Hate About You. It’s one of my favorites,” she exaggerates.
I give her a knowing glare. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Me.” Emiline feigns shock. “Never.”
“Yeah.” I shake my head. “I see what you did there.”
We both laugh as she maneuvers around my kitchen, finding little bowls to put the snacks in. I grab a throw blanket from my hallway closet and return to see her settled on the couch. The candy bowls scattered around the table with two glasses of soda poured for us.
I watch from behind her as she clicks through my channels.
Seeing Emiline in my space when I never bring girls back here feels so different. She looks like she belongs here, and that revelation hits me square in the chest.
“Hurry up,” she shouts. “It’s starting.”
“I’m right here,” I say calmly. She turns around, not realizing I spent the last few moments staring at her and taking this all in. I place the blanket on the back of the couch before plopping down next to her. “What’s this movie about?”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“I don’t watch movies.”
“You don’t watch movies but invited me to a movie night with you?”
Shit.
“I wanted to spend time with you, Emiline,” I tell her honestly. “I like spending time with you.”
She stares at me from the spot next to me on the couch, blinking and mouth slightly parted like she didn’t expect me to admit that.
Seems like she has that effect on me.
I can’t control the words out of my mouth and how I respond to her.
But a visible shiver runs through her body before she turns to face the TV.
“I grabbed a blanket,” I say, reaching behind us and draping it over her legs.