Page 80 of Ink & Desire
She smiles. “I love it.”
“It’ll be here in about 15 minutes.” I gesture toward the couch. “Do you want to watch a movie?”
She hesitates for only a second before she smiles. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”
I hand her the remote. “Surprise me.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for that? What if I pick a musical?”
I manage not to make a face, but inwardly I’m cringing. “I guess we’ll sing along.”
Avery looks skeptical. “Do you know how to sing?”
“Everyone can sing,” I say. “Just not everyone sounds good doing it.”
“Which group do you belong to? The one that sounds good or the other one?”
“Oh, I’m definitely in the other group,” I say with a grin. “Sounds like screaming goats when I sing. So, choose wisely.”
She laughs and takes a seat on the couch and starts scrolling through the movies on my streaming service. I watch her for a few minutes wondering again what the hell I’m doing. Why did I ask her to stay? Why does this suddenly feel like a date? Why don’t I hate the idea?
“You want a beer?” I ask. “I don’t have anything stronger. No wine, either.”
“I like beer,” she says. When I raise a brow at her answer, she narrows hers at me. “Why do you seem surprised by that?”
I’m saved from having to answer by my phone alerting me that the delivery person is outside the building with my order.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, walking quickly for the door.
After tipping the delivery driver, I quickly head back up to my apartment where Avery is sitting on the couch, a mischievous look on her face. I’m instantly suspicious. My eyes narrow at her as I look from her to the television where the screen is paused.
“What?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Nothing. I picked out a movie.”
I can guess from her demeanor that she probably picked a romantic comedy or some animated kids movie I’m going to hate. I decide not to question it for now. I’ll find out what she picked soon enough.
“Food’s here,” I say, holding up the bag.
Her eyes light up with excitement and she jumps to her feet. She looks so small and adorable in my clothes that I almost laugh. Something in my chest squeezes almost painfully at the sight, but I ignore it. She follows me into the kitchen where we dump food from paper boxes onto our plates and I grab us each a beer. We carry everything back to the couch and Avery picks up the remote. She eyes me with anticipation.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to torture me?” I ask.
Her mouth drops open in mock outrage. “I’ll have you know that I picked the best possible movie for our viewing pleasure tonight. Don’t judge until you see what it is.”
I’m still skeptical, but I nod toward the television. “Play it.”
I dig into my food while she plays the movie. But even without looking up at the screen, it takes me less than 30 seconds to realize which movie she picked. When I hear the opening lines to a Barenaked Ladies song I haven’t heard in years, I fight back a smile.
“10 Things I Hate About You?” I say, looking up to see Avery grinning at me.
She nods. “It’s a little before my time, but I figured it’s perfect for someone your age.”
I can’t help but laugh. “This is rated PG-13. Are you sure you’re old enough?”
“I might need you to explain the dirty jokes for me,” she says, making me laugh again.
I think I’ve laughed more with Avery in the last two weeks than I have in the last year. I don’t know what it is about her that makes me feel lighter somehow. It’s a strange feeling, but I can’t deny that I like it.