My upper lip curls.
“That one on the left, especially,” he adds.
Okay, he’s the worst date ever. I check my phone again, willing Olivia or Charlie to respond. I may not have to lie about this headache.
Then a very muscular Santa comes on-screen, wearing only pants and a Santa hat. There seems to be a great deal of oil lathered over his bare chest.
What is happening?
It only takes another twenty seconds to tell what kind of movie this is. The two elves start talking about how bad they’ve been, and in another couple of seconds, they’re only wearing the elf hats and NOTHING ELSE.
Repeat: NOTHING ELSE.
And don’t get me started on the sounds coming out of the stereo.
I whip around to look at Nathan, who has yet to tear his gaze from the huge screen in front of us. At least he seems surprised.
“How did I not know about this drive-in before tonight?” he asks.
And that’s the last straw. I jump out of the car and run to the gift shop, nearly tripping on every stick and rock in my path while I pull up the contacts in my phone.
Wes answers on the second ring. “What’s wrong?” he says.
“Um, can you come get me? Please. Pretty please. Like right now.” My voice is about two octaves higher than normal.
“Where are you?” he asks.
“I’ll send you a pin. I’m okay, but I can’t stay here and I don’t want to ride back with him. There’s a gift shop. I’ll be in there. Oh, and Evil Joes are evil.”
I end the call and send him a pin just as I push through the gift shop doors. My eyes are assaulted by posters and books and toys and,oh my good God, things I wish I didn’t know existed.
There’s a woman behind the counter who seems surprised to see me. She looks as old as Nonna, but her hair is an orangey yellow and it’s piled a foot high on the top of her head. Her name tag readsAlma. She’s got a cigarette in one hand, and smoke circles her like a halo.
“Hey, hon. What can I help you with?”
“Do you have a bathroom?”
She nods and gestures to a door on her left. I glance out of the window and see Nathan barreling toward the gift shop.
I point to him and say, “Tell that guy our date is over. I have someone on the way to pick me up.” And then I race to the bathroom.
I can hear Alma relay my message, but it doesn’t stop Nathan from banging on the bathroom door.
“Come on, Sophie. I didn’t know. I swear. I’ll take you home.”
The bathroom is small and smells horrible. I stand in the center with my hands plastered to my sides so I don’t touch anything.
“Go away. I have a friend picking me up.”
He argues with me halfheartedly while I ignore him. I’m thankful he doesn’t test the fragile lock on the door. Finally, I hear him say, “Whatever.” Then it’s quiet.
A few minutes later, there’s another knock on the door.
“Hon? He’s gone if you want to come out.”
I hesitate, then open the door a crack. The woman pulls out a stool and puts it next to the counter. “Have a seat while you wait for your ride.”
I thank her and keep my gaze trained on the floor as I walk over to the counter. I check my phone and see a text from Wes saying he’s on his way. Relief flows through me.
