Holden briefly closes his eyes and takes a breath like he’s relieved, breaking the spell. I get it, because I am too.
“Of course not. Whose turn is it to choose?”
She re-enters the store, cradling a cup of coffee like it’s a gift from the gods.
“That’s better,” she says and takes a sip. “The hotel doesn’t serve decent coffee. What were you saying?
“Whose turn is it to choose?”
I watch them as they debate and bicker over what they saw last time and who chose it. I’d forgotten that Holden said they’d agreed it was movie night tonight. I don’t mind, though, now I’m reminded. It’s been a while since I just sat and relaxed in front of the screen, and I’m looking forward to it. That is until Clara puts her hands on her hips and turns to me.
“I know, why don’t we let Reece choose?”
“Oh no. I don’t need the pressure of that type of important decision. One false move here and I could be blighted for life.”
Her feral grin tells me that it was exactly her plan. Okay, I take the challenge. I'll show her that she can’t intimidate me. I cycle through a dozen movies in my head, rejecting all of them until I have it.
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” I say and catch her approving look. I chose well, but she’s not going to let me off that easily.
“Which one?”
“Well, obviously we start with the first and work our way through them.”
“A movie marathon?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“I like it,” she agrees and turns to Holden. “What do you think?”
“Sounds good to me,” he says, and she makes an exaggerated groan.
“I think you’d have agreed even if he’d suggestedGold Diggers.” He lets out a giggle. The sound delights me so much I can’t help but gaze at him.
“I hope you’re not going to be mooning over each other all night.”
We both straighten up and look at her with the same expression.
“Definitely not.”
“No way,” we both say simultaneously, and she rolls her eyes again.
I finish my popcorn and stretch forward to put the bowl on the low table amidst the discarded pizza boxes from earlier. I lean back and Holden wriggles a little, settling his head into my lap where it’s been for the last half an hour. We started off sitting next to each other, but over the course of the evening we’ve gotten closer and closer, and now he’s laid across the couch and me, and I couldn’t be happier.
I glance down at him, and when he catches my eye I give him a tender smile, which he returns, warming my heart. He reaches for my hand and then touches my fingers to his lips before turning back to the movie. I run my fingers through his hair, softly carding it, needing to touch and caress him.
“That's nice,” he whispers, and I look over to where Clara is curled up in the large chair, seemingly engrossed in the film.
She hasn’t mentioned our behavior again all night, so I guess she’s got used to it now. She just plonked herself into the large armchair and said, “Keep whatever you’re going to do clean, otherwise take it upstairs.” Not that we’d do anything in front of her, but I feel like she’s accepted me as part of Holden’s life now.
We’re about halfway through the second film, and while I suggested a movie marathon, I’m not sure I’m going to make it through all of them.
The action of stroking his hair is relaxing, and I give my thoughts over to the future. I have a few ideas, and I want to discuss them with Holden soon, but not until after I tell him how much he means to me. I had plans for that, but actually there’s no reason to make a big moment of it. It’s just speaking the truth. I see Holden’s eyes close and then blink open before drooping again.
“Are you sleepy, baby?” I whisper, and he nods lazily.
“Shall we go to bed?”
“Yeah.” He slowly sits up and turns off the screen. I get up and go over to Clara. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is regular.
