He blushed, and I realized something. When he talked aboutThe Avengers, his eyes gleamed for just a second. Like he was feeling that excitement of being a six-year-old watching aliens invade New York City for the first time. But then as soon as he dismissed it as a ‘popcorn blockbuster’, that gleam went away. And then returned just now, making my heart skip.
‘I don’t want to show you.’
I leaned forward. ‘Oh my God, is it porn?’
‘No!’
‘Because I won’t judge you if it’s porn. Well, depending on the kind of porn.’
‘It’s not porn!’ His smile grew and his cheeks flushed. ‘It’s the polar opposite of porn, actually.’
‘So it’s an educational video about abstinence.’
‘I just mean it’s very chaste. Also …’ He sighed. ‘It’s a foreign-language film, so there’s subtitles.’
‘Shit, you really are a pretentious film nerd.’
‘See, this is why I didn’t want to show it to you.’
I chewed the inside of my cheek. That glint in his eye was gone again, and I felt a little guilty. I also wanted to see it again. Feel my heart skip again.
‘I’m just kidding,’ I said. ‘Show me. I promise I’ll give it the same amount of respect I wouldThe Avengers.’
He narrowed his eyes at me. ‘That doesn’t give me much confidence.’
‘Come on, what’s the movie?’
He sighed, then turned on the Apple TV and went into his movie library. Before he scrolled down to theForeignsection, I saw the number listed underAll Titles.
‘You have over athousandmovies?’
‘I haven’t seen all of them. Some I just buy when they’re on sale if I know I’ll want to watch them someday.’
I laughed. ‘Your parents want you to hoard money, but you hoard films.’
‘You should change my company contact to “De La Hoard-a”.’
‘“De La WHORE-a” sounds better.’
‘Ass.’
He came to a stop on a movie calledIn the Mood for Love. My stomach did a little flip. The movie poster image on the screen had an Asian woman wearing a red dress.
‘Oh my.’ I put my hands to my cheeks. ‘In the Mood for Love! So it’s aromance!’
‘Okay, now I’m not even sure I want to show you this!’ he teased.
‘You mean you’re … not …’ I couldn’t get it out without smiling, trying to stifle my laughter.
He took the chance to cut me off. ‘Don’t say it.’
‘In the mood …’
‘Thomas.’ Again with the way he said my name.
‘ForIn the Mood…’ I giggled.
‘I hate you.’
