“Passion,” I add. “You like the passion of it.”
“Yes. I do.”
Kissing her head, I whisper, “It’s my favorite thing.”
Chapter Thirty
Seraphine
Gia grabs the bucket of popcorn while I take the empty soda cup and bring it to the fountain. She puts an obscene amount of butter on the popcorn while I fill the cup with Diet Coke. I’m not worried about my weight or the sugar content, I truly just think it tastes better.
We’re at a movie theater that plays older movies, because Gia said nothing new looked good. And this one was playing the most recent Magic Mike movie—I can’t remember the number of it. I have no interest in seeing this movie, but it’s time with my best friend, so I’ll take it.
We caught a late afternoon showing, because she wants to get dinner and drinks after. Sitting in the movie would kill her buzz, she’d said. I suggested skipping the movie, and she gave me a look asking if I was crazy. She’s weirdly obsessed with Channing Tatum. I don’t really understand why, but I can get on boardthe Joe Manganiello train. Channing is a little too clean, a little too put together.
I laugh at that, thinking about Elliot. Is there anyone more put-together than him? Well, on the outside he’s like that, but behind closed doors? He’s not like that at all and I think that’s what I like most about him. That on the outside, you’d think he was calm all the time. But he’s messy and raw.
“I should have gotten chocolate,” Gia mutters as she meets me at the fountain. I put the cap on the cup.
“You can go back.”
“We’ll miss the movie,” she scolds.
“Then I’ll come back and get it for you. I don’t care if I miss out on the movie.”
Gia gasps, putting her hand over her heart as if I’ve offended her.
We walk together toward theater eleven, which is in the back and around the corner. This place isn’t the greatest, not newly done and it has a funky smell with stains on the carpets, but I do like that it plays older movies. Sometimes the new stuff doesn’t stay long enough for me to go see it. Though, it’s not like going to the movies is a normal thing for me. It used to be when I was in high school, but then my whole life changed when I started dating Harrison. I thought it was for the better, but each day I’m realizing that isn’t true at all.
When we get into our seats, I pull out my phone and send Elliot a text.
Me: Can we go to the movies?
Elliot: Anything you want, sweetness.
“Who are you texting?” Gia leans over to look at my phone, but I pull it away to hide it.
She looks upset by that, so I say, “It isn’t Harrison.”
The lights are still on here, so I don’t feel bad talking. Gia was nuts when she said we’d miss the movie. We’re at least twenty minutes early.
“I didn’t hate him, you know. Just… didn’t like who you were when you were with him,” she admits, grabbing some popcorn.
“I understand that, and I’m seeing it more for myself every day.”
“So, who are you texting then?” Her smirk is back in place, and I know she just wants the juicy details. I’m not sure if I should tell her. Elliot didn’t say I couldn’t tell anyone, but I don’t need this getting back to Harrison. He’d lose his mind. Though, if things continue on the way they are, we will have to tell him eventually. You know, if this turns out to be an actual relationship or something. Elliot and I were out in public together, so I don’t think he’s trying to hide it. If there is anyone in this world that I can trust with something like this, it’s Gia.
“You swear you won’t tell anyone?”
“Promise.” She turns in her set to face me more, face alight with excitement.
“You can’t judge me either.”
She narrows her eyes. “Well, now you have me worried. It’s not Devin from high school is it?”
“Ew, no!”
She’s referring to the kid in school who smelled like cheese and ate his boogers. Yes, even in high school.
